Continuing on with gratitude and its benefits, keeping a gratitude journal is a must to capture all those gratitudes each day. Not only does It ingrain them more in your brain (and heart), it will help you to dig deeper.
I won’t lie and say that it is challenging at times to keep track of what you are grateful for;; as time goes on, it forces you to dig deeper; for myself, I am grateful for green grass that I get to see out my office window as I think of people who live elsewhere and aren’t able to experience it.
There is scientific evidence out there regarding the power of gratitude; it changes the chemistry in our body biologically, physiologically, and psychologically. It releases natural hormones of serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine which all lead to feeling calm and happy.
This is why practicing gratitude and documenting them in a journal is a beneficial mindfulness act. Having those gratitudes are useful for those times when you don’t feel as motivated or have a bad day. You’ll have a record of them that can be a reinforcer and pick-me-up when needed.
Here are some other benefits of having a gratitude journal:
1. Experience Stronger and More Fulfilling Relationships
It’s so simple, but it can be hard to accept. You are the one who makes yourself happy with your own choices. Another person cannot make you happy or grateful. Only you can do that. But something amazing happens when you express gratitude often – your relationships simply open up and become better. Those that don’t, you start to recognize for what they are and let them go.
Even if a relationship did not work out, whether that is in business, friends, or even family, you can still find something that you took away from it, such as some happy memories or that you are out of a toxic situation.
2. Become Physically Healthier
Being grateful for the ability to move and breathe will eventually cross over into wanting to ensure that you can always do that. Therefore, you’ll be more motivated to go on walks, eat right, stay hydrated, and live in gratitude for every aspect of your life.
3. Increase Your Mental Dexterity
The ability to take lemons and turn them into that sweet, delightful state drink of Arizona can be gained by keeping a gratitude journal. The main reason is that you will learn on even a bad day to pick out the good in it. That requires a good imagination and creativity and thinking on your feet.
4. Feel Less Aggression in Your Life
It’s hard to feel aggressive if you are happy and grateful. It’s okay to be angry about injustices in the world without being aggressive. But if you feel angry a lot due to your life, it’s really due to not finding the things to be grateful about. There is almost always something for most people.
5. Act and Become More Empathetic
As you write more and learn to forgive yourself as you seek to fill your mind with thoughts of gratitude, you will start seeing others differently. You’ll have more ability to put yourself in their shoes and see things from their way without judgment.
It’s important not to confuse sympathy with empathy, as feeling sorry for someone puts them in a victim mode and you as a rescuer/enabler.
6. Get More Restful Sleep
If you’re not anxious but go to sleep each night feeling thankful for everything you’ve experienced (or at least most of it), it’s easier to sleep because you have less anxiety. It is a very healing way to stop racing thoughts so you sleep better.
7. Get More Done Every Day
Due to feeling more rested, less stressed, and more grateful, you’ll have a lot more energy to get things done every day. That’s always going to make you feel even more thankful as you feel more energetic and accomplished, as well has having higher productivity and overall
8. Feel Better about Yourself
You can’t help but feel better about yourself when you have improved so many good qualities about yourself. A gratitude practice should include you ; this will lead to higher self-esteem and confidence for what your mind and body can do for you.
If you want to be happier, get more done in life, and experience real joy in life, a gratitude journal can be the way to achieve it. The guiding thing to remember is that your thoughts cause your feelings, and you are the one in control of the actions you take once you accept your feelings. Accepting that you do have control is half the battle, and your journal will make it clear that you do.
Your Career Success Blog 