Pre-Order you Gratitude Journal!

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. (From health.harvard.edu)

Some fun statistics, from Halo.com:

• Regular gratitude journaling has been shown to result in 5% to 15% increases in optimism and 25% increased sleep quality.
• Over 90% of American teens and adults indicated that expressing gratitude made them “extremely happy” or “somewhat happy”.
• A five-minute daily gratitude journal can increase long-term well-being by 10%.

From Sharon Martin's website: "To get the benefits of gratitude, we need to practice it consistently, which means we need to plan a way to incorporate gratitude into our already over scheduled, overstressed lives.

Setting an intention to practice gratitude is a commitment to do it even when we don’t feel like it. Gratitude is easy when things are going well, but when problems are piling up, the world seems to be falling apart, and we don’t know how we’re going to get through the day, it’s hard to feel grateful. So, how do we shift gears and focus on the good while also acknowledging that we’re hurting and afraid?"

Start Small

Try identifying 1 thing you are grateful for each morning. I do this with my girls each morning. It can be as simple as the blanket that kept you warm, or the alarm that woke you up. But, the key thing to remember is there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for. And when your mind starts searching for something good, it will continue to search for more good. Our minds are brilliant that way.

Another way to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Below are 30 gratitude journal prompts, from Sharon Martin, to get you started.

1. What’s something that you’re looking forward to?
2. What’s a simple pleasure that you’re grateful for?
3. What’s something that you grateful to have today that you didn’t have a year ago?
4. Write about a happy memory.
5. Write about someplace you’ve been that you’re grateful for.
6. What’s something about your body or health that you’re grateful for?
7. Open the door or window and look outside. What’s something you’re grateful for outside?
8. What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of?
9. What’s a possession that makes your life easier?
10. Open your phone or photo album and find a photo that you like. Why are you grateful for this photo? What are you grateful for in the photo?
11. What have you been given that you’re grateful for?
12. What’s something or someone that makes you feel safe?
13. What artist, author, or musician are you grateful for?
14. What do you like about your job?
15. How are you able to help others?
16. What public service or organization are you grateful for (i.e. the library or fire department)?
17. What book(s) are you grateful for?
18. What piece of clothing or furniture are you grateful for?
19. Write about a friend that you’re grateful for.
20. Write about a teacher or mentor that you’re grateful for.
21. Write about a family member that you’re grateful for.
22. What did you accomplish today?
23. What’s a tradition that you’re grateful for?
24. What’s one of your personality traits that you’re grateful for?
25. What mistake or failure are you grateful for?
26. What skill(s) do you have that you’re grateful for?
27. What’s something that you bought recently that you’re grateful for?
28. What’s something that you made recently that you’re grateful for?
29. Look around the room and write about everything you see that you’re grateful for.
30. Write about 3 things you’re grateful for today.