Here’s where I tell you all about the magic of gratitude journals. Everyone you and I know, from my mother to Oprah swears that keeping a gratitude journal changed their life. Which is wonderful, but I have never kept a gratitude journal. The idea of having one more thing to remember and make time for – at the same time no less! – makes me queasy. And I like my way better any how.
Here’s what I do: anytime I am feeling good as I go through my day, I take a few seconds to thing of things that I am grateful for. Usually I’m grateful for whatever triggered my good feeling and I acknowledge that. Then I take a few seconds to think of a couple of other things that make me happy and be grateful for those as well.
This way, I can experience gratitude in real time. By adding on a quick thought for other things I’m grateful for, I might even get to extend that feel-good moment just a little bit longer. It’s the multi-tasking way of doing gratitude! Wins all around, people!
A gratitude journal is just one way of expressing gratitude. I believe that yours is another fantastic way! Great Rebecca!
I know that a gratitude journal works great for a lot of people. I’m just not organized enough to do one and always felt guilty about it until I realized that I have my own way of doing gratitude that works quite well. I think that what’s important is having a discipline of gratitude – whatever way works for you! 🙂
I agree. It’s the essence that really matters, not the form…