Gratitude Journaling Challenge

Week 4: The Power of Gratitude Affirmations

Welcome to week 4 of the Gratitude Challenge! What was it like saying “Thank you” to so many people in your life? How did it change the way you went through your day this past week?

Today we’re going to be discussing the power of gratitude affirmations.

Reflection:

Gratitude affirmations go beyond saying “Thank you” to someone or journaling about what you’re grateful for. 

They are active, positive, enthusiastic statements of gratitude. 

Gratitude affirmations aren’t based on you feeling grateful. Rather, they’re based on you choosing to be grateful. That’s a key distinction. Making this choice actively helps cultivate that baseline feeling of gratefulness, leading to more joy.

There are two types of gratitude affirmations: 

Present Gratefulness Affirmations:  This is when you state your gratefulness for the things you already have. You affirm that you have received a bounty of good things in your life, and you give specific thanks for everything–big and small–that makes your life rich, full, and happy. 

Future Gratefulness Affirmations: This is when you express gratefulness for all the good things you are going to receive.The second helps you live in a state of grateful anticipation for all the good things that are coming your way.

Both types of affirmations are critically important. Present gratefulness affirmations help you live in the moment and see the goodness all around you. Future gratefulness affirmations help you imagine an even more bountiful and joyful future for yourself, leading to more optimism and motivation.

Action:

Today, you’re going to create both a present gratefulness affirmation and a future gratefulness affirmation.

When it comes to the present gratefulness affirmation, you want to include as many things as you can think of to be grateful for.

Start your affirmation with, “I’m grateful for…” and then begin reciting the numerous things that fill your heart with overflowing gratitude. 

An example of a present gratitude affirmation is:

I’m so grateful for all the blessings I’ve received today. I’m grateful for paying work. I’m grateful for my friendships. I’m grateful for my children. I’m grateful for the phone call I had with my friend today. I’m grateful for the delicious meal I ate last night. I’m grateful for my healthy body. I’m grateful for the good night’s sleep I got. I’m grateful for this wonderful cup of tea I’m drinking.

If possible, try to say one gratefulness affirmation every single day. This practice will help you further develop an attitude of constant gratitude.

When it comes to your future gratefulness affirmation, think about all the good things that you want to come into your life: What are your hopes and dreams and desires? What do you think about all the time?

Use your future gratitude affirmation to give thanks that these things will come into your life. The simple reality is that you attract what you focus on.

The more you focus on the good things that will come to you, the more likely it is that you will attract them into your life.

An example of a future gratitude affirmation is:

I am grateful for the many blessings that are coming my way today, tomorrow, and every other day in the future. I receive them with open hands. I’m grateful for the physical and spiritual blessings. I’m grateful for the friendships I’ll enjoy and the food I’ll eat. I’m grateful for the money I’ll receive and the way that I’ll be able to use it to achieve much good. I’m grateful for all the good things that are in store for me.

You can make the affirmation as specific as you want. If you desire a new job, give thanks to the universe in very specific detail about the job you’re going to receive. If you’d like to form a new relationship or improve an existing one, give thanks for what you hope that relationship will become. 

Future gratitude affirmations are about our thoughts inspiring action. Think about what you’d like to do next as you work through this part of the exercise.

Tomorrow we’re going to be wrapping up the challenge with the practice of always finding something to be grateful for.

Until then, leave a comment below telling everyone what this experience was like for you. What does your current gratitude affirmation look like? What about your future affirmation? Share your thoughts.