They say – life is a race. Every person is a participant in this race, where there is no definite finish line. All are racing towards a distant goal but do not know when to stop. In this race of life, sometimes more participants join along with you, while some you leave behind, sometimes you run this race with utmost determination and sometimes you tend to relax and slow things down just to catch a breath. It is important to note that in this daily hustle of life, having a sane mind, inner clarity, sound thought process, and mental as well as physical well-being have become more important than ever.
In this daily hunt for happiness, in this daily run for success, finding something that brings us back to our roots, and something that instills a sense of positivity is very necessary as well as essential. Gratitude journaling is one such way. It is a very simple but at the same time a remarkable way to bring about a change and balance to our livelihood and is a good source to generate gratitude.
What exactly is gratitude journaling?
Who does not like a positive atmosphere around them? Positivity brings a sense of calmness and satisfaction to a person. Gratitude journaling is a practice that aims at retrospection and focusing on the positive aspects of life. It is mainly focused on the practice of taking time out of your busy schedule on a regular or periodic basis and keeping a record of things that you feel you are grateful for, regardless of it being a big or small thing. When you write something down, and if it is a positive thing, it is believed that it induces serotonin boosts in your body, and your body feels very satisfied. This is very healthy for your mental as well as physical well-being. It not only reduces your stress (both physical as well as mental), but also works in uplifting your mood.
When we focus on the positive aspects of life, it changes our way of thinking. We tend to ignore the negativities or the caveats, and instead, focus on the positive aspects. Positive and wishful thinking instills positivity, reduces stress, and makes us appreciative rather than negative or critical of the present, the past that has gone, and the future that is yet to come.
A deep focus on positivity helps greatly in life. When stress is laid upon the good things, it helps in how we look at things. It shifts our mindset from pessimism to optimism.
What is the process of gratitude journaling?
It might be tough to digest but the process of gratitude journaling is relatively very simple. In fact, you might have done it already in the past – yes! Gratitude journaling is nothing but finding a suitable time of the day as per your convenience – be it in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, or in the night before going to bed. During this time, just pick up your notebook or a journal, and start iterating and writing over the things that you believe you were grateful for in the previous day or the current day.
These points might be significant points that you believe had a profound impact on your life, or can be simple tasks as well. For instance, a gratitude journal for a particular day can range from cracking your dream job to having a sip of tea that you crave. Remember – the only trick to this is to identify things that make you happy – regardless of how small or big an impact it makes on you.
The gratitude journal by Rest and Digest serves as an invaluable companion on this journey, which lays the foundation for a rudimentary approach to gratitude journaling.
Once you start following the sense of gratitude, you can notice the change in you. You start changing from the inside. This change is not physical, rather, it is spiritual. When a person changes spiritually, they tend to look at things differently. It is imperative you find a better sense of mental peace and clarity in your life. One does not simply deny the benefits of gratitude journaling. Of course, this is a gradual process. One cannot expect to start seeing the change from the first day itself, you have to trust the process and let the process change you. As we move through the hardships, worries, struggles, and challenges of life, taking time to reflect and retrospect on the positive aspects really makes a huge difference.
The Rest and Digest gratitude journal is not just a notebook, it is much more than that. It is an honest attempt at changing the way you perceive things, and the way you look at life. Second, it is a genuine attempt to change your mindset. And lastly, it beautifully camouflages into your daily life, and once it becomes your habit to note down your “positive key points”, you will find yourself in a position much better than what you were the day before. With several guided sections to help you navigate through the journal, it makes you think deeper, in a different sense, so that you can accomplish the task of gratitude journaling very effectively. It tries its best to bring about clarity in what you feel.
