If you have stumbled upon this blog post and are not a client of mine, welcome! This is written with the intension of offering guidance for client “homework” in the beginning stages of exploring gratitude. But I don’t see why it would not be useful to others also. To my clients: I may have given you specific instructions that differ slightly from this. This is just a start for your gratitude journaling.
A Simple Gratitude Journal
At night before bed write down 5 things that you are grateful for having in your life. If you are a worksheet person check out this link for a free printable
Some may find this is easy for them, some may not. Either way it is ok, just continue on. Remember we are retraining your brain and we need to get those grateful neurons firing.
Need a first one? Well you can read this so you are literate. The CIA (yes I found this statistic on the CIA website) estimates 781 million adults cannot read or write. You are blessed!
People cared enough about you to teach you to read so you could live a more thoughtful and productive life. Why is that important? Research shows there are two parts to gratitude. One is affirming the good in your life and the other is that there is goodness that comes from outside of yourself.
Struggling? Start small. Don’t overthink it. No one else has to see this if you do not want them too.
Wondering what gratitude is? Check out this blog for a little more info.
Why are we doing this? Stay tuned for the next blog in my gratitude series… How the body and mind benefit from gratitude.
Kelly is a Marriage and Family Therapist and Wellness Coach in San Clemente CA. She believes we can all find some gratitude in this life so we can focus on what we have not just what we want. Kelly can be reached at calicounseling@gmail.com or at 949-441-0771