Photo: kristenhewitt.me
November is here and Thanksgiving will quickly be upon us. With Thanksgiving there is no fussing with gift shopping lists or wrapping paper; it’s just good food and good company which easily makes it my most favorite holiday of the year.
Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday to gather with friends and loved ones to share thanks. I have always loved the sentiment behind this holiday and the opportunity to focus on all the blessings in life and to be grateful for the life I have.
A while back I started the morning routine of a Gratitude Journal. It was something that had been on my radar for some time. I had heard of several studies that showed that there are many health benefits of simply writing down the things that we are grateful for. Benefits such as a more optimistic mindset, better sleep, a general increase in happiness, and less stress. In an effort to bring more peace and happiness to my life I decided to commit to this practice.
Gratitude- the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
At first it was just a blank journal in which I would jot down three things, different each day. I’d sit down with my coffee and take a few quite moments to journal before the craziness of my working mom life started. Sometimes it was just as simple as, “I’m grateful for my coffee because I didn’t get enough sleep”. Usually though, it was deeper and more meaningful relating to relationships, opportunities, and interactions with people.
I am really enjoying this part of my morning routine. Does it happen every morning? No, but I give myself grace and fit it in when I can. My journal has definitely helped me to feel more grounded and stay positive. I just ordered a journal that has different writing prompts each day to encourage a guided focus of gratitude.
If you are in a funk or just want a little boost in your life I would recommend to start a gratitude journal and see what it does for you!
Blog by Meggan
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