I haven't kept a specific gratitude journal, but when I am having a lot of bad days, I've found it helpful to write down positive things that I'm grateful for. Even if it's just a couple of small things like how pretty the flowers look in my planter. It really does help you to focus more on the positive!

Ok thanks. I'm going to try to start making it a part of what I do everyday and hopefully that will helps some.

A good friend of mine who also suffers from several anxiety and depression-based issues keeps a gratitude journal. In fact, she keeps hers as a note on Facebook, so her daily updates show up on the Newsfeed. I think she feels like that keeps her accountable. She seems to really like it, and now that it's been a few weeks and the more general, "obvious" things to be grateful for have been mentioned, she's finding some really awesome and creative things to list. I would imagine it's been helpful with keeping a positive mindset.

I like the idea of a gratitude journal and did this for a time but it didn't really help with my anxiety although it can help improve state of mind and causes us to focus more on the positive. My anxiety tends to be a deeper level of thought - if that makes sense. I can be very grateful for all the wonderful things about this world and still feel anxious underneath.

What I am finding most helpful is to keep a safety journal where I talk about all the things that help me to feel safe in the world.

Thanks. I don't know how I would feel about posting it, but I could see how that would work for some people. I would find it to be more personal though and wouldn't want it to be for everyone to see.

And Reed I was wondering if it would help with the anxiety. Even if not, I'm sure it would at least help me with having a positive mindset. I guess either way it's worth a try.

hiya--I do gratitude posters that I stick on my kitchen wall--I keep multicolored pens close by and jot down anything I think of during the day--and yes-it has helped a great deal (I was told to do this yrs ago and thought it was idiotic) but it does get you to focus on the good things...even if you can only be grateful for breathing that day...you begin to get that there is more to be happy about than to worry about...it keeps you in the moment and def. works on keeping you positive....

Thanks hypergal. Im glad that it helped you. with all of these positive comments about it, it definitely seems like something worth trying out. I like the idea too of having it in such a convenient place.

Hi, Mae,

I've been keeping a gratitude journal for the past six months or so, and I think it has helped my mindset immensely! I tend to get into negative thought patterns easily, but making myself write down at least one thing I am thankful for each day has helped keep me in a more positive mindset. Even if it's something small (like a smile from a stranger, the sunshine or a thunderstorm, flowers blooming outside, etc) it reminds me that there are so many wonderful things in this world.

I was having a bad day yesterday, just thinking very negatively and feeling sad, so I went back through my gratitude journal and read what I have written over the past few months, and it really helped me feel a lot better. I honestly think everyone should keep some kind of gratitude journal (I love hypergal's idea of a gratitude poster).

Let us know if you decide to give it a try!

Thanks so much wildflower. I'm definitely going to try and see how it goes. I'm going to give it some time to see how it helps. I feel like it will be really good for me though.