Day 4 - Acceptance
Wellbeing Practice - Keeping a gratitude diary
Today's wellbeing practice is writing a gratitude journal.
Gratitude is a positive, prosocial emotion - it orients us towards the better welfare of others and helps us to connect. It focuses on what we already have in life and in this sense it is free from desire and striving. Writing a gratitude diary makes time for us to appreciate what life has already given to us.
In my experience of keeping a gratitude journal I am often grateful for things that at the time seemed like struggles or difficulties. I have found it has helped me to be less judgemental and more open. It has been a great tool for learning about and embodying acceptance and being present.
Research has shown that keeping a gratitude journal helps us to let go of toxic emotions and to notice what is ok right now rather than always being in a ‘I need to fix it’ mode. Keeping a gratitude diary has been shown to lower stress, build resilience and reduce pain.
To complete this wellbeing practice for the next 7 days before you go to bed, spend 5-10 minutes writing down 5 things you are grateful for. These can be big things or little things and as you are writing them down be mindful, pay attention to your memory of the event as it unfolded, imagine it in as much detail as you can, bring your awareness to whatever it is you are grateful for and write down all that you remember. Notice how this makes you feel.