A few years ago, I got our family started on a Gratitude Journal. I decided we should keep one after reading about the physical and psychological benefits of practicing gratitude. A Gratitude Journal proves helpful in many ways. It challenges the idea of having a “set point” for happiness. Meaning, all humans have a perceived level of contentment they believe they deserve. Some people believe they deserve a lot of happiness. Others, not so much. Keeping a Gratitude Journal challenges our perceived notions of self worth.
I can attest to this. Keeping a Gratitude Journal has taught me a lot, especially when I have a particularly rough day of motherhood, wifehood, writerhood…lifehood! Whenever I have had a bad day, my wonderful husband opens the Gratitude Journal and asks me what I’m grateful for – and then I have to think.
Hard.
(I forgot to add, one of our “rules” for the Gratitude Journal is we have to say something we are grateful for in the past twenty four hours. So we can’t say general things like “I’m so grateful for my family..or my house..or for my salvation.”)
Like I said, I have to think hard…challenging my own “set level of contentment.”
So, after wracking my brain, I say something simple like: “I’m thankful for seeing our son smiling today.”
Or: “I’m thankful for the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window this morning.”
Or: “I’m thankful for my husband helping me out with the dishes today.”
It’s at this point I realize those things aren’t so simple. They are wonderful gifts which indicate a few things. First, my child is happy and I’m able to witness his joy. Second, I’m alive and able to enjoy God’s creation. Third, I’m blessed with a supportive, loving husband.
Not such a bad day after all.
When the laundry and the dishes and the screaming babies and the dust make you want to crawl back in bed and wait for tomorrow to show up, give thanks..in everything.
(And write it down!)
A good reminder!
Thanks, Jennifer!