Self-care Gratitude-Style
- Kate Toal
- May 6, 2020
- 2 min read
#gratitudejournal #grateful #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #focus #selfcare #innerpeace #positiveaffirmations #positivemantras #dailyhabits #routines
How are you taking care of yourself through this pandemic or new way of life for most of us? Are you focusing on healthy living, have you started new routines or habits?
Most importantly, are you practicing self-care through gratitude, or thinking with a positive mindset to help you achieve goals for physical health, well-being, or personal satisfaction?
I thought I would help to support you or anyone who could benefit by creating a Gratitude Journal template you can use or modify to what you see fit.
Click the link below to go to my example of Gratitude Journaling!
You can scroll through my example and find a blank template without all of my notes.
Why is it so important?
Most days, I use the first 10-15 minutes each morning before I get out of bed to focus on gratitude, my daily mantra, or daily devotional, and of course, my personal goals. It's so peaceful and warm to start the day feeling thankful and knowing the specific daily habits I will focus on. It helps me want to get up and greet the new day. I feel positive and almost enlightened.
After just a few weeks of performing my new daily habits (or daily focuses), I don't even think about them anymore. By 3 or 4 pm, it's almost like my body knows it's time to workout, or first thing in the morning before I have a sip of coffee, my throat feels dry and I know I need to hydrate first. These were a few of my daily focuses I wrote down every day.
Creating these habits take a bit of time, but after a few weeks, it becomes part of your daily routine.
Let's talk about your goals! I borrowed this way of listing goals from none other than, Mrs. Rachel Hollis. Writing my goals down as if they have already happened brings a whole other layer of truth to your mindset and subconscious mind. Since I've started journaling, well over a year ago, those goals have started coming true. When they do, I stop writing them down and think of something new to add. Achieved...CHECK!
Now, of course, there will be times when you're interrupted and just can't stick to exactly the same routine each day. Just yesterday, my six-year-old woke me up before I had time to focus on anything. Instead of ignoring my gratitude list, I came up with my daily mantra, stuck to my daily focuses, and I made time to journal after I meditated later in the day. (Meditation deserves its own blog later!)
When the day is done and you're ready to close your eyes, think about anything that brought you joy that day. For example: watching my daughter dance via Zoom with her class last night was so adorable to watch, or just ten minutes ago my husband brought my favorite ice-cream home for us. (Handel's Buckeye) Um...yum!
Focus on the little things to be grateful for, create personal goals to be proud of, and work on those inspiring new habits, it can and it will change your life.
Stay healthy, safe, and happy!
Catherine Toal LMT
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