Gratitude Journaling

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His loves endures forever. ~Psalm 106:1

Throughout scripture, God calls us to give thanks. In the midst of our busy schedules, however, we don’t slow down and take the time to be obedient. The practice of daily gratitude journaling helps me be mindful of the truly important aspects of my life. It is a quick and easy-to-maintain routine.

Here’s what I do:

When I wake up in the morning, before I even leave the bed, I journal. I include the date and the place if I’m not at home. First, I write three things I’m grateful for. These things can be from the previous day, things I’m looking forward to during the day, or things in general. Second, I think about what would make my day great. The key to this entry is that it has to be something that you can control. Third, I write an affirmation statement. I tend to pick an empowering thought that will help me accomplish my daily goal.

After I’ve finished my morning journaling, I get up and live my day. If I get overwhelmed or upset, I think back to the things I’m grateful for, what I can do to make this a good day, and my strength word of the day. It can have a calming and refocusing effect.

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As I lay down to sleep, I pick up my journal and finish out the day. First, I write something that I am proud of. It can be a task I accomplished, a demeanor that I maintained, a skill I learned, a victory, or just about anything that gives you a sense of pride at the end of the day. Second, I write either a lesson learned today or an improvement for the next day.