What is gratitude journaling?
Gratitude journaling is the act of writing in a journal at least 3 things you are grateful for every day. It can be done in the mornings or evenings (your choice). Some experts suggest to write 3 different things every day, while others say you can write the same things if you wish.
The purpose of gratitude journaling is to raise your vibration and make you feel better and happier overall by focusing on the things you appreciate in your life. However, gratitude journaling is a tool, and if not properly used, gratitude journaling can actually cause resentment or lowering of your vibration!
In this article I'll explain why gratitude journals can work, when they don't work, and provide 4 alternative practices that can be equally effective in raising your vibe.
Why Gratitude Journaling Can Work
Gratitude journaling can be very effective if, first and foremost, you genuinely want to do it! It particularly works if you love writing as well.
It also tends to work well when you are in a neutral or positive vibration because it is easier to "get the ball rolling" on feeling grateful when you are already in a good mood.
Overall, if you feel excited by the idea of gratitude journaling, then it will probably work quite well for you.
Why Gratitude Journaling Doesn't Always Work
Gratitude journaling doesn't work, however, if you don't really want to do it. When people first get into the Law of Attraction and personal development work, they can find themselves falling into the trap of believing that they "have" to do something in order to be happy and/or be enlightened.
However, trying to force yourself to do something when you really don't want to do it is just a "should" wrapped in a personal development package - it doesn't really work and you'll end up just feeling resentful about the process.
Fortunately, there are a variety of alternatives to gratitude journaling that can be just as effective. Here are the top 4 alternatives to gratitude journaling that will help raise your vibration:
Alternative #1 - Vision Boards
If you are a visual person and love making collages, then making a vision board can be a great way to go.
This is what I do personally. I have a private Pinterest board where I add images that get me into the vibrational feeling that I want to embody. In the mornings, as I drink my cup of coffee, I scroll through my digital vision board to help me align myself into the space that I want to be.
Alternative #2- Listen to Music
Music is a very powerful and easy way to change your vibration - one could consider music to be the pure essence of vibration itself.
Creating a playlist of some of your favorite tunes and listening to them first thing in the morning can be a great way to align yourself to an enjoyable day. Music works particularly well for those who are auditory-inclined.
If you have a podcast that inspires and uplifts you, that can also work as well. Just make sure that it's one that is positive and inspires you - not one that makes you feel bad about yourself or makes you feel that you "should" be doing things you don't want to do!
Alternative #3 - Write an Anti-Gratitude List
Gratitude only works if you are vibrationally high up enough on the emotional scale to get there. Sometimes, instead of trying to be grateful, you need to get angry first.
If you feel like this is where you currently are, try making an "anti-gratitude list" and write down all the things that are pissing you off. Really let yourself feel the rage, and have some anger releases as necessary. Once you let yourself feel it all out, come back to trying to feel gratitude and see if you are there yet. If not, rage some more!
If there is a lot of anger pent up inside you, this may take awhile. Trust yourself that you will get through it. The anger does burn away after you acknowledge and honor it. Do the work (and if you're aligned to this, it will feel really good to you) and you will make it out feeling better.
Alternative #4 - Ask Yourself How Source/Higher Power Would View Your Current Situation
If you can't quite get into the feeling of gratitude and happiness, pretend you are Source or God looking at where you currently stand. How would he/she view your situation?
Another way of looking at this is asking yourself, "how is this situation serving me? What is this manifestation showing me?" Looking at what is happening in your life from a larger perspective can sometimes help ease the pain of what is currently going on and bring some relief. And if not, try alternative #3.
Remember, the primary purpose of doing any of these techniques to raise your vibration from where you are currently at - if something else works better for you, (whether or not it is on this specific list) just do that instead!
You are doing it right. Trust yourself, trust your intuition in the process, and you will find that everything is going to work out.
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