Choose 5 things

I made myself a promise at the end of last year - after completing my own 100 day challenge, and that was - every day, without fail I would write down at least 5 things that had been good about that day.

It's not like journaling where you get to write down the good, the bad and the downright problematic (OK ugly), but I suppose you could call it a gratitude journal if you want - I call mine the little black book - because that's the color of it - but you can call it whatever you like.

At the end of each week I go back through my daily lists and write down what would be the highlights of the week. And at the end of January I did the same - took each weekly positives list and wrote out my significant achievement and things I am particularly pleased about for the month.

It has helped me far more than journaling has ever done.

Why?

Because I have to look for the positives - every day, regardless of what is going on around me, or how I am feeling - there are always positives. And because I focus on the positives, I don't fill my journals with problems / issues / negatives anymore. Some people say it's good to get these things down on paper and out of your system, and I bought into that for years - but in truth all you are doing if you are focussing on the day to day detritus you will find it hard to write 5 things that you feel good about today or any day for that matter.

The other good thing about my little black book is this (well two things actually)

1. When I am feeling a little down (and yes I do "feel" down occasionally) I re-read my book....it makes me smile, when I read things like - saw a tiny hummingbird this morning; great cup of coffee; walked 8k's tonight (blister on left heel - but it was worth it - brain finally calmed down after 6k's)
2.  It also makes me look at what I have achieved and I find new ways to do more the next day / next week - when you want to recapture the feeling of "high" you automatically want to do more, be better, be better at it.

Now, I am not saying that you should

a) give up journaling
b) take up the 5 things a day "challenge" - but if you do decide to keep a "little black book" of your own. Make sure you hand write the entries rather than create an electronic version. There is something
eminently satisfying in being able to carry it with you to give you a lift when you need it.

Happy choosing