Why Gratitude Is The Key To Combating Chaos

As a mother, you’re surrounded by all the chaos and the to-do list is never ending.  I’m constantly surrounded my piles of laundry that aren’t put away.

Add everything you need to do on top of sleep deprivation and you have a recipe for a meltdown.  How can you combat all this and still have a sense of calm?  Gratitude is the key.

Combat The Chaos With Gratitude

I’ve found over the years, that when I start and end my day with gratitude in my gratitude journal, my focus changes my outlook.  Gratitude on a daily basis provides many wonderful benefits.

• helps you re-center the peaceful moments back into your life
• crowds out the negative thoughts
• helps you remember the most important things in life
• puts a smile back on your face
• allows you to sit back and breathe away any worries
• helps you forge ahead into the gathering storms of life

Plus, I’m sure there are many other benefits that I couldn’t even fully list here.  I want you to consider a few things.

Related:  7 Terrific Things To Increase The Gratitude In Your Life

Do you want to remove the depressing things in your life?

One thing that I’ve learned with mental struggles is that when you focus on the sad and negative, you get more of it.  Even if you’re just having a bad day, dwelling on it as you go to sleep sets your next day up for another depressing day.

Taking a few moments each morning and night to write down just one thing that you’re grateful for that day will physically change the state of your mind.  Choosing to focus on the positive things in your life forces those happy hormones in your brain to click.  It’s a simple, yet effective pick me up that can continue on every day.

Related:  Are You Using Faith, Hope, And Love Symbols For Your Good?

Do you want to find joy in stressful times?

No matter where you are in life, there is always something to be stressed about.  The mortgage, the bills, your job, the kids … no matter what.  When you let your mind become anxious over the millions of things that need to be done, it’s difficult for happy thoughts to enter.

Sitting down before you get on with your day and purposefully focusing on something good will trigger positive emotions.  At night, noting something great that happened that day, even in the midst of frustration, starts to remove all the tension.  Who wants to go to sleep still stressed?

Related:  Here’s a Quick Way To Change Your Focus From Frustration To Joy

Do you want to live your life with more intention?

Are you stuck in a rut and feel like you’re just spinning your wheels?  That can happen when you just go with the flow and don’t pave the path of your life.  Living in a reactive way to our surroundings doesn’t create the flourishing joy that can come from living with intention.

Expressing gratitude multiple times a day solidifies your desire with the universe for an abundant life.

Expressing gratitude multiple times a day solidifies your desire with the universe for an abundant life.  You are blessed more when you are expressing thanks more.  Choosing to say thank you about even tiny things, then solidifying that gratitude by writing it down, creates a life that is more well lived.

Why I Started A Gratitude Journal

I only have one gratitude journal right now.  It’s actually the first one I’ve ever owned.  But I wish I had started writing in one years ago.  I got this journal from a church event a few years ago when we were living with my mother in law.  That same month, she was suddenly killed in a tragic accident.

Those following months were the toughest we’ve ever been through to date.  So I started writing in my gratitude journal from then on in order to get through those times.  It’s been a habit ever since.  Whenever I write in that journal, it reminds me of my mother in law and how much we miss her.  

But even glancing through on a daily basis, I can see things that I’ve forgotten.  I find things to be grateful for even when I’m sorely upset about life.  Sometimes it’s just say things like, “I’m grateful for when I DON’T have a headache.”

I journal my thoughts on things I’m grateful for.

• people in my life
• tender mercies often unseen
• little things that make a big difference
• moments that brought me joy
• experiences with my family I cherish

It really is worth the time.  I no longer have excess wasted energy on things of no benefit in my mind.

Gratitude Is The Key

It doesn’t have to be Thanksgiving Day to express your gratitude.  Creating a daily habit makes the good things in your life the start and end of your focus. Wouldn’t you rather focus on the good?  I’m sure you would.

So I encourage you to start writing in a gratitude journal everyday.  You don’t have to spend hours on things, or write big long paragraphs.  It can be simple lists or one-liners about things at the forefront of your mind.

As you’ve already considered, I know you want to

• find more joy and less stress,
• stop focusing on the sad things of life,
• and live your life more intentionally.

You can even make it part of your morning routine so that you make sure it’s done each day.

>> Add Gratitude As You Makeover Your Mornings <<

You’re a smart person, and I know that you’ll find immense value in keeping a gratitude journal each day.  Now answer this question in the comments:

How will you keep your gratitude journal?

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