Hello Journality community! I hope you have taken some time out of this beautiful day to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine or your beautiful surroundings. For today’s journal session, I want to focus on gratitude. As we know, showing appreciation for who and what we have in our lives keeps us grounded and present in any given moment. When we live strictly for the future, we often attach unreasonable expectations onto our happiness. For example, some of us may be familiar with hearing ourselves say, ‘I can wear that outfit when I finally lose 5 pounds’. Instead, what if we said, ‘I am grateful for my body and all that it does for me. I will dress in whichever outfits make me feel comfortable and confident.’. This sentiment allows us to feel liberated and available in the current moment, rather than waiting on a future outcome that may or may not come to fruition. Showing gratitude towards ourselves is one of the hardest aspects of gratitude for many of us, yet our bodies are one of the most important things that we should be giving thanks to! Our bodies do great things for us every single day. They are the vehicle we are driving around in 24/7 to get from A to B. They are the capsules in which we reside in during each of our many life experiences. They are not to be taken for granted. When I write in my journal about my body, I try to think of all the things my body can do rather than my body’s limitations or shortcomings. My body dysmorphia challenges this sometimes. I am aware that I will never be 5 inches taller and exist in an adolescent-like frame, so why would I punish my body for this reality? Instead, I should thank my body for its capabilities and for its hard work in pushing me through each day, the good ones and bad. We have been through so much together and for that, I am eternally thankful. If you’d like to try a gratitude-based journaling activity today, keep reading! Or, save this post for a time when you’re ready to journal.
**Please get out your journal and writing utensil of your choice!** When considering gratitude, there are many things to be grateful for outside of ourselves and our bodies. For your journaling session today, see if you can begin by listing 5 things that you are grateful for (note: leave a space under each item on your list). No need to overcomplicate it by thinking too much- the first 5 things that pop into your mind are perfect! These things could be family members, life experiences, pets, friends, partners, favorite activities- whatever it may be that brings you joy and makes you feel thankful. Now that you have your list of 5 things, I’d like you to read them over in your head. As you read, consider the following questions and jot down your answers under each item:
Now, I would like you to choose one of the items on your list. With this item, I would like you to write down every single detail surrounding this item that brings you gratitude. Every detail that you can think of. You may consider including details like the emotions you feel, experiences you’ve had, memories- anything that pops into your mind regarding this person/place/thing. Remember, journaling is an opportunity for our subconscious mind to speak, try not to overthink with your conscious mind. After you are finished, take a few moments to re-read your journal entry. Notice your emotions surrounding these items on your list. Truly feel into your body and how it is reacting when bringing this gratitude to the surface. Give yourself a chance to visualize what you’ve written about and how thankful you truly are. To finish your journal entry, see if you can write down 3 things about yourself that you are grateful for. Could be character traits or external features. Something to do with your mind or your body. Ending with an internal prompt like this brings our gratitude back inward and reminds us to show gratitude towards every aspect of our lives. Take some deep belly breaths as you show some appreciation for your mind, heart, soul and body! You are doing your best and you are doing it beautifully. If you enjoyed this step-by-step guide, follow along for lots more! Your Journality is waiting.
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AuthorGrateful to share my love for journaling with the world and the Journality community. |