Gratitude Journaling

There is no better time to express gratitude than the present moment. Researchers are revealing the amazing emotional and physical effects of expressing gratitude. In one study, participants were more optimistic, felt better about their lives, and visited the doctor less after writing about what they were grateful for everyday for 10 weeks. In another study, participants had a huge surge in happiness scores after being asked to write a thank you letter to someone who had positively impacted their life. Researchers have found that gratitude can even help couples. Partners who frequently express gratitude to each other feel more positive about the relationship and more comfortable when expressing relationship concerns. Even employers can benefit from expressing gratitude to their employees. Employees who are thanked by their managers work harder and have greater job satisfaction.

Here are some suggestions for increasing gratitude in your journaling practice:

• Keep a daily list of things you are grateful for
• Write a thank you letter to someone who changed your life for the better
• Make a list of 50 things you are grateful for about yourself

Who is up for transforming their life by embarking upon a 10 week gratitude journaling journey?

Looking for inspiration? Check out the amazing and creative artist Valerie Sjodin. Her gratitude journals are so lovely. However, if you are not the most artsy person, don’t let that distract you from transforming your life by gratitude journaling.

References
Emmons RA, et al. “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Feb. 2003): Vol. 84, No. 2, pp. 377ñ89.
Lambert NM, et al. “Expressing Gratitude to a Partner Leads to More Relationship Maintenance Behavior,”Emotion (Feb. 2011): Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 52ñ60.
Sansone RA, et al. “Gratitude and Well Being: The Benefits of Appreciation,” Psychiatry (Nov. 2010): Vol. 7, No. 11, pp. 18ñ22.