We have so much to be thankful for in our lives. It’s very easy to overlook everything that we have. Today, for Day 20 of the Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You the challenge is to start a gratitude journal.
What’s a gratitude journal? It’s like any other diary or journal, but in a gratitude journal you’re only allowed to write positive things. There’s no negativity allowed.
Just For Today, start a gratitude journal and write down 5 things that you are grateful for in your life.
The whole point is to look at the positive things in your life that you are thankful for. Maybe you are having the worst day in your life, but if you change your thinking and write down 5 things that you are grateful for, it can really change your entire mindset. Maybe the day turned out to be not so bad, after all.
Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. – Brian Tracy
Besides, when we go through the bad days, that’s when a gratitude journal can really shine – it will make you think of the positive things in your life and that’s when we really need the journal. If you continue to write in it, you can go back and see everything in your life that you are grateful for. Don’t you think that would change your mindset – from focusing on the negative and what’s bad in life, to what is positive and good in our lives? It can be a real life-saver when we tend to be pessimistic people who only focus on the bad things in life.
Everyone can think of 5 things they are grateful for.
Are you grateful that you have a roof over your head? Write that down.
Are you thankful that you ate today? Write that down. There are people in this world who have had nothing to eat today and have no home to go to.
Are you grateful that your husband picked up the garbage and took it outside? Write that down.
It doesn’t have to be the big things in life – each person is grateful for different things in their lives.
Are you thankful that you have an internet connection and that you have sight to read this article? 
You can write that down, if you are stuck.
This is not just an exercise in positive thinking. You can become really creative when you are writing down in your gratitude journal. The point is to be conscious of what is positive in your life and be grateful.
Come up with at least 5 things to write down in your gratitude journal Just For Today. If you feel that it has made a positive change in your mindset, then incorporate this change into your life and continue writing in it daily, if not weekly.
What am I grateful for? Here are my things today, in no particular order:
- I’m grateful that I have a warm secure place to call my own. I’m surrounded by my things that have meaning to me.
- I’m grateful to live in Canada where we don’t have earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other massive Mother Nature occurrences.
- I’m grateful for my family.
- I’m grateful that I got paid last Friday and that my bills are paid and that I have food in the fridge.
- I’m grateful that the weather warmed up a little this week and it wasn’t so biting cold like last week.
Tomorrow’s list might be different. We’ll see what sort of day I have – I’ll probably be grateful for something else. It’s okay to be grateful for the same things every day though, too. There’s no judging allowed as this is something personal.
If you already have a gratitude journal, let us know how it’s made a difference in your life. If you are just starting one, what are you grateful for? Let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!
For a list of all of the Challenges, see the Just For Today Challenge page.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I kind of have one of these already – guess I’ll write in it again this evening though
Too often people focus on the negative, at the expense of the positive – I’m of the opinion that you need to recognise both but spend more time with the good things going on in your life.
And its awesome that you live in Canada (yes, I only just noticed >.>) – I’m hoping to move there once I finish my degree.
Hi Heather,
Have you noticed your mind shifting automatically to positive aspects of your life when you write in your gratitude journal? I certainly have.
Yes, I’m in Canada.
Educated, skilled and talented people are always welcome here
You’ll fit right in.
Hey!
Yea I have actually, though I’m not too strict about it. Basically what I do with that particular journal is write whatever I’m thinking about… if I’m angry/upset I’ll write that too, but if its in there I automatically start to look at the brighter side of things (though sometimes I have to rant for a while first lol).
Thanks
What part of Canada are you in, if you don’t mind me asking? My boyfriend of four years is over near Vancouver.
I’m currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, after spending 10 years in Toronto.
I hear its really pretty over there
Hi Heather,
This is a great idea! Can I use this as a project for my Chinese students?
Hey, it was my idea!
Sure, go ahead, Gordie
Karen
Hehe, Karen’s right – I can’t actually claim this one ^_^ (Much as I would love to, of course
)
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Here are the thing I’m grateful for:
I’m grateful for each day that I’m given the opportunity to do my best
I’m grateful at each new lessons I learn everyday
I’m grateful that I have a charming son that brings the sunshine in my day
I’m grateful that I’m blessed with an easy life.
I’m grateful that I have a dream and and doing all I can to achieve it.
Lastly, I’m grateful for my opportunity to be given a change of life.
That’s an awesome list, Walter.
We really do have so much to be grateful for.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen