Being grateful is a key to living a happier life. It is also my understanding that when you change your life for the better, you have a key to changing the world.
True “gratitude” is an enlightened space at the end of a journey that too few embark on. So if you want it, give me a few moments of your time and I will provide the compass you need to successfully maneuver your way there.
Your Gratitude Journal is an account of the moments, possessions, goals, and people you have in your life that you are grateful for, such as:
- Moments with family and friends, at work, or in a sport or hobby that you love.
- Possessions that you have such as your house, a family heirloom that has sentimental value, that awesome apple watch you just bought or possibly a “gift from the heart” that was given to you.
- Goals that you are working on (including each step of an accomplishment toward that goal) and goals that you have achieved.
- People you have in your life that you love, cherish, and respect.
Creating your own gratitude journal is a very specific task that takes time, honesty, and conscious thought. Following are the steps you can take to ensure your Gratitude Journal is a successful life-long endeavor.
Step One: Set aside some quiet time to sit and reflect. Open a page in your journal and write the current date at the top of the page.
Step Two: Write the words: I am grateful for (the thing you are grateful for).
Step Three: Write why you are grateful for that thing. Why? Because in order to be truly grateful, you must understand why you are grateful. Gratitude comes from the mind. It is understanding. Then it fills the heart and soul and whenever you think of that thing, a feeling of happiness, serenity, and peacefulness washes over you.
It would look like the following:
I am grateful for the friends and family I have because they love and accept me for who I am. They do their best to understand me and the things I do with concern but not judgment.
Step four: Write down why this makes you happy. Why? Again, you must have an understanding of why what you are grateful for makes you happy. If you find that it doesn’t really make you happy then you must dig deeper to understand why. The story of Mitch and how he came to learn gratitude may help you discover a new insight into yourself.
Once you are able to do this step, it would look like the following:
My friends and family make me happy because I know I have people in my life that put in the effort to get to know me. I know they do their best to understand me and the things I do with concern and not judgment. They will remind me to take breaks when I am working so hard. They know my personality and know that the decisions I make are always for the benefit of mankind. They know I have big goals and they keep me grounded while trying to inflate my ego because they know I walk humbly. They appreciate all of the hugs I give them and let me appreciate theirs. They rely on the wisdom I carry yet understand that I enjoy humor and laughing at myself. They make me happy because I have a deep appreciation for all that they are and all that we are together.
That was a bit lengthy and yours can be as lengthy or as short as you feel. Remember to write your feelings with honesty.
Do this homework (I would suggest every day) as often as you can, logging in daily activities, occurrences, and thoughts.
Find your gratitude “key” to a happier life. I wish you well in your Gratitude Journal.
Peace and Love to the Universe!
