Keeping A Gratitude Journal: Tips and Resources

While writing my last post, I didn’t realize it will open up such interesting conversation threads with my readers. That post connected with many. Some went down memory lane remembering their own old diary. Whereas, some shared how their outlook towards life has changed ever since they started practicing meditation, gratitude-journaling, or journaling in general. Some asked me thought-provoking questions in different forums where the link was shared. 

Going through those queries, I felt my last post had an incomplete ending. The readers expected more. Some takeaways, or practical insights that they can implement in their lives. Especially the ones, who are new to the world of journaling.

Honestly speaking, it was an impromptu post. Something that I felt like sharing as an aftereffect of revisiting my old journal. And I am glad I did. I wasn’t prepared for such heartwarming direct messages and engaging WhatsApp conversations. I always thought my audience profile is mainly folks from product and marketing backgrounds. As that’s the kind of content I mostly share here. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. Personal stories have a charm of their own. Especially when they connect, entertain, or inspire you to act. 

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Gift yourself some silence

When everyone is busy putting up their year-end summary, next year’s goals, party plans, holiday pictures, just take a moment to pause, breathe, and embrace silence.

A few moments of quiet are all you need in life at times.

When it all seems too overwhelming when you can’t help but notice others’ lives and when you can’t avoid the noise, just pause and embrace silence.

When you’re confused, embrace silence.

When you’re lost, embrace silence.

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Bringing old ways of reading back to life

From being a voracious reader to a reading enthusiast — that’s how my reading habit got changed when I started working and entered into other phases of personal life. For last two years, despite all my sincere intent to read more, at best I could manage to read only 12–14 books an year. This was lot less than what I used to read earlier. So, when I ended up reading 19 books in last one month, I was quite pleasantly surprised with myself. At least there is something good out of this hospitalization and being-on-bed phase of life, I am getting time to read and paint more. See, I am trying to look at the positive side of any situation :). No, I mean it in all seriousness; first month on bed was too painful with surgery, stitches, fractures and what-nots. To add to that, weird thoughts kept on floating in my mind throughout. So, after few weeks when my hands got freed from stitches, the first thing I did was, picked up a book. One book after another and soon enough I was engrossed in reading like earlier. It only added to the reading charm that not only I was getting to read the books that I wanted to read but I also got some amazing books as gifts from friends.

But I am all free these days, so what’s the big deal about reading 19 or any number of books? Well, it’s not the number or the titles of the books but the way I am reading that makes me think more on my current reading habits. You know the kind of reading that we used to do earlier, engrossed in words, lost amidst the pages, the kind of reading that brings you calm and cognitive stimulation, the kind of reading that you do mindfully. My recent readings have been all of that.

So, what did change this time?Read More