Journaling for Gratitude
I don’t remember exactly when I began journaling. I do know, it seemed to be the only time I could process thoughts with intention amidst the kids, business, and worries of a “mompreneur”. In hopes to find answers to some inner questions, I searched for workshops and weekend courses and even certifications to basically help me feel more in control, better, and confident about the future.
I attended wonderful courses, I gathered lots of very cool certificates, and I found myself journaling throughout the years. And recently while walking in the woods, I realized the answer! “The only thing, the 1 thing I have control over, is how I feel”. I write this with amusement as it was just the other day I found myself internally bickering about a situation (that I had no control), and this thought literally stopped me in my tracks.
The only 1 thing.
There you go, over fifteen years, and that is what I just learned. Kidding.
Over the course of these soul searching years, I did learn that How I feel about Anything, really is my highest priority. And I also believe in Emotions. Energy (thoughts) + Movement = Emotions. Some emotions produce higher sensations and some lower. There is a great book called “Power vs Force” by David Hawkins, where he calibrates the human body emotions on a scale measuring the energy vibrations from 1 - 500.
So high vibes are those that resonate with Love, Appreciation, Power, Joy etc. and of course low vibes resonate with Fear, Guilt and so on.
One of my favorite teachers offered a tool to help us raise that vibration up the scale. And combined with the process of journaling ( or even just focused thinking) this exercise, called the Rampage of Appreciation, really helps set the tone for feeling good. And what manifests, is a better perspective!
How to begin.
Start with right now. How am I feeling? What just happened? How do I want to feel? Get the self dialogue going. Its like the beginning of a map. No judgement, just where am I now, and where do I want to go?
Depending on your current vibe, try going general. Especially when we find ourselves beginning in a place we are not happy about, and this happens often! It is recommended to try journaling at different times of the day - first thing in the morning, when you are clear from sleep is optimal. But sometimes I find myself needing a tune up, or post day reflection. In going general, try saying, “Everything always has a way of working out” or “I am where I am, and that’s okay”. Find some phrases to help you pivot. Of course if you are already flying high, have fun and write about that!
When if comes to gratitude journaling, I immediately try to find anything I can focus upon that I feel appreciation for. Some things are easy, “I feel thankful for my children” for example, or “I feel good in my body”, or “My garden is especially aromatic today”. You get the picture. Just get started.
It may take several thoughts to help you get momentum. But once you do, keep going. If a thought contrary to your good feeling vibe creeps in, let it go, and reconnect to the previous thought block. Keep going as long as you can or about 20 min, a page etc.
Notice. How do you feel now?
Try this practice for 30 days. No limit in how many times a day or how much you write, just let your emotions rise up, and feel your way through this experience. What is important is we recognize our emotions, and in doing so, we embrace the 1 and only thing we have control over in our lives, how we feel.
Sending love and appreciation to you!
