Gratitude Gems: 20 Journal Prompts
Practicing gratitude takes time and dedication, and there’s no simpler way to start learning than to begin a journaling routine. Being faced with a blank page each day can be daunting. With a few simple prompts that give you plenty of creative space, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.
Before beginning the prompts, make sure you have everything you need for a productive experience. If you have time to ground, it’ll help you center your thoughts and can help enhance the reflective practices that follow. Grounding has many benefits, from reducing inflammation, pain, stress, and more. Putting your feet in the soil or walking barefoot can help you clear and become centered. You can follow the grounding experience with a meditation of your choice; silent or mantra meditation.
Journaling 101
Start with a journal or notebook that you like. Something beautiful and dear, even if it has pictures on the front, dots instead of lines, or you just want to do it all on sticky notes, start with a blank page that excites you.
Reach for a pen or pencil that fits what you like as well. It’s hard to be ready to journal and pour out all your thoughts about gratitude if you don’t like either of your writing tools.
Finally, set aside time in a quiet space to focus on what you’re genuinely grateful for. Being bombarded by questions from your kids or spouse can quickly ruin how you journal and leave you feeling like you just wasted 15 minutes of your day. Quiet reflection is the perfect space to focus on what you’re grateful for in your daily routine.
Journal Prompts
Each of these prompts is a suggestion designed to help you reflect on what’s happening in your life and what you have to be grateful for within that space. Some may not feel “comfortable,” but you can push through them anyway. Moments of discomfort are where we learn to grow, and you can reap many revelations:
Write down one good thing that happened to you today and why it was important
Name five things you’re doing well
Write down something nice you did today for someone else and how it made you feel.
Who in your family are you most thankful for and why?
Who or what in your life are you happy to let go of?
What are your three worst days? Write briefly about each day
What are your three best days? Write briefly about each day
Write out the top 10 things in your life that cause you stress. For each, write what you can do to change it
In the worst period of your life, what did you learn through the experience? How is your life better for it?
What little irritations in your life can you take less seriously? Why do they cause you so much irritation?
Find three people you feel you take for granted and write how to express more appreciation for them.
What three things can you do today to be a kinder person?
What are your biggest accomplishments?
Write out five things you love about your home
What made you laugh out loud this week?
Write about a time someone went out of their way to help you
Write about a time when you went out of your way to help someone
What three qualities or talents are you most grateful for in your own life?
Make a list of all the ways you’ve been fortunate
How can you continue to be more thankful?
In conclusion, practicing gratitude through journaling can be a powerful way to cultivate a positive mindset and appreciate the many blessings in your life. Using the provided prompts, you can delve into various aspects of your life and reflect on what you are grateful for. These prompts encourage self-reflection and growth, from acknowledging good things that happened to you to expressing appreciation for others. By dedicating time and creating a quiet space for journaling, you can fully immerse yourself in the practice and reap the benefits of gratitude.
If you're looking for guidance in meditation or health coaching, feel free to reach out to me. I'm here to provide support and help you on your journey towards inner peace and holistic well-being.
