The Best Gratitude Journal Examples, Ideas And Writing Prompts
Kickstart your gratitude journey today and learn how to start a gratitude journal in 5 super simple steps. Explore the best gratitude journal examples, ideas and inspiring gratitude journal writing prompts that will set you up for success. Your abundance awaits!
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I 🖤 journaling and journaling has been a key milestone along my personal growth and healing journey.
Currently, I have three journals on the go: an anxiety journal, a moon ritual journal and a gratitude journal.
Yes, I love stationary, especially my journals, but I also like to keep things separate, it works better in my mind and I guess that’s the German side coming out.
Today we will look at the best gratitude journal examples and I will walk you through 5 simple steps to help you successfully start a gratitude journal.
If you feel inspired by this journey into abundance, stay with me, my friends!
What is a gratitude journal?
Gratitude is…
a strong feeling of appreciation to someone or something for what the person has done to help you (…)
– Cambridge Dictionary
Gratitude can be expressed e.g. towards people, nature, your health or your body, opportunities/events that changed your life for the better, individual achievements, etc.
A gratitude journal is like a personal diary where you regularly record things/events, etc. you are thankful for. A gratitude journal aims to focus your attention on the positive aspects of life, helping you foster a more positive mindset and outlook toward life.
Imagine your glass would always be half full instead of half empty.
What are the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal
Practising gratitude regularly can positively affect various aspects of your life.
The top 5 benefits of a regular gratitude practice are:
- Improved mental health – when you cultivate gratitude, you move your attention away from negative thoughts and foster a more positive mindset which will lower stress levels, help ease anxiety and depression and enhance your well-being overall
- Enhanced physical health – people who practice gratitude tend to take better care of themselves; they exercise more regularly, make healthier lifestyle choices and have better sleeping patterns
- Improved relationships – when you express gratitude towards others you start to appreciate the people around you more which helps to build trust, increases mutual respect and fosters a deeper connection
- Boost your self-esteem – practising gratitude and appreciating the good things in your life will help you develop a more positive self-image and start cultivating a sense of self-worth which will also help boost your self-esteem
- Be more present – by focusing on the good things that happen to you, you will increase your level of self-awareness and if you are more self-aware, you are more present in life
Establishing a regular gratitude practice also strengthens your resilience, helping you maintain hope and optimism, even during life’s most challenging moments.
How to start a gratitude journal?
Below are 5 simple steps to help you start a regular gratitude journal. We will keep it short and sweet, as always on this blog and after that we will dive right into the gratitude journal examples.
Step 1: Treat yourself to a gratitude journal
You can for sure start with loose sheets of paper, however, having a dedicated gratitude journal allows you to keep everything in one place and over time, you are creating a collection of all the grateful moments and memories you have experienced in life.
Should you ever have a bad day or feel a bit off, your gratitude journal can be a great tool to make you feel better instantly as you can revisit and remind yourself of these grateful moments and memories you have experienced.
To find the right journal, check the chapter on gratitude journal examples where I listed my current favourite gratitude journals on Amazon. The selection covers blank journals and guided gratitude journals.
Tip: once you found your gratitude journal, feel free to personalise your gratitude journal with pictures, motivational stickers, postcards, etc. any memories that touched your heart, quotes that inspire you, etc.
Step 2: Block time in your diary for your gratitude journaling exercise
Dedicate a specific time for your gratitude journaling practice each day or week.
Block the time in your diary and stick with it.
Start small, already 5 – 10 minutes can make a huge difference to your well-being and you can always add more time later.
Tip: If you have a morning routine or evening routine, consider incorporating journaling into your routine. It is easier to tag a new healthy habit to an already existing healthy habit.
Step 3: Create a comfortable environment
Find a quiet and comfortable space in your home. This can be your kitchen table, living room couch, or wherever you feel most comfortable.
Eliminate any distractions.
By making yourself comfortable and eliminating distractions, you allow yourself to be fully present for your gratitude journal entry.
Step 4: Ground yourself and connect with the feeling of gratitude
Sit comfortably on a chair or in an easy cross-legged position. If you sit on a chair, allow your feet to touch the ground.
Close your eyes; take a few deep inhales and exhales in and out through the nose to help ground yourself and become present for your gratitude exercise.
Step 5: Gratitude journal writing prompts
Gratitude journal questions are a great way to help you get started as they spark and inspire your thinking process.
Gratitude journal prompts examples:
- Write down three things you are grateful for.
- Write down three things that you love about yourself.
- What is the best thing that happened to you today?
- What/who makes your days better?
- List the people that have positively impacted your life. Why have they impacted your life and how?
- Think of something that you have in your life today that you did not have a year ago.
- What changes have you made in your life that you are happy about?
- What is something you are grateful for that you let go of?
- Are there any mistakes you have made you are grateful for today?
- …
When answering your gratitude journal questions, be specific and to the point. How did that person/situation make you feel? Why did you feel grateful?
Be aware of the words that you are using. Connect with grateful words such as ‘gifts’, ‘blessing’, ‘feeling of abundance’ etc.
Once you finished your gratitude journal entry, read over your notes and let the feeling of gratitude settle in your heart. Sit with this feeling of gratitude for a little bit before you get back to your day.
