What is the change in routine that has most influenced your life? A few years ago, surrounded by so much consumerism, we decided to look more inward and give the value it deserves to the moments that make us happy. Those moments are what illuminate our lives. The birth of a child, a nice afternoon with your best friends, or time with family are those chapters of life that are never forgotten. They are what make our time on the planet meaningful. One of the habits that has positively influenced my days the most has been keeping a gratitude journal. Giving thanks has a powerful effect on us, but also on others and on our way of seeing life. I want to offer you this information in case, like me, you want to start guiding your life toward a more positive path filled with abundance through your gratitude journal. You will be surprised by the effects it has from the very first day you practice it. Ready?

1. What is a gratitude journal

“There is no duty more necessary than that of returning thanks” - Cicero

Numerous famous people have already spoken about how important gratitude is toward life and toward what we receive or have received. Even popular sayings highlight that "it is a sign of a good upbringing to be grateful." Giving thanks for what we have is an act of humility and appreciation for what makes us enjoy life. It is that act of being truly conscious. A gratitude journal is a record of daily thanks, as its name suggests. It is an incredible tool for cultivating the habit of giving thanks, to yourself, to life, or to others. It has several benefits that we will talk about next, but first I want to give you a couple of tips to introduce this wonderful habit into your life.

If you can, integrate this habit into your night routine.

There is an explanation for this: at night we are less in a rush and we take this time more calmly. Also, we have that general vision of how our day went and we can appreciate much more easily what are the things we are giving thanks for today. You can try leaving the journal on your nightstand so you don't forget to fill it out before sleeping.

Make it easy for yourself.

The biggest problem we find when integrating habits is that we lose consistency by "starting too enthusiastically" with this new habit. This makes us tire quickly. Therefore, I advise you to start little by little (at first, you can start by being thankful for just one thing a day) to first focus on creating that habit. You can link it to habits you already have automated, like going to bed, to make it even easier for you.

You can use this structure to make your expressions of gratitude if you don't know how to start:

"I am grateful for... because it has taught me...".

2. What a gratitude journal contains

The goal of this journal is to be thankful and, therefore, I want to share some ideas that you can include in your gratitude journal:

• Be thankful for being able to walk, hear, see, and feel. No matter how bad things are going, thank your body for those superpowers it has gifted you and that some people, unfortunately, do not have. Feeling the cold of winter and the heat of summer, emotions that remind us that we are human or, for example, something as simple as being able to read this article.

• Be thankful for memorable events. No, I don't just mean going to an amusement park or the party of the year. Also that getaway with your friends, a walk through the park that made you reflect, or a day in the mountains with strangers that brought you new perspectives.

• Be thankful for possessing certain skills. We all have our strong points and it is worth giving thanks for the strengths with which you were born. For example: the energy with which we face life, knowing how to listen, being empathetic with other people, easily understanding what you are told, or being handy with watercolors.

• Be thankful for what has happened to you in life. Each person has lived through different situations that have made them who they are today and for that we must give thanks. Every difficulty or challenge has given us the opportunity to grow. Every one. That is why it is wonderful to be able to be thankful for the bad moments we have lived or are living, because you can take a lesson from everything. For example: a situation of existential or economic crisis, illnesses, or difficult moments in our relationships.

I am sure there is something to be grateful for every day and, that is why, a year ago I implemented this habit into my night routine. Do you want to know what benefits being thankful brings?

3. Benefits of using a gratitude journal

Writing in your gratitude journal has notable benefits that have already caught the attention of positive psychology researchers. You may not see them clearly yet, but once you integrate this habit, your way of seeing life will change progressively. These are the benefits suggested by studies:

1. Greater physical well-being

Studies indicate that when we are thankful, our heart rate and blood circulation improve. People who are thankful also tend to care more about their physical state and exercise regularly.

2. Higher levels of happiness

Due to a sensation of less exhaustion and an increase in our self-esteem, practicing gratitude makes us feel more satisfied with our life. A life without gratitude is a life where the negative tends to weigh too much. Being thankful balances the good that happens to us with the unfortunate situations we have to live through; it makes us value all the positive aspects more.

3. Greater awareness of how we live our lives

We review daily what we want to be thankful for, so we mentally go through our days and are more aware of what we have lived and how; we are more aware of our sensations. It is an exercise that invites us to look outward, but also inward.

4. It gives us patience and humility

Some studies suggest that people who are thankful recurrently are more prone to aspects like patience and humility. Impatience is reduced and we put our lives into perspective with others, which is why we give true value to the relationships with the people around us.

5. It helps to build healthier relationships

Acquiring the habit of being thankful daily ends up extending to "real life" as well. Our relationships are improved by that act of giving thanks, which transmits peace and good feelings to the other person. Isn't that great? That person feels valued by us and is susceptible to acting more proactively in the relationship.

Will the gratitude journal work for you?

Each person is unique, although if you are reading this, possibly a part of you feels curiosity and excitement about trying this new habit. Some benefits it provides are immediate (it is a wonderful sensation of relief and well-being), others you will notice more over time. I cannot decide for you, but I can tell you that writing a gratitude journal has brought a lot of logic and satisfaction to my life. For that reason, I have decided to share a little piece of me with my #mujeresNehca and offer you this information so that you can have the power of decision.

I have the pleasure of announcing that #LuzDeGratitud is now available for you to boost your happiness, your well-being, and become even more aware of everything you want to be thankful for. With Luz de Gratitud you will be able to record those daily thanks and give yourself that little time for you, to balance the scales and boost that empowerment that drives you. Be gratitude, be a jewel, be a #MujerNehca. At Luz de Nehca we like to be thankful for everything life gives us: good moments and learning moments. We listen to ourselves and know how to trust in what life is about to bring us. And, in addition, we love turning gratitude into a jewel. Do you already know the Luz de Gratitud choker or the bracelet? If you also want to be a #MujerNehca I invite you to be part of our community by subscribing to the newsletter. This time I want to thank you, who will soon be one of us, by gifting you discounts and telling you about the news before anyone else. We'll be waiting for you there!