Attitude of Gratitude
The Attitude of Gratitude
Today, I opened “The Five Minute Journal” to make sure I remembered it correctly. My sister, Laura, gave it to me a year ago when I was quietly going through a dark time in my life. She has always been good about writing in a journal. Me? Not so much. I’ve never thought of myself as a good writer, and I can talk much faster than I can write and I do like efficiency.
I never wrote a single word in the book. But I did make myself a promise I would follow its message in a way that worked for me. The journal offers a simple structure to follow the below prompts (which I have modified some):
Morning Time:
• I’m grateful for…. list 3.
• What are you focused on today?
• Daily mantra
Nighttime:
• Highlights of the Day… list 3.
• What did I learn today?
Every morning and every night, I went through the prompts in my mind instead of writing them down. My mom always told me to give something new three weeks, so that’s what I did. Without fail, I kept the ritual morning and night. At bedtime, it quieted my anxiety. In the morning, it helped me get focused and motivated to face the world.
A few months ago, probably longer, I stopped keeping the answers in my head and started saying them out loud. Something shifted. The words felt more real, and I began to notice patterns. The same highlights kept coming up, which made me wonder if something consistently lifts me up, shouldn’t I make more room for it? Jazzercise, which is a dance aerobics and strength training program that I absolutely love, was one of those highlights. I always left class feeling better than when I walked through the door, so I began going more often. I’ve known I looked forward to it not only for my physical health, but also for my mental health but by seeing the same people more regularly, acquaintances became real friends and that’s such a gift as adults.
Sometimes I changed the script in my daily gratitude ritual and added “Lowlights of the Day.” I know. I’m such a rebel! But those lowlights revealed patterns too. When the same people and same experiences kept appearing, I had to ask myself what I needed to do differently and what I simply needed to put into perspective.
Maybe the most important thing I realized was how much I have to be grateful for. Most days, it was hard to stop at just three things. I noticed patterns here too: the same people, experiences, and parts of my life kept rising to the top. That clarity helped me be more intentional about where I place my attention, my energy, and my care.
Instead, this ritual helped me focus on what I still have, and on the people, relationships, and practices I want to nurture so I don’t lose sight of what matters most.
What daily ritual helps you keep life in perspective? Would you try this morning-and-night ritual for a week and share what you notice? I’d love to hear what you learn about yourself.
