Many of us approach each day filled with the wrong attitude. It is so easy to become depressed, frustrated, angry and cynical when our attitude is shaped by the negative events in our lives. We seem to understand that a positive attitude is the common thread woven through the lives of successful healthy individuals but how can a positive attitude be accomplished when so many disappointing and negative things happen around us everyday? In my effort to finally do what my mother encouraged for years which was “check my attitude”, I began to journal. Not just a report of daily events, but rather a journal focused on personal gratitude.
You can begin a gratitude journal on anything you can write on; a book, a scrap of paper, a napkin. Write down three things you are grateful for at the start of each day. This helps to start the day with a positive focus. Then, at the end of each day, write down three good things that happened to you throughout the day. Because our minds become cluttered with the issues of daily life, it is very important to write the identified blessings down on paper. This really helps keep you focused on the positive things that you have identified. If you have a bad day, you can reflect back on your writing from the days before and check yourself.
When I first began gratitude journaling it was difficult and my writings were very simple. This was important because some of the simplest things are the things that we take for granted. For example; sunshine, cool water or a child’s laughter.
As time passed, I began to notice that it was easier and easier to identify the positive things in my life. Good things began to happen more frequently (or maybe I was just better at noticing them). This simple journal helped me to develop a more positive outlook everyday.
Does this mean that bad things don’t happen in my life? No, of course they do. Do I have bad thoughts sometimes? You bet I do. However, gratitude journaling does remind me of what I do have, and even when an unfortunate situation happens, I look for the good in it. This positive approach makes situations easier to handle. It can also provide more control over situations.
No one can control every thing that happens in their lives, but they can gain control over their attitude about the things that happen. I have come to recognize that a positive attitude is contagious and I hope to continue to pass mine around. I am simply blessed.
