Admittedly, I was a skeptic.
All I have to is be thankful, and it will instantly make me a happier person? Not only does that sound too good to be true, but what does practicing gratitude even mean? After all, I write my thank you cards after receiving gifts like a good girl should, but I certainly don’t feel all magical and glowy.
And practicing gratitude every day? Ain’t nobody got time for that.
But then the Five Minute Journal entered my life.
I don’t remember how I learned about it, whether it was from a blog or podcast or someone in my network — heck, it could have been one of the creepy suggestions from Facebook, but it really wasn’t even a decision. Five minutes? I can do anything for five minutes. Done.
And that unthoughtful, probably wine-induced click-button purchase has been life-changing.
I know that it’s dramatic, but it worked so well for me that I bought in bulk and sent them as gifts the following holiday.
My favorite thing about using this particular journal (because honestly, you could use some free app or just any notebook or paper) was that the framework made it easy for me to be introspective (blank pages are hard!), and it provided inspiring quotes and easy activities to further my mindfulness and presence.
Lots of studies and articles have touted the benefits of gratitude journaling so I won’t get into all of that here. Instead, allow me to share a couple of ways it has helped me.
Improving My Marriage
Look, marriage is hard.
Especially when my energy is mostly depleted at work and any I have left are for the tots. It’s hard when we haven’t made time to connect, our schedules have us like ships passing in the night, and all our conversations are about the “business” of marriage and managing the kids. There were periods in my life where my husband seemed more like a roommate – and sometimes, a terrible one at that – the one who leaves his dirty clothes on the floor, mere feet away from the hamper, or leaves cabinets and drawers open and lights on.
You’re probably wondering how the journal fits in.
Well, after a particularly raw argument – when I was in my room, all in my feelings, I randomly picked up the gratitude journal and reviewed my past entries. And despite how upset I was, I could not deny how much I wrote about him – and how romantic he was and how he supported me and my career or how wonderful he was as a father. I showed myself through the use of the journal that the arguments that we may have are fleeting and that I am grateful for his love and presence in my life every. single. day.
So yeah, it’s helped my marriage. And having a happy marriage leads to well….happiness.
Decision-Making
Last year, I had an incredible opportunity to work for another company as their only employment lawyer. The idea of getting to make meaningful decisions and set strategy was alluring. Little to no travel, comparable compensation and benefits. A fun, hip company culture.
Except that they only had a work from home option twice a month. And it was a minimum two hour commute (or we could have moved).
Again, I reviewed my gratitude journal and when I read my past entries, I was repeatedly thankful for the flexibility of the job I have now and the autonomy I had (I work from home at least once a week and sometimes twice a week with no particular start time). I read how I loved the fact that I was close to home and able to be the mom I wanted to be by taking my tots to Tae Kwon Do and swimming during the weekdays and make their school activities. I also read about how much I loved our house and our neighborhood community. Being a boss is great and all, but basically, if I moved, I would be giving up all these things that made me happiest.
And before your skepticism sets in – no, I don’t own any stock in the company and they don’t even know who I am. But I am so grateful that they created this product.
I better go write that down…
