50+ Inspiring Gratitude Journal Prompts For Happiness And Success

Gratitude is expressing appreciation for people and things in your life (and also towards yourself).  It can have many positive benefits (which we’ll come to in a moment).

Expressing gratitude once or twice, or only occasionally, isn’t likely to bring those benefits, however.  To do this, gratitude has to become a regular habit.  A gratitude journal is a way of helping this habit to form and stick.

Once you have your gratitude journal, sometimes you may get a bit stuck about what to write about.

I know that I certainly do!

This is where journal prompts come in handy.  A journal prompt is a question or a statement that can help to guide your thinking and to consider perspectives and questions you perhaps haven’t thought of before.

I mentioned above that there were many benefits to practicing gratitude, so what are they?

Gratitude helps you to look at the good in life.  As human beings, we can be somewhat unbalanced in what we focus on.  We have a ‘negativity bias’.  (Check out this post if you want to learn more).

Undoubtedly showing gratitude and being thankful on a regular basis has many benefits.  Here are a few:

• Helps to promote positive vibes and give you a feeling of optimism
• Increases self-awareness
• Promotes mental wellbeing
• Reduces stress levels
• Helps you feel happier
• Leads to success

Yes, research has shown that gratitude really can lead to more happiness and success in life.  Who doesn’t want this??

“My socks may not match, but my feet are always warm.” – Maureen Mccullough

It’s been shown that journaling can have a positive impact on our well-being.  With this in mind, how do you go about starting a journal and gaining the benefits?

Firstly, choose where you will record your thoughts.  You can use whatever format you want for journaling, although I would suggest writing with an actual pen rather than typing onto a phone or laptop.

There is something distinctly cathartic about words pouring out of your pen onto the page.  When I journal, I can literally feel the emotion flowing out of me sometimes!

Choose a nice notebook that works for you, or you can print out journal pages and store them in a folder.

 

Try the 5-minute gratitude journal from Amazon

 

Secondly, investigate using gratitude journal prompts.

When I first started journaling and recording what I was grateful for each day, I noticed that I got a bit stuck using the same things.  For example, I would say ‘I’m grateful for my husband’, but what specifically about him was I grateful for?  (So this is the first lesson, be specific!)

I strongly recommend using journal prompts as they will get you thinking about things you perhaps haven’t considered.  For example, before I started using journal prompts for gratitude I wouldn’t have thought to write what I was grateful for about myself or about the area I live in.  I would mainly have focussed on the other people in my life, which was narrowing my scope down somewhat.

Thirdly, choose a time of day to write in your journal.  Some prefer to do this as part of their morning routine.  I tend to write in the evening.

There are no right or wrongs, go with what feels best for you.  You can also change it up and write at different times, although it is best to schedule when you will journal, particularly in the early days.

To get you started, I have produced this list of 50+ gratitude journal prompts.  I have also turned these into a handy PDF which you can download for free.

“My day begins and ends with gratitude.”— Louise Hay

1. List 3 good things that happened today
2. Write down something good you did for someone else today
3. Write down something good you did for yourself today
4. What is the number one thing you like about yourself?  Why?
5. What skill or talent are you most grateful to have?  How does it benefit you and others?
6. Who or what made you smile today?
7. Name something you love about your home
8. What are you most proud of?
9. Which members of your family are you most grateful for?  Why is this?
10. Think of someone you have trouble getting along with.  Write down 3 positives about that person.  Maybe something you admire or appreciate about them
11. Who do you take for granted?  How could you show them appreciation?
12. What do you really appreciate in your life?
13. Write about something that happened that made you stronger
14. Write down 3 things you love about your town or area you live in
15. What are you grateful for in your job/career?
16. Write about something which warmed your heart recently
17. Make a list of 10 reasons you are fortunate
18. Make a list of all your strengths.  How could you use them more often?
19. What personality traits of yours are you most grateful for?

20. Write down your 5 greatest achievements

21. What hobby or interest do you have which you are grateful for?
22. What are you grateful for about the season of the year we are currently in?
23. Write down 3 things you like doing most with your partner when you are in a relationship
24. What’s one area of your life you wish was different?  Now think of at least one reason that you are grateful for this same aspect
25. Where do you feel most at home and what makes this place special to you?
26. What are the 5 top reasons life is worth living?
27. What are your core values?  How do these make you special?
28. When did you last make a mistake?  What are you grateful that it’s taught you?
29. What was the best holiday you ever had and why did you love it?
30. When did you last laugh out loud?  What made you laugh?
31. Name 3 friends who you value and list what you value most about them
32. What is the most thoughtful gift you have ever received?
33. And what is the best gift you ever gave to someone else?
34. What are the 3 most beautiful thoughts you could have right now?
35. What are your 3 favourite quotes?
36. Name 3 foods you are grateful for
37. Write down one thing your body can do that you are thankful for?
38. What was the last great book you read?  What did you learn from it?
39. List 5 fun things that you like to do

40. What is your most prized possession and how did you come to own it?

41. What’s your favourite photo?  What do you love about it?
42. Create a playlist of 10 songs you could listen to on repeat
43. Who makes you feel like you matter?  How do they let you know?
44. What is something from your childhood you are grateful for?
45. What are your 3 favourite items of clothing?  Write down what you love about them
46. Describe someone in your life whose wisdom you’re thankful for
47. How can you express your thanks to your community?
48. What small thing are you grateful for today?
49. What family tradition are you most grateful for?
50. Write down something your mother/father/grandparent taught you that you are thankful they did
51. What’s your favourite way to pamper yourself?
52. What are you looking forward to most this year?
53. What’s today’s weather like and what’s positive about it?
54. List 5 things you have now that you didn’t have 2 years ago
55. What do you love about technology?  How does it help you in life?
56. What’s your favourite recipe to make for others?  When could you next make it?
57. What makes you beautiful?
58. Look around the room you are in/your surroundings – make a list of all the items you are grateful for

 

To conclude, here’s a recap of how to start your gratitude journal habit and make it stick.

1. Choose a format for your journal, whether this is a notebook or printed gratitude journal sheets
2. Choose a time of day to journal.  You may prefer first thing in the morning, or at night or both
3. Use the prompts for inspiration, particularly if you feel a bit stuck about what to write
4. Practice regularly and notice the benefits of being thankful!

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Do you journal regularly?  Has journaling about gratitude helped you and if so how?

Have these prompts helped you to build your gratitude habit?  What other prompts have you used?  Let me know in the comments.

Finally, if you have friends and family who would also benefit from these gratitude journal prompts then be sure to share with them.

“It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.” – Anonymous