Gratitude Journal: Keeping The Thanksgiving Spirit Alive Year-Round
No matter how successful we are, how much we have, or how many people love us, oftentimes the holidays can feel less than bright and cheerful. Anticipating a slew of carefully curated gift lists and over-stuffed wishlists can feel like a lot of pressure. And the holiday season can be tough for those who may not have family or friends to celebrate with - many people experience loneliness in their early twenties as they mature into their careers and lifestyles.
The holidays can be a time to reflect on how grateful we are for the things that we have, including our families, friends and communities. Many people are able to use their holiday season to take a step back from their busy schedules and experience gratitude for everything that they have been given.
With all of this in mind, I encourage you to keep your spirits high as you move towards the New Year by embarking on a Gratitude Journaling journey.
Gratitude is such an essential part of being happy and healthy - it has been scientifically proven that practicing gratitude regularly can help us live happier, healthier lives. With that in mind, I've decided to start a new blog series over the next few weeks - Gratitude Journal: Keeping the Thanksgiving Spirit Alive Year-Round - so that you too can begin finding ways to keep your Thanksgiving spirit alive year-round.
The following three posts will address different aspects of how to go about keeping your Thanksgiving spirit alive year-round. The first post will address creating gratitude lists and using them as a way to keep your Thanksgiving spirit alive for the whole year. The second post will address creating thankfulness journal pages that you can include in a stocking (see below). The third post will address using gratitude to inspire you to pursue your dreams.
(The first two posts have been published on the blog. This post was written on November 11, 2013 and published on November 14, 2013.)
In order for us to be grateful for the things that we have, we must first identify them. I've found that this is easier said than done - when I'm feeling overwhelmed or anxious in any way, it's incredibly difficult for me to step back from whatever situation I am in and see what I actually do have. This can be especially true for 20-somethings, who are often struggling to find their way as they leave the confines of their childhood homes, high schools and colleges.
The first step that you should take in keeping your Thanksgiving spirit alive is to make a gratitude list. Taking the time to think about what you are grateful for will remind you of the things that you truly have in your life. By making a gratitude list, it will also become easier for you to identify what is important to you - so that when times get tough, it will be easier for you to remember what is most important in your life.
Here are a few ways to make a gratitude list:
List everything that you see in a room, one by one. For example, if you are in your bedroom, write down all of the things that you see in the room or on your bed. The more detailed the list is, the better - be sure to include everything from curtains and lamps to stuffed animals and posters.
Imagine yourself as a child. Think about what it was like for you to be 10 years old. What was important to you then?
Think of your favorite things. If you could pick any three things to have as your favorites, what would they be? For example, if you could have a house or have the ability to fly, which would you choose?
If you are a parent, think of what your children are most grateful for. What is most important to them? What do they feel they need in their lives in order to be happy? Who do they feel thankful for? Think about how their answers may differ from when they were younger and also from each other (if there are multiple children).
You can also make gratitude lists as you go throughout the day. For example, if you are in the car and you see something that makes you smile, write it down. If you are running late for an appointment or have a few minutes before work, keep a journal entry or list in your notebook of things such as what is on your desk or in your bag that make you feel grateful.
Gratitude journaling is a great way to keep your Thanksgiving spirit alive year-round. It helps us to focus on what we have as opposed to what we don't have - it gives us hope and faith that everything will turn out okay even when times get tough.
Gratitude journaling can also be a fun and easy way to get your children interested in journaling. For example, you can ask them to make a gratitude list of the things that they are thankful for each day and then find ways to reward them when you see them apply their gratitude. You can also get a thankful stocking, like the one below, from CreateSpace and fill it with small items from around the house (or even just candy) - when your child sees these items, they can think about how grateful they are for all of these gifts.
The two posts that follow this one will address ways to use gratitude lists with children and stocking ideas. Thanks for staying tuned!
To get the most out of your journaling journey, I'd encourage you to print out the following two pages so that you can incorporate them into a gratitude journal. You may want to print them on colored paper, change the font, or draw pictures around them. The possibilities are endless and will make your journaling more fun.
Lastly, I'd like to leave you with a few ways that you can keep your Thanksgiving spirit alive year-round:
Spend time with people who make you happy and who are grateful for life. Whether they remind you of yourself or not, these people will help keep your Thanksgiving spirit alive.
Keep a gratitude journal (or multiple journals) so that you can write down what you are thankful for and reflect on the things that make your life special. These pages will serve as reminders of the things that are most important to you - and will also help you think about all of the things in your life that matter to you.
Keep your Thanksgiving spirit alive year-round by making gratitude lists - these lists will remind you of all of the good in your life so that when times get tough, it will be easier for you to stay positive.
---
Want more creative inspiration? Follow me here:
By Blogsdna www.Blogsdna.
Conclusion of Part 2 of Keeping Your Thanksgiving Spirit Alive - A Gratitude Journal
By Blogsdna www.Blogsdna.
Topic: Personal Growth | No Comments »
Created on October 5, 2013 @ 03:21 am
Part 2 of Keeping Your Thanksgiving Spirit Alive - A Gratitude Journal. Here are some tips for making a gratitude journal (with some great ideas from my kids): - Make it fun and creative by adding pictures to your pages, writing on different colored paper or even using colored pens and markers. You can also use stickers, decoupage and other craft supplies for decoration.