It’s just about “New Year, New Me” time already. Whether you rocked your personal goals in 2024 or are still plugging away, celebrate even the smallest wins. Life is tough, and a positive mindset can be a great way to face it.
When circumstances aren’t what we hoped for, or life gives us lemons, it can be easy to fall into a negative mood—especially if we’re not feeling our best. Reflecting on situations that left you feeling cheated can play repeatedly in your mind, leading to more bad days than good. Why not try a little gratitude instead?
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Gratitude Helps Foster Happiness
By choosing to be grateful every day, you may end up healthier and happier. Studies suggest that gratitude may help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Thinking of the good in our lives won’t erase the bad, but it could help you start the new year out right.
Consider keeping a gratitude journal instead of declaring a New Year’s resolution. By writing down how grateful you are for all the good in your life, you might be able to reframe your thoughts and maybe even outweigh the negative ones.
Starting a Gratitude Journal
Journaling may take practice if it’s been a while since you’ve put the pen to paper or if it’s new to you. Whether you want to use a basic notebook, an actual gratitude journal, or your notes app, jot down your thoughts.
Start small. Choose a quiet place and time of day to journal. For starters, write down or type up to five things that make you feel grateful.
Focus not only on what you’re thankful for but also on why. The things you list can be relatively small in importance (“I am grateful for the delicious salad I had for lunch today”) or a major life event (“My sister gave birth to a healthy baby”).
Journaling aims to help you practice choosing good thoughts and reminders about positive aspects of your life. Remembering something good in your life and then reassociating emotions with it can help you reframe how you think and how long you focus on negative events or situations.
As you write, here are some important ideas:
Write with Details:
Going into detail about a particular person or accomplishment you’re grateful for has more benefits than jotting down a basic list. The more specific you can be, the more you might spark fond memories. Try to record unexpected or surprising events, which may elicit even stronger feelings of gratitude.
Get Personal & Use Variety
Write about the people and successes in your life that bring you joy. Journal about how long you’ve known the people you’re grateful for or how you met. Consider adding selfies or pictures to your gratitude journal to reflect on happier times if you’re going through a period of the blahs.
Thinking of your life’s good relationships or wins as gifts helps you avoid taking them for granted. What would life look like without your best friend or things that bring you security, like your job, car, or home?
Be grateful for the negative outcomes you avoided, escaped, prevented, or turned into something positive—try not to take that good fortune, health, and loved ones for granted. Consider all of the positives as special gifts.
Write Consistently:
Whether you write daily or every other day, commit to a regular time. Do your best to keep journaling about what you have in your life, and look back on it if you’re feeling down.
We wish you all the best in 2025! If you’re exploring senior living or helping someone you love find care in their later chapters, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com. In addition to offering excellent care and cozy surroundings, we’re helping seniors stay healthy, active, and engaged. Learn more at www.edgewoodhealthcare.com.
