Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. -Helen Keller

I started this year full of optimism, and it has led to me meeting some wonderful people and stepping out on my faith. I am so excited to work with individuals who are feeling stress from their jobs and COVID. It is beautiful to witness the change they undergo by journaling.

Yesterday I promised to provide you with tools to help you start and keep a gratitude journal

Here is a list of three tools you will need:

Writing implements: You could use a pen or pencil, but why not increase the fun and creative aspect by adding color and even texture. Different colored pens or pencils and different styles can make your gratitude journal not just a record of thanks but also a creative endeavor.

Notebook: While you could use a piece of paper, keeping a special notebook for your gratitude journal ensures that you will know exactly where you are writing and allows you to review previous gratitude records. Your notebook can be a plain and simple one, or you could splash out on a more decorative one. However, why not consider using a plain notebook and jazzing it up yourself.

By decorating a plain notebook or making a book from scratch, you make a more significant commitment to the project itself. Your notebook will mean more to you, and you will feel a greater connection to it when you use it. After all, if you write positive thoughts inside it, you also want to feel happy and proud when you see it.

Time Alone: By taking time away from disturbances, you give yourself space to think, relax, and write. You will also find that you enjoy the experience of being alone and celebrating those things you are thankful for.

Now you know what you need, it is time to discover how to do it.

Collect your journal and whatever you have chosen for your writing tools.

Find somewhere quiet and that you know you will not be disturbed. Your journaling time should be a time for reflection and celebration, free from outside distractions for the best results.

Ensure you are committed to gratitude journaling and that you want to feel happier and more grateful as a result. There is no point in just going through journaling motions without creating a positive, meaningful emotional experience.

Instead of creating a long list of things you are grateful for when you write, put some real thought into it. Take time to write about a particular event and describe in detail why you are thankful for it. Remember to record how you felt and why.

Try to include people you are thankful for as much as you can, not just events. Having specific people and the reasons you are thankful for them will create a more significant emotional impact. It becomes more personal.

Include surprises and unexpected events, creating a stronger sense of gratitude.

Set yourself a weekly date to write in your gratitude journal. While you could journal every day, it may be more beneficial to create a habit of writing in your gratitude journal once a week. It will allow you to plan for it and enjoy it.

There are no right or wrong ways to keep a gratitude journal. Everyone will be different. However, it would help if you were committed to the process and the outcome and make time for it regularly.

Faith and optimism give you all the confidence and hope you need to accomplish any goals. Keep your faith and optimism strong, and you will greet each day with joy and excitement, eager to go after your dream!

Until next time, please stay safe, and keep the faith.