I did it. I finally started my gratitude journal. Knowing that most of my readers share my struggle with anxiety, it excites me to share this with you. I love connecting with you and sharing some of the tools I have discovered to help with this. A gratitude journal is a very simple yet super powerful tool. Today I am going tell you why if you struggle with anxiety – you need to start doing this, too!

On my personal growth mission and specifically dealing with my anxiety; becoming more grateful is an important piece. I wrote a blog last month and gave some tips that have helped me with my personal struggles.

Being grateful was not on that list – and it should have been. Choosing to be grateful has helped me to not let the anxious thoughts take over. Every night before I go to bed I have been choosing three things that I am thankful for. I hold them in my mind while I fall asleep

Anxiety is the fear of the future; the fear of the unknown. Usually people fear things are about to happen but it doesn’t actually come true. This can create a self-fulfilling prophesy where the imagined threat is brought forward. This fear can interfere with our ability to see good things in our life.

When we stop seeing all the good stuff in our lives it usually means we stop appreciating things. And one of the best ways to overcome this to be more grateful.

However, after doing some research, I found that writing things down is even more powerful. By putting your thoughts on paper, it allows you to free up some mental RAM. If you think of your body like a computer, your brain is the hard drive. It is complex and has many layers to it. When you take the time to write things down it literally helps you to unload some of your ‘baggage’ and gives you space for other things. Other more positive things.

This is so important, I am going to repeat it – THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.

A gratitude journal is a tool to keep track of the good things in life. No matter how difficult life can sometimes feel, there is always something to feel grateful for.

Gratitude makes us feel more gratitude. It triggers a positive feedback loop. It makes us more social, nicer and more trusting. Because of this, we deepen our existing relationships not just with others but also with ourselves. It will reduce negative feelings like envy and stress helping us to experience good feelings.

Gratitude corresponds with optimism. And we all know that a tendency to look on the more favorable side of events and expect the best is a great way to fight anxiety and depression.

Gratitude helps us find goodness in outside sources. We can appreciate positive traits in ourselves. Acknowledge goodness in others is also a great way to see some of the positive gifts in our lives.

Studies have shown that positive emotions wear off quicker than the negative ones. We adapt very quickly to positive life circumstances like a new house, new job or a fun trip. Before long, they don’t feel so exciting anymore.

If we appreciate something, we are less likely to take it for granted. By taking the time to feel gratitude more frequently we start to appreciate the value of things in our life. Especially the small some times mundane things.

The most important thing with gratitude is that it allows us to celebrate the present. And since anxiety is the fear of the future – being able to stay present is a very powerful.

Taking the time to write in your gratitude journal before bed can also help you sleep better. If your mind is worried about work, the bills or your relationship; stress in your body will be high. And in a stressful state, it keeps us awake.

Free up that space in your brain by writing down those worrisome things. Then replace them with good thoughts before bed. Unloading stressful thoughts induces the relaxation response and helps to lull you to sleep.  Replacing them with warm fuzzy feelings  will help keep you asleep, too. 

If you remember that our brains are like a computer, think that your memory is like data stored on a hard drive. They can change over time. If we remember things in our life as being worse then they actually are they become prominent negative thoughts. Replacing these memories with feelings of gratitude can turn them into more positive ones.

Writing in your gratitude journal every night can work like re-programming your mind. Take five minutes to jot down at least 2 things that you are grateful for. The roof over your head, the warm blankets on your bed, your job, the fact that you have your eyesight and can read! We take some of these simple things for granted yet are privileged to have them. You have the ability to read what I am writing thanks to your phone, or lap top or even just your eyesight and or the fact that you even had the chance to learn to read.

Developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life. It will make you happier and will help to overcome some of your anxiety’s.

If you are on my email list, I will be sending out a list of 30 ideas to help get you started with your own gratitude list. So if you aren’t getting my monthly emails make sure you sign up today!