Do you often start things and not finish them? I tend to do that with journaling. I get super stoked and motivated, and then after a few days, I stop picking up the pen. Gratitude journaling seems to be a trend. I even discussed a 30 journaling challenge right here, which I still do on and off. 

Trend or not, we’re onto something with gratitude journaling. I watched this video below by Marie Forleo (Love her!), where she talks about how journaling is great because it helps build structure and discipline (tweet that), which I know I could use more of. She also mentions about how we might be gratitude-journaling all wrong. The average person is very general in what they journal about, but in her video, she discusses how we need to integrate just a little more depth to our gratitude journaling. 

So, in honor if Thanksgiving, I’m going to start right now.  

Her instructions are really simple. Just think of ONE thing a day, and write five things about it that you are grateful for. (So easy!)

 

Here I go:

What I’m Grateful For : Ashtanga Yoga

My Five Things: 

1. I am grateful because discovering and practicing Ashtanga Yoga helped me get over my fear or public speaking. Before I stumbled upon Ashtanga, I wanted to be a yoga teacher, but I didn’t pursue it because I was nervous about speaking in front of a group. After I found Ashtanga, I felt so empowered and transformed that I had this hunger to teach so I could share the practice. I made the decision to not let my fears hold me back from my dreams. Not only do I feel comfortable leading a class, but as a result, I’m more confident and speak up more in other life situations. 

2. Because of this practice, I am overwhelmed with the amazing community and friends I’ve connected with. Ashtangi’s are all over the world practicing under the same lineage, so no matter where I go, I have an automatic family. I’m grateful for that connection.  

3. I am grateful that Ashtanga opened a whole other world of spiritual practice such as meditation, pranayama, philosophy study, and ayurveda. These aspects are integrated in all styles of yoga, but it wasn’t until I discovered the powerful practice of Ashtanga that my life transformed. This transformation let to an interest about the other aspects of yoga. 

4. If it wasn’t for Ashtanga, I wouldn’t have taken my first solo trip out of the country to study yoga and buddhism in Nepal. I was able to experience third world country living, which opened my heart deeper to compassion, and opened my eyes to realize the abundance I already had within. 

5. We all know that Ashtanga is not just about postures, but I am grateful for the asana practice because it’s during the practice that I have had realizations breaking me from conditioned beliefs and existence. Because I have discovered these irrational fears and illusions, I have been able to smile more and suffer less. 

Your Homework:

Think of one thing, and write 5 things you are grateful for about that one thing. Do this once a day! Easy, right?

I think I can stick with this ONE.

I’d be SO grateful if you’d share at least ONE thing (that you’re comfortable with, of course) that you’re grateful in the comments below. 

With So Much Love & OM,