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Schedule a tour nowBe Grateful. Show Your Gratitude
Posted on: December 14, 2018
If you're feeling stressed or depressed, the best medicine might be to pause, take a deep breath, and focus on what you're grateful for. Gratitude is a powerful emotion, and studies have found that feeling grateful can actually boost health and wellness. One very effective way of increasing happiness while decreasing depression and stress is to keep a journal. Journaling is a lot like massage therapy -- it's relaxing and rejuvenating. And just like different types of massage therapy work best for different people, there are a variety of journaling methods that may work for you.
The Benefits of Journaling
Do you ever wish you could think a problem through more effectively or vent your frustrations to a friend? Keeping a journal is a great answer to both of these problems. A journal gives you a safe, judgment-free zone to explore your thoughts, record the day's events, and track the way you change as a person over the years.
Journaling is also a good way to get in touch with everything you're thankful for. Many people find that it's easy to forget about all the amazing things life has to offer, especially during busy and stressful times. Writing in a journal allows you to slow down and reflect. It helps you to see the good side of life as well as the bad side. And if you keep a journal devoted specifically to gratitude, writing every day will help you get into the habit of feeling thankful on a regular basis, which is essential for healthy living.
How to Journal for Your Mental Health
It's important to journal regularly if you want to improve your mental health. For some people, that could mean writing every day. For others, writing once a week is enough. Experiment with different writing frequencies to find the one that works best for you.
It can be tempting to use your journal as a dumping ground for negative emotions. While it's okay to write when you're sad or angry, don't lose sight of the positive things in your life. Reflecting on the things you're grateful for will bring you far more benefits than just venting to an empty page. Try concluding each entry with a short list of what you're thankful for at that moment. Over time, you'll train yourself to see the positives in life -- and you'll be happier for it.
