Gratitude Journal Activity for Couples
Several years ago, I was watching an episode of Oprah (BTW…I really miss her). The entire episode was on having gratitude in our daily lives. Oprah talked about keeping a regular journal solely about “being grateful.” Â I immediately tried this idea and soon found that I LOVED it. Each week (about 2- 3 times), I would take 5 minutes and quickly jot down ten things I was thankful for. At first, I had to stop and really think. However, after doing this for a few weeks my lists got bigger and more detailed. I soon found myself counting my blessings and having an overall better attitude.
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So, in my gratitude journal, I make sure I list at least two things or more about my husband that I am thankful for each week. I find when I focus more on the things I LOVE and appreciate about him, I am less likely to focus on the little things that may arise.
I bought a journal in the $1 section at Michaels. This is a quick and easy thing I do a few times each week, but I have found has a great impact on my attitude and outlook about my marriage and life.
What are you most thankful for about your spouse?
We love your comments
Wow. I think the journal idea is great. So often my husband doesn’t think that I appreciate him. He doesn’t know how often I think to myself how much I do. I think I might try and do the appreciation journal for a year and give it to him as an anniversary gift.
Great idea! I also so a gratitude board where you and your spouse post notes onto it whenever you feel grateful and why you feel that way for your spouse. It serves as a daily reminder to stay grateful for each other! I plan on making one from a re-purposed thirty store frame and cheap cork squares.
My husband and I play a “game” whenever we find ourselves feeling negative or overwhelmed. We’ll stop what we’re ranting about when one of us says “Let’s play the ‘I’m grateful for’ game.” Then we take turns saying “I’m grateful for…..” until our conversation has moved in the right direction and we no longer feel stressed. Sometimes we play this game before going to sleep at night. 🙂 It’s so simple, but it has made a world of a difference in those stressful moments. ~Betsy
Love this idea, Corie! It’s SUCH a good thing to stop and count your blessings. Too often we all get caught up with what is going wrong in our lives and when we take the time to reflect on what is going RIGHT we always feel better. 🙂
I like this idea so much I pinned it.
My husband and I have an evening reflection ritual. Every night as a part of our son’s bedtime routine, we tell each other what the best and worst parts of our day were. It’s a great time to reflect on the things in our lives for which we’re grateful and the things we could make better.
Oooo! That’s a great idea, Alison! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
i do this for my husband too and it really works! i mean, it’s technically not for him, it’s more for MY mental state, and i find it totally gets me to focus on the kind things he does, and not on the things i wish he would be or do. i write them on a slip of paper and keep them in a jar, and maybe one day, i’ll make him read all of them so he knows how amazing he is. i have to say the jar filled up pretty fast. 🙂
@ Bethany- I found the same thing…my book started filling up!!