As we come to the end of 2023 and start thinking about a new year, it’s common to reflect on things we might want to change and improve. There are many forms of meditation and therapy that can help individuals realize their goals, but one trend that will take off next year can make a massive difference – gratitude journaling. This daily practice asks you to reflect on your day and emphasize all of the parts for which you feel thankful, so it can make a real difference to mental health and wellbeing. If you’re still unconvinced, check out these three proven benefits of gratitude journaling.
Gain Perspective
At the end of a long, hard day, you may not feel like opening up a journal and writing everything down. However, taking the time to do so can help you process events. If something hasn’t gone your way, it gives you an opportunity to reflect and see if there’s anything you could have done differently. More importantly, if you’re journaling with the intention to express thanks and gratitude for the good parts of your day, it can help to shift your mindset from negative to positive.
Increase Empathy
By writing something down about each of your significant interactions in a day, it can help you to understand the world from other people’s perspectives. In turn, this can help increase empathy, which has been proven to boost overall wellbeing and contentment. Practice journaling to help yourself see things from other’s perspectives.
Achieve
It may sound like a small thing, but successfully completing a journal entry can feel like a huge achievement, especially if it hasn’t been the best day. If you can maintain the practice, you’ll soon have a comprehensive account of your life, including your thoughts, emotions, and responses. This can be a valuable tool if you ever want to reflect, remember, or discuss events with a trained professional such as a therapist. It can also be satisfying in and of itself, to have this memento of your inner life and mind.
