Dear friend,

I hope my message finds you well. As we step into February, the month of love, hearts and all things red, I am excited to move forward with “THIS IS MY YEAR”. Let's celebrate this sentiment by embracing our theme for the month: GRATITUDE.

According to Oxford Languages, gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Personally, I see it as a sentiment encapsulating what is good and right with our existence.

Throughout this month, we'll delve into the practice of journaling. Not only will it help us track our gratitude, but it will also aid in nurturing self-love and appreciation for what we have. This week, we'll focus on understanding journaling and how to incorporate it into our routines. Personally, I find journaling invaluable—it keeps me focused on the present, sparks creativity, and helps organize my thoughts and feelings.

If you've never journaled before, you might feel hesitant or unsure if it's for you. I completely understand those sentiments, but I urge you to give it a try, just for this month. There's scientific evidence supporting the benefits of journaling—it reduces stress, enhances memory, boosts mood, and fosters self-awareness.

DO THIS...
1. Choose a journal—whether paper or digital. Personally, I prefer paper journals which resonate with my personality and style. Lined or bullet journals both serve the purpose well. If you opt for digital, there are plenty of options available on your phone. Apple even released a new Journal app that's great if you want a fully encrypted digital option. It even has prompts and the ability to link entries with photos or locations.

2. If you're new to journaling, I recommend starting with a paper journal. Writing by hand enhances learning, and it's easier to refer back to past entries, which can aid in cultivating gratitude and recognizing trends and patterns.

3. Begin by dating your entries to track patterns and trends in your daily life. Creating a timeline is a very important part of developing a level of awareness around your behaviors and thoughts. Sometimes an idea is so subconscious we don't even realize we're thinking it until we look back and see we've written it down or eluded to it.

4. Start small—set a timer for five minutes and jot down your thoughts or feelings. You can use prompts like "Today I want to..." or "Today I am feeling..." Alternatively, start with a question like "What do I need?" If all else fails, simply write down what you had for breakfast.

Remember, there are no strict rules here. You can journal every day like I do, or a few times a week—remember Bob from my last email and his therapy session; baby steps are the key to forming a new habit. And don't worry about judgment; your journal is your personal space, and if your handwriting is illegible, that's a great way to ensure privacy! Just let your mind flow.

Let's have some fun with this. Next week, we'll explore gratitude journaling in more detail. For now, embrace this valuable personal habit of journaling—it's just for you.

Here's to a fabulous month of gratitude, journaling, and embracing our best selves.

All my best,

Liz