P&G Check-in: 1 February - 7 February 2021
Hello, wonderful people of the P&G Community !
The topic I propose for this Check-In is:
Revisiting the Gratitude Journal practice
You surely have read and listened about it dozens of times, always being strongly recommended.
From 19th-century "Count your Blessings" pop-culture to ancient Buddhist practice.
From current psychotherapies, to the vast number of scientific studies in the growing field of "Positive Psychology", that state that Gratitude is the Nr 1 source of happiness.
And that the Gratitude Journal is the main tool for cultivating that so beneficial “Gratitude Attitude”.
Many of us enthusiastically started our Gratitude Journal, but with time, the thrill of novelty faded, and our Journal stopped growing, or even got forgotten.
On the other hand, some of us still keep adding methodically to it new people, events and things we are grateful for.
And reading it frequently, harvesting the benefits of increased perspective, and appreciation of the good things in our own life.
Questions:
- How do you feel today ?
- What is your personal experience with the Gratitude Journal practice ?
I look forward to your comments, and wish you all the best !
Marcelo.
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@WelcomeToChat
1. How do you feel today?
Exhausted in all aspects. I definitely need to take a break soon, though. Oh! And one of my aunties made cookies for me just for the heck of it, so that's cool. :D
2. What is your personal experience with the Gratitude Journal practice?
I did have an eager start to it, and then I slid off for quite a while, feeling disgusted, discouraged and disillusioned. Although I haven't returned to it, I have been considering doing so. Maybe it will help me, and I do need to help myself in whatever ways that I can.
Thanks for the discussion! 
I hope you feel more energetic soon.
Despite your discouraging past experiences with the Gratitude Journal, it will surely help you feel better when you get back to it.
All the best !
Marcelo
I am alright. I am not one for journaling, but I try to remind myself of what to be grateful for on a regular basis.
@lovelyWhisper66
Thank you for checking in !
I'm glad that you feel well.
It's great that you keep a "Gratitude Attitude" and regularly remind yourself of the things to be grateful for.
That's the whole point !
A notebook is just a tool to help our flimsy human memory...
Keep the good work !
I wish you all the best.
Marcelo.
How do you feel today?
I feel alright today. I have a full day and well weeks of studying for long hours ahead so I am just slowly trying to get myself mentally prepared for it.
What is your personal experience with the Gratitude Journal practice?
I have definitely struggled with maintaining it or logging in to it continuously. I personally do love the idea behind gratitude journal but often it has felt like (at some point, at least) something that "I have to do" instead of just doing it because it's good to be grateful. I have heard some alternatives like trying to go digital and whatnot, but I am doubtful if it will solve the problem. I personally would love to stick to paper and pen method for it (as I do with all of my journaling). So, I mostly struggle with being consistent but I hugely appreciate what the whole motive of keeping a gratitude journal is.
I would love to hear about your experience too! thanks for checking in :)
@lumieremilkyway
Hi Lumie !
Looks like you are going through a very tough phase in your studies. Why is it so intense ?
I had the same experience as you with the Gratitude Journal. I have stopped writing many times, and then I come back, months or even years later.
Typically, I pay more attention to it when I feel worse, and forget about it when I feel well. When I feel bad it's a lifesaver. I have found it to be very potent reliever in hard times, well beyond the effort I put into it.
In economics, there is a saying "Good times are the most dangerous" because countries stop healthy economic policies, indulge in risky behaviors, inflate economic bubbles and promote the next big crisis.
Something like this happens to me with many emotional health practices, including the Gratitude Journal.
I went digital with my "other" journal, because of the password protection, that makes me feel safer to write anything in any way, and also the plus of cloud backup. So I made a separate "gratitude" journal under the same platform.
Pen and paper are better in any other respect. Writing on paper is easier and there is less of a barrier than with a software. To write just a few words, you wouldn't open a software, but you would open a notebook.
Summing up, I do have a Gratitude Journal, that I value a lot. I feed it sporadically, and read it mostly in times of need.
But I aspire to write and read it every day...
All the best !
Marcelo
@WelcomeToChat
hello, Marcelo!
I am very late to reply here but I'm hoping it's okay. I think what's daunting about studies to me is the fact that I have to deal with the possibility of failure. I know it's counterproductive and I do register that on an intellectual level. Trying to accomplish something and failing is better than not trying at all because there is growth in the former. Studies are intense in the sense that there's a lot to learn which means there lots of pathways to potential setbacks (but also growth and learning). So I sort of, have a mixed feeling about how I approach this. I am trying to prepare well in advance for my next set of exams since this time they didn't go so well. I am looking forward to taking into account the mistakes I did this time and trying to not make them again.
It's comforting to hear you had a similar experience with gratitude journaling. During hard times, I can why it would be really valuable and helpful. I'm glad to hear that it's been good for you. I like that saying in Economics, so true, thanks for sharing that! Maybe a consistent practice of this would be far better but it's still something good if you return to it to find solace when you need it. I value and appreciate you telling me about your experience. I do hope that you can develop the practice of writing more frequently and even daily sometime in the future. It's amazing that you do try to return to it in times you need, you've set a good foundation.
It's always lovely hearing from you. I have always loved and looked forward to what you have to say about everything. I see that your responses and every single check-in are beautifully crafted and well thought out. I also like the fact that you share your wisdom with others freely and don't just make posts here for the sake of it, you genuinely seem to care about checking in with everyone and how they're doing, I have massive respect for you. I hope life is treating you well.
All the best to you as well!
- How do you feel today ?
Im feeling really good today. I've got a new kitten 🐈 and she's helped lift my spirits no end!
- What is your personal experience with the Gratitude Journal practice ?
I tried writing a gratitude journal for a few months but found it got really repetitive. I was trying to find new things to be grateful for every day but it was so hard. I might try again though as life is different now and I'm much happier 😊
@Pixiechu
I'm glad you feel so well. Kittens are an inexhaustible source of joy and tenderness. Magical companions !
Paradoxically, the effort in finding new things to be grateful for, is one of the great strengths of the Gratitude Journal practice. It's like your "Gratitude Gym".
Every item doesn't have to be a great spiritual thing. Could be your nice monitor, your cellphone, a smile you received, a cup of coffee, a moment of calm in a hecty day...
Of course, there are big, big things as well, like Existence, Life, Conscience...
For now, your new kitten will give you for sure a good daily dose of writing material ...
Thank you so much for participating in this check in !
All the best !
Marcelo.
- How do you feel today ?
I've been doing well today, I cleaned my room up and got some homework done. And now it's the weekend!
- What is your personal experience with the Gratitude Journal practice ?
I've been meaning to start one for the longest time and I've been thinking about it more lately. Thank you for the reminder!
@TheMeadowSystem
Thank you very much for participating in this Check-In ! Your participation makes a difference to me. I greatly appreciate it.
It's interesting how cleaning and putting in order our room has such a positive effect on our mood.
I suppose it might have to do with giving order to our small world around us, as a metaphor for the same inside ourselves.
Also, the accomplishment of doing something good. And afterward, the pleasure of being in a cleaner, nicer space.
Also finishing some homework gives you that nice feeling of accomplishment, and of being in control of your own ship.
Regarding the Gratitude Journal, you could start small.
Like, have at hand a sheet of paper, and write there things that come to mind, that made you feel good and you are grateful for like "This morning I cleaned my room, and it felt great" "I finished some homework, and it made me feel well about how my studies are going".
Just a sheet of paper and a few words that will make you smile when you read them again.
And little by little keep adding to the list...
Thank you again for checking in,
I wish you the best !
Marcelo.
