Gratitude Journaling - Prompts with a punch

Hello, friends,

Welcome to this week’s edition of Unbound Gratitudes gratitude journaling.

Over the last eight weeks, we have tackled Journaling and Gratitude as separate learning activities, which we then pulled together to create one learned activity: Gratitude Journaling.

In this newsletter, we will briefly discuss why we believe in specific prompting and its power. Then, we will list five intermediate and five advanced prompts.

Please remember to be kind and gentle with yourself. This isn’t a race; it’s a learned activity. Take your time, and if necessary, come back to them when you are ready.

Specific Prompts

In the vast sea of online resources, it's common to encounter gratitude journaling prompts that are often quite generic. While these can provide a good starting point, at Unbound Gratitude, we believe in the power of specificity to truly transform your journaling experience.

Why Specificity Matters

Generic prompts, such as ‘What are you thankful for today?’ serve a purpose, but they often skim the surface of the journaling practice. Specific prompts, however, dive deeper. They guide you to explore your thoughts and feelings more granularly, enhancing self-discovery and personal growth.

For example, instead of prompting you with ‘List three things you're grateful for,’ a more specific prompt might ask, ‘What is one challenge you faced today, and how did it enhance your appreciation for an aspect of your life you usually take for granted?’ This type of prompt encourages a targeted exploration of your experiences, pushing you to recognise the hidden layers of gratitude that a more general prompt might overlook.

The Impact of Specific Prompts

Specific prompts enrich your journaling practice and ensure that it remains engaging. They prevent the routine from becoming monotonous or automatic. Each entry becomes a unique exploration, a small adventure that holds the potential to reveal new understandings and appreciations.

Ready for the prompts? Let’s do this!

5 Intermediate Prompts

1. Think of a small daily convenience you often overlook. Why are you grateful for it, and how would your day change without it?

2. Describe a moment this week when you felt unexpectedly at peace. What brought about that tranquillity, and why do you feel grateful for that experience?

3. Consider when a small act of kindness from someone made a big difference in your day. What did you learn about gratitude from this encounter?

4. Identify a specific gadget or tool you use daily. Why are you grateful for it, and how does it improve your life or make your daily tasks easier?

5. Reflect on a moment of solitude you particularly enjoyed in the past month. What were you doing, and why was this moment special for you?

5 Advanced Prompts (with a bonus prompt)

1. If all digital communication was suddenly unavailable, how would you maintain your relationships? What creative methods would you use to express gratitude to those you care about?

2. Imagine a scenario where you must choose one memory to keep forever. Which memory would you choose, and why are you grateful for it?

3. Imagine that time travel is possible. Visit a past version of yourself and describe what you would thank them for, recognising their struggles and triumphs.

4. Imagine a world where acts of kindness are the only currency. How would this change your daily interactions? What kind of 'wealth' would you aim to accumulate, and for what are you most grateful?

5. Write a letter of gratitude to an inanimate object (like your home or car) that plays a significant role in your life. What would you thank it for, and how does it enhance your daily existence?

A bonus advanced prompt (utilised in Conversation Corner)

1. If gratitude could be visualised as a physical object you could give to others, what would it look like, and who would you give it to first?

A quick one: If you’re enjoying Unbound Gratitude, check out Partnership Post’s newsletter below!

Their mission is to cultivate intentional relationships with core values of connection, direction and growth. And, they speak of Gratitude…Yes!

Gratitude Gem

Conversation Corner

‘Jack, I have a new prompt for us to explore in our journals this week,’ Jill said, opening her own journal to a fresh page.

‘What’s the challenge?’ Jack said, rubbing his hands together.

Jill smiled. ‘Are you sure you are ready for this?’

‘Sounds interesting!’ Jack said, leaning closer. ‘Go on then.’

 ‘If gratitude could be visualised as a physical object that you could give to others, what would it look like, and who would you give it to first?’ Jill said, spreading her hands.

Jack raised his eyebrows. ‘That’s a tough one,’ he said, thinking for a few seconds more. ‘It makes you think about gratitude in a completely different way.’

‘Exactly,’ Jill said, clapping her hands together. ‘It’s not just about feeling grateful. It’s about sharing that gratitude. So, what do you think? What would your object be?’

‘I think,’ he said, tapping his pen on his chin, ‘my gratitude would look like a book. Each page would represent a moment I am thankful for, and I’d give it to my first school teacher. She taught me the importance of noticing the little things and appreciating everything we have.’

Jill nodded. ‘I love that. A book is so personal and reflective of the journey of gratitude itself.’

‘What about you, Jill? What would your gratitude object be?’ Jack asked, turning the prompt back to her.

‘For me, it would be a lantern,’ Jill said softly. ‘A light that guides and warms, something you can pass on to light someone else’s way. I’d give it to my best friend first. She’s been my guiding light in many ways, always there, always shining.’

‘That’s beautiful, Jill,’ Jack said, nodding. ‘It shows how gratitude isn’t just kept inside; it’s meant to be shared and spread around.’

‘That’s the point of this prompt, Jack,’ Jill said. ‘It makes us think about externalising and manifesting our gratitude in tangible ways. It’s one thing to feel grateful, but another to actively share and show it.’

‘It’s a powerful thought,’ Jack said, scribbling in his journal. ‘This will definitely be an entry to remember. It shifts the perspective from internal reflection to outward action.’

‘And that’s how gratitude grows,’ Jill said. ‘From personal to communal, from a feeling to an action.’

‘Here’s to growing our gratitude in new ways,’ Jack said, raising an imaginary toast.

‘To new ways and growth,’ Jill said, smiling at the journey ahead.

Daily Prompts and Affirmations

Here is a link to this week’s (15 April 2024 - 21 April 2024) journaling prompts and affirmations.

If you would like to join the daily emails, click on the button below and choose ‘Yes’.

Next Week

Next week, we will explore gratitude journal prompts further and include gratitude affirmations. We will explore how powerful a prompt and an affirmation can be.

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I hope you have a great easter and a lovely week. Here’s to our smiles.