Gratitude Journal

What are you grateful for?

Research suggests that daily journaling of what you are grateful for is as effective as anti-depressants for elevating mood.

So skip the anti-depressant and record your gratitude!  Ending your day with a list of what you are grateful for will raise your levels of happiness and well-being by 25%.  The same percentage that anti-depressants are said to raise your emotional feelings of well-being.  So drop the pills* and pick up your pen.

Writing about your gratitude, what makes you feel happy, and what fills you with love and joy increases your sense of well-being, feelings of love and happiness, and purpose in living.  Writing about these positives reduces your cortisol levels, calms your mind, and will help you sleep better at night.  It is one of the best drug-free ways to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.

By Carolyn Almendarez

(*Note: Only stop prescribed medication after consulting with your physician.)