If You're Stuck In Negativity, Start Writing About Little Things That Make You Appreciate Life

A month back I was going through an emotional turmoil. I felt burdened with even everyday activities. I knew I wasn¡¯t happy and I wanted to change it.

So when I came across the idea of writing a gratitude journal, it immediately struck a chord. The good thing was that I realised that I wanted to change my situation and dwelling on negative emotions wasn¡¯t going to make me feel any better.

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Ways To Document Gratitude Journal

The first step towards starting your own gratitude journal is deciding how you want to document it. Now, there¡¯s an old school way where you take your favourite diary and physically write your journal. The second option is writing it on your phone by downloading apps and typing everything out.

The third option is creating a blog and putting out all your emotions in front of the unknown internet users. The fourth option is Instagramming your gratitude and letting your social circles know what you¡¯re thankful for. I chose the first option because I like to look back at tangible things.

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What I Wrote

Writing comes naturally to me, but if you¡¯re someone who can express their emotions better by drawing, painting or sketching, you can create a gratitude journal even without writing anything down. Getting back to what I wrote, I divided my journal in two parts:

1. Things I¡¯m thankful for - Initially, when I started writing, I looked at the bigger picture, like thanking a friend for sending me food over because I was upset. But on later days, I realised I was also thankful for sleeping with a blanket.

2. Things that made me happy - It could be anything, from listening to your favourite song on radio to receiving a job offer. I made sure I was documenting each and every moment of happiness, whether it was tiny or huge.

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It¡¯s important to understand that journaling is a habit that you have to build up and it¡¯s not easy. There were days when I didn¡¯t feel like journaling but I forced myself to do it. I knew that I needed self-motivation and soon after I started writing, I realised I was more self-aware and definitely a step closer towards being happy.

The First Week Of Writing My Journal

The first week was tough because I was getting used to the idea of writing everyday, and not just for work but for my own self. I remember there were days when I was consumed with one negative thought and that¡¯s only what I wrote about. It overpowered everything that happened on those days and I had to think hard to be thankful for something, anything. I even skipped a day during my first week but decided to get back to writing because I really wanted mental peace.

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The Last Week Of Writing My Journal

There was a huge difference between my first day and last day of writing a journal. I was indeed a better person. I was more grounded and aware of the things that made me happy. I realised that on bad days, I can go back and read what I wrote on the good days to make myself feel better. I realised that life is full of ups and downs, but we have to keep going. I realised the value of mundane, everyday things that usually get ignore. I realised that your happiness is solely in your control.

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I know I¡¯m going to continue journaling and I would suggest everyone to practice it too.