Ever since 2016, I have been documenting my favorite moment of every single day. It all started when my mom gave me a journal meant exactly for this reason. I placed it on my bedside table and right before going to sleep every night, I would write the day’s date and a sentence or two about something that made me feel happy or thankful. I wasn’t sure I would actually stick with it but once I filled up the whole book, I couldn’t bear to stop. I kept the tradition going by tracking these moments on my phone using the notes app. And then, once the note became too long, I transferred these moments to a word document on my computer and started a new note. I even set a reminder on my phone to do it every night just in case I forgot, but eventually, it became a habit.
I’ve always loved journaling in any way, shape, or form, but I would always have ruts where I couldn’t find the perfect time or thoughts to write. This once-a-day journaling was so much easier for me to stick with because it didn’t require too much time, thinking or perfection. It merely offered a clear focus on my life, but most importantly the best aspects of it in just a few minutes of every day.
(Photo by Daria Shevtsova) from Pexel)
So far, journaling has taught me a lot about myself and life in general. There were days when I would write more sentences than usual or write about multiple moments. These times made me feel incredibly thankful for the events and people in my life. But there were also days when I could barely find a moment to write down. These times reminded me that no matter how bad a day is, there is always something to be grateful for if you look hard enough.
I’ve learned that being grateful, present, and happy is a mindset, a point of view. If you are constantly thinking about the positives of life, you will find the positives. But, if you are constantly thinking about the negatives, you will automatically see everything as a negative, even if it’s not. Having this time for myself every night to reflect on my day and my feelings for a couple of minutes, helped me grasp this importance of changing my mindset. It helped me be more grateful for the big things and the little things. On a bad day, my favorite moment might have been something as small as having Chick-Fil-A for dinner or watching Netflix in bed. It may be hard at first to look for the best moment of every day, especially on a bad one, but after a while, it can become incredibly rewarding.
There would be times when I’d be hanging out with my friends laughing or doing something fun and think to myself, “This is it. This is my favorite moment of today.” Doing this journaling made me more present because I was actively aware of when I was enjoying myself. A moment means so much more when you appreciate the experience as it’s happening versus as a memory.
(Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels)
Gratitude does not have to be something you acknowledge only at Thanksgiving every year nor does it have to be intimidating to think about. It is something you can, and should, incorporate into your daily life. If my personal experience doesn’t convince you, you can look at the facts. Studies by Robert Emmons show that being thankful actually has proven effects on your mind and body. Overall, it helps to improve our immune system and blood pressure, increases higher levels of optimism, and makes one feel more social and less lonely.
I’ve done this for two, almost three, years now and I can tell you that I’ll continue to do it for many more. If you are having trouble journaling, are in a bad mental space, or just want to reflect more on your life, I suggest trying this method out. Reminding yourself that there is good, not only in the world but, in your everyday life can work wonders. Just watch.