Do you battle depression? Are you struggling in your marriage?
Does it seem like only bad things happen to you?
Or would you like to attract more abundance into your life?
These are all good reasons to start a Gratitude Journal.
"What is a Gratitude Journal", you say?
The What
Here is how eHow describes it. "A gratitude journal is a way to consciously call attention to the things for which we are thankful each day. By focusing on gratitude, we become aware of those things and thus create a shift in our thinking to the positive."
A Gratitude Journal can be written for the general purpose of making a positive change in your life or for a very specific purpose.
The gift that saved his marriage.
Darren Hardy, author of the life changing book, The Compound Effect, tells how he decided to secretly keep a "thanksgiving" journal about his wife one year. He wrote down the qualities, characteristics and attributes about her that he appreciated. He wrote down one a day. Then, on Thanksgiving Day the following year he gave it to her. She cried and said it was the best gift she had ever received. But the biggest change was in him. As he appreciated the subtle things about her every day, his attitude started to change and he fell in love with her all over again.
Here's what you do:
Start with a blank notebook to be used for only this purpose.Each morning write down 3 - 5 thoughts of gratitude, thanks and appreciation. It doesn't matter how big or small. Just write whatever comes to your mind.Every morning and evening read over your list.Think about your list throughout the day.Start to share them with others.
Ann Voskamp, author of the beautifully poetic book, One Thousand Gifts, calls it her "gift list".
Remember these things.
~ Focus on abundance and blessings.
~ To be grateful is a choice. It's not what you have or possess but it's an attitude.
~ You will start to see things more and more from a positive angle.
~ The more you do it, the easier it will become, and the easier it will be for you to see the good in things.
~ As more of your thoughts and words become positive, you'll start attracting more positive people and circumstances into your life.
~ What you write can be turned into prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude to God which will, in turn, draw you closer to Him.
Through consistency, a Gratitude Journal can change your life for the better!
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
-Melody Beattie
Dayna Camp is an inspirational writer, especially focusing on primary caregivers, special needs parents, and others in challenging circumstances. Wife, and mother of 5, 1 with special needs (Dystonia), she is well versed in the dynamics of a busy family with unique challenges. To receive her 17 Sanity Secrets be sure to sign up for it at her blog, http://gracetodayblog.com/.
No comments:
Post a Comment