I don’t doubt you've often been told to be thankful for what you have when something awful happens. But, it’s not easy. Research shows that being thankful is a beneficial habit. When you are in the habit of being grateful it’s easier to focus on the good in your life rather than dwelling on the bad. Keeping a gratitude journal is an increasingly popular tool being used by those seeking to improve themselves.

And The Five Reasons Are:

1|   Changing Thought Patterns: studies have shown a strong mind-body connection. When we feel stressed, anxious or any other negative emotion it can have a negative effect on our physical health. By considering those things, events or people you are thankful for you create positive thoughts and feelings which help reduce your stress levels. It also reminds you that whatever happens to you there is always something to feel thankful for.

Your commitment to your gratitude journal focuses your mind on positive events, conversations, relationships, and the gifts each new day brings. Enabling you to see more than just those negative ones that tend to fill your mind and dominate your thoughts when they happen.

Another way your thought patterns change is that you find you begin to push boundaries and remove limiting beliefs. This happens as you not only keep your gratitude journal but as you review it. You find that your mind opens to new possibilities and you gain in self-confidence and knowledge.

2|   Improve Your Health: the fact that there is a mind-body connection means that by focusing on positive thoughts and feelings in your gratitude journal you are helping to improve your physical and mental health. Studies have shown that regular gratitude journaling can:

    Relieve stress and anxiety

    Improve sleep

    Gain perspective

3|   Create Optimism: some days it's just too hard to see the forest for the trees. You find yourself focused on something that has upset you and that troublesome thought nags away at you constantly. Taking some time to sit quietly and think about something you are grateful for helps reduce negative thoughts and feelings and replace them with positive ones.

4|   Improved Sleep: regardless of whether you feel the need for eight hours sleep each night your body and mind do require a regular amount of sleep each night for optimal mental and physical health. Keeping a gratitude journal is fun, calming, and a positive activity that promotes happy thoughts and feelings. By replacing worry and stress, you can sleep more peacefully and have happier dreams.

5|   It's Fun: keeping a gratitude journal should be a fun enjoyable experience; something you look forward to. Choose a time of day that works best for you.  It doesn't matter whether you use a plain notebook, a really fancy one, or a digital method. Your entries can be as simple as I am grateful for today’s sunshine (or a more descriptive) that warms my patio where I drink my morning coffee. Get as creative as you like. Jazz it up by using different colored pens or pencils, or stickers to decorate the pages.

If you want to create a positive change in yourself and your life, then keeping a gratitude journal might be the tool you are looking for. It's cheap, easy and very beneficial to your physical and mental health.

Side-note: I found the following posts to be full of good information and I plan to incorporate an idea or two into my gratitude journal. I hope that you will also find them helpful.

Research Proves a Gratitude Journal (Strongly Boosts Productivity

The Ultimate Guide to Keeping a Gratitude Journal

Gratitude Journal:67 Templates, Ideas, and Apps for Your Diary

I hope you found this post to be useful. I would love it if you let me know your thoughts on this subject.