So with the new year comes that desire to start fresh, make good on some of our desires and wishes, be more productive, etc. It really doesn’t take a new year…nothing is stopping us from doing this anytime, but it certainly seems to be a good motivator for most people!
One of the best ways to be our best self is to be positive and express gratitude for all the good in our lives and a simple daily way to do this is with a gratitude jar. It’s a good habit to get into and helps us to change our perspective from one of me and my problems to a bigger picture of how can I use all that I have to be better, or to solve this problem, or to help someone else.
I like to think about this as a progress jar. Often what I give thanks for is something I have accomplished or a big change in my life or a new perspective, spiritual growth, etc. more so than a physical thing. And as I write about these new ideas each day, I can really see the progress I have made. At the end of the year, I can go back and read my “entries” in order and it’s amazing to see what has happened in a year!
This year I am using these 2 paper tablets I got from Michaels. I cut them into squares/rectangles that work well for me, somewhere in the 2-3 inch range. I could write a lot more, but this helps me keep it simple and concise, just a couple thoughts on the one side and the date on the other side.
There’s no rule! Do what ever you want. The point is to make it a consistent daily activity that helps you focus on the positive and encourages progress so that by the end of the year, you can be proud of your accomplishments!
(The picture links to a 2×3″ pad of 100 sheets, all colors, that would be perfect for this activity.)
This is my gratitude jar so far this year! I’m using a sort of fish bowl that I usually use for plant clippings, so I’ll have to transfer them to a large jar at some point. And I have it in a happy place with my plants and lots of light which is inspiring to me.
Put your jar in a place where you can easily see it so it serves as a reminder to consistently make an entry every day and to have an attitude of gratitude and expectation of progress each day!