Let’s take a minute to talk about shopping and how at some point or the other, we have all found ourselves in a store overlooking a canvas, piece of kitchenware, or garnish that has been plastered with played out inspirational phrases. You know what I’m talking about. “Love life”, “Never Lose Hope” “Have Faith,” or “Keep Dreaming.”
We understand that these messages are supposed to be motivational, but in all reality, it’s just hard to feel encouraged by them since we read them so often. Gratitude is another one of those cliche ideas that’s difficult to touch as a writer, and even harder to take seriously as a reader due to it being so over hyped. Even so, I have to admit that it’s been an incredibly powerful personal practice, and has helped me with my efforts to grow into a better person. Practicing daily gratitude has helped me be effective in my manifestations and it has truly become my go-to for a quick vibrational lift. Before I lose you though, I’ll have you know that I’m not here to convince you of the reasons why gratitude is more than just an overused word. This post is for the people that are already beyond the “sell it to me” phase, and who are ready to take matters into their own hands. You can begin your gratitude log practice today, tomorrow, next month, or next year, but it’s free. . . so you should definitely start it today. In 4 steps, here’s how:
1 : Identify your “Power” points of the day, and schedule time for gratitude accordingly
The “power” point of the day is definitely something without a clear definition since I made it up. However, I’d say that it’s the time in which you are most likely to feel optimistically motivated. I wish that it wasn’t so, but realistically, these ambitious feelings don’t last through the entirety of the day. Plan accordingly and know that you’ll have a much easier time practicing gratitude while you’re feeling good. Should it occur that later on you find yourself in a sulk, having a log of things to be happy about is a great reminder and mindset shift. Personally, I feel the most empowered during the quiet hours of the early morning. Depending on the rigor of my day, those feelings usually wear off some time after lunch. With this knowledge of self, I have inserted a slot of time in my morning routine specifically for gratitude. Physically write it down in your planner if you have to, or just make a mental note, but commit to it and you’ve already overcome the hardest part.
2 : Choose your favorite method for logging
Some different ways that I’ve seen the job done:
- In a journal or notebook
- In the most spacious section of a weekly planner
- In your notes or another app
Really, it matters less about where you log, and more about how you do it. Do choose a consistent method to stick to though. The thing about me is that buying journals is something like a form of addiction to me. I love the feelings that come with filling them up and having everything in one place to flip through. For a fun fact, I love to log using my prettiest colored pens that I probably purchased while on my journal spree. I’ve seen people on Pinterest get real cutesy and use stickers, but I think that that’s where my personal line of extraness is drawn. Be as extra or minimalistic as you wish, but when choosing your method, keep in mind that this should be something that you look forward to doing.
3 : Date and format your log in a consistent manner
After you know where you’re going to be starting your log, it’s time to format it nicely so that you can begin writing! Putting the date at the top of your paper or digital note only takes a few seconds. It will also be so interesting for you to have in the future as you reflect on the highs and lows of your journey. I don’t remember everything from last December for example, but if I were to go back and read my December gratitude entries, then I’d have a pretty good refresher about what I was going through at the time and what I overcame. After you date your log, you should begin in complete sentences beneath it, affirming something like “Today I’m grateful for. . .” You can write full paragraphs like a journal entry, make brief lists, or do anything in between. I’ve tried many different ways over the years, but bulleted extended lists work the best for me. For each bullet, I repeat “Today I’m grateful for. . .” and verbalizing aloud helps me get my brain thinking about everything good that’s been happening to me.
4 : Don’t be too hard on yourself! Write exactly what comes to your mind!
I haven’t encountered too many people willing to admit this . . . but I am. You don’t have to feel pathetic on the days that you can only list one or two things. Sometimes, I wake up and can’t find anything to be grateful for except for living to see another day. It really do be like that sometimes, but on those types of days you have to take whatever you can come up with and run with it. Practicing gratitude is not supposed to be hard and burdensome but if you think too hard then it will be. You might burn yourself out and won’t ever want to do it again. If you’re being easy with yourself, then you will find that you’re sitting right above reasons to be thankful. It’s okay to repeat some entries. As a matter of fact, as long as you’re in a gracious spirit, I would say that nothing is not okay. This was just to get you started.
Lastly, if you believe in manifestation, then this extra word is just for you. Gratitude is perfect for getting yourself in the mindset for any manifestation practices that you may have. Before I begin any type of scripting or intention setting, I make sure that logging comes right before it. That’s the million dollar trick that works every time. Truth is, whether it be for manifestion purposes or not, gratitude is one of the best habits that I have ever taken up. It makes me humble and it reminds me of why I’m never miserable. I think you will find that something about it will take you out of whatever current situation you’re in and make it seem a bit smaller. We could all use some of that. Good luck on your journey and I’d love to know how it works for you!
Xoxo, Wisdom