Because I recognize that 100 gratitudes is not for all of us, I will share the practice of a gratitude journal with you.
This idea, for me, sparked itself from my reading of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. In this book, Julia Cameron invites the reader to begin a practice of journaling. She calls it 3 pages. She says, just sit down at a table with your journal and write 3 pages each day. No more. No less. 3 pages. She explains that she believes that that simple act of creativity will unstick us when we are stuck.
She is right. I began that practice years ago. When I began it, I decided I needed to treat myself to a reward for doing it. I would grab my journal and drive to Starbucks, get a chai tea latte, grab a table, sit and write three pages. Over time, I noticed that it was not just three pages. I wrote what I needed to write each day, processing whatever was coming up in my inner world, shifting toward healing and wholeness.
When I came to November that year, I decided to shift my 3 pages to that of gratitude. November is the month of gratitude, after all. Again, to get me started, I decided to reward myself for doing it. I grabbed my journal, drove to Starbucks, got a chai latte, sat down and wrote three pages of gratitude.
Now, to be honest, it was not 3 pages of I am grateful for….
It began with, “This morning I am grateful for…”. Then it went into free writing and I found myself writing about memories that reflected that gratitude. I wrote 3 pages reflecting upon that first line.
While I did this throughout all of November, it taught me that gratitude ran through my entire life. In those times, in those stories, when I felt like I was suffering – with distance I was writing about how grateful I was for that time, that experience. I was grateful for what it taught me. I noticed in the darkest of times, that gratitude was there. God was there. God’s blessing, God’s companionship, God’s Love was always there.
Journaling on gratitude became a healing spiritual practice for me that month.
I invite you to embark on this healing journey.
Choose a journal.
Choose a time of the day. For me, it is morning. For others, it may be evening or mid-afternoon.
Choose a place. At first, for me it was Starbucks. The noise of Starbucks forced me to concentrate. The chai tea rewarded my effort. Over time, I began making my own tea at home, sitting down at my kitchen/dining room table and writing. Choose the spot that works for you.
Write.
Begin with “Today, I am grateful for…” Then write. Allow yourself to explore that particular gratitude.
When did you experience it at other times in your life?
When was that particular gratitude a healing gift?
How does that gratitude affect your current life?
What joy does it bring you?
Invite your heart to write, to bring forth what you need to learn about this moment of gratitude.
Invite the Sacred to write through you, to bring forth a Word of Love, grace, compassion, justice, invitation, call.
When you have written your 3 pages, sit with them, offering a simple prayer of gratitude to God for this time together.
May it be healing. May it realign you to God’s Supreme Goodness.
