SJennyToday’s Journal Prompt: Can you make a list of ten blessings?
One of my favorite things to do when I need a little positive boost in the right direction is to count my blessings. We all have so many different people and things to be grateful and thankful for. Do you count your blessing regularly? If not, it’s a great habit to get into. It won’t take you more than a few minutes per day, but can have a huge impact on your life, how you feel, and how you interact with those around you.
The benefits of counting your blessings go far beyond helping you embrace forgiveness. Yet it is also a great tool and strategy you can use during this 30 Day Forgiveness Challenge and beyond. After all, it’s almost impossible to close your heart and stay mad when you have so much to be grateful for.
Counting your blessings will instantly improve your mood. It’s impossible to feel down when you practice this daily. It’s also good for your health. We live in stressful times where we are constantly overloaded with information. We’re short on time, have too much to do, and are bombarded with news and social media posts. It’s no wonder we’re experiencing more stress and stress related illnesses than ever. I find that gratitude or blessings allow me to put the heavy stuff down for a moment and be more present.
Sitting still for a few minutes every day and simply listing off everything and everyone we are thankful for is a great stress buster. It forces us to slow down and shift from busy and overwhelmed to calm and joyful. I don’t have to tell you how beneficial that is to your mind and your mood. It makes you a nicer and better person, which is good for you and those around you.
So far we’ve established that counting your blessings is good for your state of mind, your health, and how easy it is to forgive, but how do you actually do it? It’s quite simple. Sit down, clear your mind, and start thinking about everything you’re grateful and thankful for. Don’t try to go into any type of order. Don’t edit or judge yourself while you do it. Just let the thoughts come and start counting those blessings. When your mind starts to wonder to everything you have left to do today, or even worse, to negative feelings, stop and go back to thinking about the people and things you’re grateful for.
This is something you want to do daily for best results. If you’d like, you can even do it several times per day. Find a time of day when it’s easy for you to sit quietly and undistracted for a few minutes and start making “counting your blessings” part of your daily routine.
Tip: Look back at a situation where you are having a hard time forgiving and try to make a list of GOOD things/blessings that came from that experience. Can you transend the pain and move into gratitude?
