Lists can be very powerful.
They can help you get more done, prioritize your responsibilities, and turn you from an unorganized train wreck into an orderly, highly productive individual.
This simple list-making process removes the guesswork from identified instances in your life that you should say “thank you”. This activity can also remind you that you may have more to be thankful for than you realize.
Lists are easy to make, only requiring something to write on and a writing instrument. There are free applications, notepads and spreadsheets available online expressly for making to-do lists. They can also help you locate areas of your life that you should be thankful for.
A Gratitude List is very easy to construct. Divide a single piece of paper or online notepad into the following sections:
- Family
- Friends
- Finances
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Spiritual health
- Personality traits
- Hobbies
- Career
- Miscellaneous
You can add other sections that spring to mind, or that are applicable to your unique situation. These are just some ideas to get you started, and you can add or remove sections if you like. Under each of these larger fields, list people, places and things that you are grateful for.
For example, your friends might tell you that you have a great sense of humor. This is a personality trait that you should express gratitude for. You may love collecting stamps, playing tennis or reading suspenseful mysteries. Those are examples of a hobby bestowing a lot of joy and happiness in your life. This is something to be grateful for.
