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“Beautiful Moments”: A Mindful Gratitude Practice

When I began my daily mindfulness practice a year and a half ago, I also began daily journals reflecting upon my practice and my life experiences. These books have become some of my most beloved possessions.  I have used them in my writing to capture a moment in time that has passed, and I have used them to gain a new perspective when I was unsure which way to more forward.

They are a record written in my most personal moments, and yet strangely, they are also a source of objectivity for me.  There are moments when I go back and review the pages to find kernels of wisdom I need at the present moment or to gain a sense of “what it was really like” when I feel like a time was particularly “good” or “bad” in my life.

My journaling has changed over time.  My research on the benefits of gratitude evolved my writing to include more positive experiences.  In short summary, individuals with a gratitude practice have more positive emotional experiences overall and live seven to nine years longer on average (Graham).

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