The Power of Gratitude. Why Women in Business Should Keep a Gratitude Journal
Throughout history the number of scholars, spiritual leaders and scientists who have deliberated on the benefits of expressing gratitude are many.
Simply put, a gratitude journal is a personal diary that is used to record and later reflect on meaningful moments in one’s life. It’s not only about the big wins e.g. winning contracts, promotion or financial acquisition only but the small things that one often overlooks e.g. the weather, feeling healthy, enjoying your pets or being surrounded by good friends and neighbours etc. It all adds up.
How journaling works
It is crucial to understand what gratitude journaling is and how it works. A gratitude journal is a simple and effective way to practice gratitude. It involves writing down the things you are thankful for regularly. This can be done daily or weekly and can be as brief or detailed as you like. The idea is to reflect on the positive things in your life and cultivate a sense of gratitude for them.
Gratitude journaling has been shown to have a wider benefit including improved sleep quality, lowering experiences of hyper tension whilst increasing happiness and overall life satisfaction. When you focus on the positive aspects of your life, you are more likely to feel positive emotions and experience greater well-being.
Why?
Gratitude disconnects us from toxic and negative emotions. Journaling “shifts your attention” so that your focus is on positive emotions.
Expressing gratitude helps you feel happier and more satisfied with life because you were intentional and consistent in keeping your journal up to date.
A gratitude practice trains the brain to be more in tune with experiencing gratitude — a positive plus a positive, equal more positives.
Where is the proof?
Numerous studies are demonstrating how gratitude journaling can increase one’s happiness and improve self-esteem. By getting in the habit of expressing gratitude you will quickly find it reduces stress and anxiety; increases optimism and improves your long term psychological wellbeing.
One study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who wrote down five things they were grateful for each day reported increased happiness and decreased symptoms of depression compared to those who wrote about neutral or negative events in their lives.
Another study found that gratitude journaling led to better sleep quality and a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with chronic illness.
Moreover, keeping a gratitude journal can help you to develop a more positive outlook on life. By focusing on the good things in your life, you train your mind to look for positivity and opportunities rather than dwelling on negative thoughts and experiences.
This can lead to a more optimistic and resilient mindset, which can help you better cope with challenges and setbacks more effectively.
Can gratitude journaling strengthen my professional and romantic relationships?
Most definitely. When you express gratitude towards others, you strengthen your connections with others and build stronger social bonds. One study found that expressing gratitude towards a romantic partner increased relationship satisfaction and improved communication between partners.
Another study found that expressing gratitude towards coworkers increased job satisfaction and productivity.
Lastly
Keeping a gratitude journal is an important practice that can have significant benefits for your mental health and relationships. By cultivating a sense of gratitude for the positive things in your lives, you can increase your happiness and overall life satisfaction; reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and build stronger social connections.
Gratitude journaling can help you to awaken your spirit and develop a more positive outlook on life, which can lead to greater resilience and well-being. Therefore, it is highly recommended to start a gratitude journal and make it a part of your daily routine.
If you enjoyed this article, please comment below. We would love you to share your experiences of journaling with members irrespective of the length of time you have been chronicling meaningful events in your life.
