Something for Yourself: Gratitude Journal

Last week we talked about taking time to set goals for yourself.  For me, this is the best way to give myself peace of mind that my life is headed in the right direction.  I have also found that in order to keep my life on track I need to practice daily gratitude.  Sometimes it can be easy to forget how blessed we are when life gets busy, but taking five minutes each day can help remind you of what is great in your life.  

The easiest way to make gratitude a part of your daily schedule is to start a gratitude journal.  This will give you a chance to take a few moments out of each day in order to remember what you are grateful for in your life.  It doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy. I use a daily planner from Target that has a few lines for each day.  I leave it on my nightstand so that after I make my bed each morning I remember to write down three things I am grateful for.  I have been doing it for eight weeks and it has become a part of my daily routine.  

If you're unsure of what to write down, just try to keep it simple.  You can use the first things that come to mind, whether it's something from the day before that made you happy or something you're looking forward to in your day ahead.  Anything works as long as it makes you feel a sense of gratitude.  Hopefully you will feel happier right away and can take that feeling with you the rest of your day!

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If you've been following this series from the beginning you will have written a personal mission statement, set goals for yourself, and just started a gratitude journal.  Next I will talk about visualization and making a vision board in order to create a picture of what you would like your life to look like.