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A happiness journal is similar to other journals in that you write down all your thoughts and feelings, with one difference – you only write down what brings you happiness. You want this journal to be completely positive, used only for good things that happen, happy thoughts, and moments that have brought you joy.
Here are some tips for starting a happiness journal of your own.
Choose a Journal That Brings You Joy and Peace
Don’t just dig through your current notebooks and journals and find one you haven’t used yet. A happiness journal needs to inspire the feelings you hope to get from using it. You should feel hope, joy, happiness, and peace when you look at this journal. You will know it when you find it. As soon as you find the right one, you will smile to yourself and actually be able to picture yourself using it. It is going to be different for everyone, so no two people will experience the same thing or want to use the same exact type of journal.
Keep the Journal Positive and Uplifting
Every time you write in the journal, you are going to be positive, grateful, and optimistic. Remember that this is not like other journals where you write down anything you are feeling, emphasizing on the bad thing or struggles you are dealing with.
A happiness journal is meant to be positive no matter what. You can write down something you are challenged with, but put a positive spin on it, or show gratitude after you have written it down. The more you do this, the more positive and optimistic you will become in general. It really helps you to appreciate your life.
Express Gratitude Every Day
A good way to start each journal entry in your happiness journal is with gratitude. Write a short list of things you are grateful for that day before writing what is making you happy. These can be small or big things, from a favor someone did for you to enjoying your morning cup of coffee. Writing out gratitude instantly puts you in a good, appreciative mood, and can help you get into the right mindset for your happiness journal.
Find Happiness and Inspiration
Even on the worst day, you can find good things that happened. It doesn’t matter what kind of day you had, even if it felt like “nothing good happened”. Remember that everyone experiences things differently, so what seemed like a bad thing might actually be a good thing. This is what you want to focus on when writing in your happiness journal.