My favourite gratitude journals
Personally, I prefer working with blank journals as I either use journal prompts or practice free writing when I journal.
Below is a selection of blank journals and guided journals that you can use for your gratitude practice.
As always with 🖤 from me to you.
Blank gratitude journals
Beautifully crafted hardcover journal with light grey ruled lines and round edges; high-quality material for a magical journal experience.
Chic and inspiring lined journal featuring 256 ivory acid-free pages. Each journal is perfectly crafted and ideal for daily journaling, bullet journaling, or as a notebook and planner. Simply enjoy.
Make each day your masterpiece. This exclusive writing journal is handcrafted in Italy featuring 192 pages of the finest ivory paper for the most exquisite journal experience.
This journal comes with an exquisite faux leather cover, beautifully raised embossing, gold-foil highlights and an all-gilded edge. High-quality material meets beautiful craftsmanship for the perfect journal experience.
Guided gratitude journals
Embrace 6 months of transformation with this guided gratitude journal. This journal creates a beautiful space for self-reflection. Get your daily dose of positivity, nurture your ideas and step into your abundance today.
Beautifully crafted daily gratitude journal helping you to start your gratitude practice. The journal is made of high-quality material and comes with a selection of colourful and inspirational stickers.
Gratitude journaling examples – FAQ
How long should a daily gratitude journal entry be?
A daily gratitude journal entry doesn’t have to be long to be effective. Already 5 – 10 minutes can make a difference.
Depending on how much time you allocated for your journaling exercise, focus on 1 – 3 gratitude journal prompts max.
Tip: If you run short on time but do not want to compromise on your gratitude practice, ask yourself: What are three things I am grateful for today?
What are some examples of gratitude?
If you are completely new to journaling, it can help to have a few gratitude journal examples to hand. Below are a few gratitude journal examples for your inspiration:
- Thanking someone for listening
- Thanking someone for advice
- Appreciating someone’s patience and support
- Expressing gratitude for a compliment
- Appreciating a favour
- Thanking someone for a gift or kind gesture
- Being grateful for your skills and talents
- Gratitude for a mentorship
- Thanking someone for their feedback
- Thanking someone for their generosity
- Appreciating someone’s encouragement
- Gratitude for teamwork
- Gratitude for your health
- …
These are just a few gratitude journal topics for your inspiration.
Does a gratitude journal work?
I can only speak for myself, but for me, starting a regular gratitude practice such as a gratitude journal allowed me to create a more positive mindset and helped to ease my anxiety and depression. This was and still is the biggest change I have experienced since starting a regular gratitude practice.
I incorporated my daily gratitude practice into my morning routine and do my daily gratitude practice right after my morning yoga and morning meditation.
However, if you like your facts, there is science about the benefits of gratitude and you can read all about the scientific benefits of gratitude here.
Alternative ways to practice gratitude
If you like the idea of starting a regular gratitude practice, but gratitude journal examples are not your cup of tea, know that there are alternative ways to practice gratitude.
Related resources: 7 Mindful Gratitude Activities For Adults – A Journey To Abundance.
Most importantly, be consistent with your gratitude practice. This way you will experience the best and quickest results.
Keep in mind, how you show up for yourself and how you build your foundation matters.
In moments of doubt, remind yourself that you are worthy of happiness just like everyone else.
Yes, happiness is a mindset, but first and foremost, happiness is a choice and the choice is yours to make.
Related resources: 79 Daily Gratitude Journal Prompts
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Stay wild,
Nicolle
Featured image: Photo by Ashlyn Ciara on Unsplash
Hi, I am Nicolle, a Senior Marketing professional, certified Yoga Teacher and Wellness Blogger. I am the founder of Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga and this blog. I am here to support you along your self-discovery journey, offering empowering tools like yoga, holistic well-being tips and transformative personal growth strategies.
Great post with helpful tips!
Thanks so much for stopping by Janice 😉
Beautiful post! I have my own little gratitude journal that I try to write in every morning, and I find when I do remember to write my day goes a lot more smoother – or rather I feel less stressed, it really is magic.
Thanks for your comment, Leena! Practising gratitude in the morning really sets you up for the day, same here, magic 😉
I think the whole world could benefit from having a gratitude journal. It would definitely make it a kinder, more appreciative place.
Couldn’t agree more! Thanks so much for your comment and for stopping by ?
I love gratitude journaling. This is such a great post with wonderful tips on how to make the experience more beneficial. I also really love your journal prompts! Thank you for sharing this!
Thanks so much for stopping by Megan and for all your kind words. So glad you enjoyed the post 😉
I love practicing gratitude journaling
Makes the day so much better! Thanks for your comment, Jimmy!
I used to write a journal, but not specifically a gratitude journal. I should really give it a try. Thanks for these tips!
This is such an important subject. Thank you for sharing
You are welcome!! Thanks for reading 😉
I love this! Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome!! Thanks so much for stopping by 😉
I specially like the benefits of starting a gratitude journal. Thank you for the article and for all the tips.
You are welcome!! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment 😉
I started journaling daily in the pandemic and have kept it up. I love it, but do need to incorporate more gratitude prompts.
I can really see the benefits of starting a gratitude journal. Thank you for highlighting the step-by-step ways to start a gratitude journal.