Today I Say YES to Gratitude
Today I say, “YES” to Gratitude. Gratitude is an emotion that comes from appreciation. It’s an awareness, a thankfulness of the good things in your life, in you and in the world around you. Gratitude is a powerful thing. It can turn any negative into a positive. It can change how you feel inside. It can bring hope and happiness. It can improve your health, your relationships, your career and so much more. It can literally transform your life.
So often in today’s society, the negative is sensationalized and the positive is ignored. You see it in the news, in magazines, and in newspapers. You hear it in the grocery store, at work, and even from family and friends. All of this negativity can be overwhelming to the point of wearing a person down.
If you’re feeding into the negativity. If you’re focusing on the negative rather than the positive, you are doing yourself a serious disservice. You are harming your emotional well-being as well as your physical body. You could be straining your relationships, hurting your career, and much more.
When you express gratitude, it diminishes the negativity in a powerful way. Studies show that practicing gratitude leads to:
- A feeling of optimism, joy, and satisfaction.
- Less stress, anxiety, and depression.
- A strengthened immune system.
- Lower blood pressure.
- The ability to bounce back quicker after a traumatic event.
- Stronger relationships.
- A feeling of being connected to your community.
- Feeling less victimized by others or by life.
- Being able to recognize and appreciate what you have rather than what you don’t.
- You becoming more compassionate and empathetic.
- A better quality and more rewarding life.
Practicing gratitude changes your perspective on life.
Practicing Gratitude
In order to change your perspective, you need to make practicing gratitude a habit. One of the easiest, and most effective ways to do this is to keep a journal of the things you are grateful for.
Whether you choose to journal in the morning, at night, or both is up to you. Pick a quiet time and spend a few minutes thinking about, documenting, and appreciating the positive things in your life.
Writing in your journal every day will ensure you stay focused on the positive so the negative can be washed away. Do it for a month, two months, six months or more. The longer you do it, the more ingrained it will become in your mind, and the more your thoughts will shift.
At first, recognizing the positive aspects may feel awkward, but the more you look for it, the more you will find it. There is beauty all around you. There is beauty within you. A smile, a sunset, a friend, a personal goal being met. These are all things you can be grateful for. Even if you only find one thing to be grateful for each day, that’s okay. It’s a start. As you journal, try to work up to three, five, or even ten things a day when possible.
The following pages can be printed as your first Gratitude Journal_Final. It contains 10 prompts to get you started along with some quotes to keep you motivated. There is no right or wrong way to practice gratitude. The practice itself is where the power resides.
Forever Grateful for My Readers,
Christy “Jo”