The Benefits of Journaling Caught Me by Surprise

Some of the best things happen when you decide to go for it.

I experienced one best thing when I challenged myself to journal gratitude.

The Ship 30 for 30 writing cohort proved I could be a daily writer. What did I have to lose expanding my writing by keeping a gratitude journal for 30 days?

I journaled gratitude a little out of defiance. Journaling gratitude couldn’t possibly change me. I was already a cheerful, positive person.

Or so I thought.

After 30 days, I was more positive. I began to look for the good around me and try to be a source of good. 

My actions and words changed:

Instead of complaining, I shook off the negative I couldn’t control. If the data-based system at work was down, I moved on to something I could do.

I started rephrasing my sentences to exclude “not” contractions. Instead of “don’t do …” I thought and spoke in terms of “Let’s do…”

People noticed the change in me and let me know.

That was over two years ago. Now, I’ve expanded my journaling beyond gratitude.

The benefits of journaling have expanded as well.