Welcome to Day 66 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Yesterday, I wrote about the things I learned during this challenge and set myself some Learning goals for the remainder of my time with The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal. In today’s blog, I share some of my lessons about Appreciating, and I identify ways to improve the way I practise gratitude.
Lessons Learned
At the start of my journey with The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal, I set myself the target of appreciating something different every day.
Starting with my girlfriend, I took time each day to appreciate anything from family and friends to Buzio water bottles.
After 10 days, I decided to add a second thing to appreciate each day, so that I could appreciate something new and something I had already appreciated while using the journal.
At my 30-day review, I increased this to three each day. Initially, I focused on one thing about me, but adjusted my target after an online session about the Wellbeing 9-a-Day.
One of the attendees had been using the Appreciating box to identify one thing they appreciated about themselves each day, which helped me see the habit in a different way.
As all my entries had been about external things, I thought there was a lot of value in looking inwards to see things that I was grateful for about myself.
Going Forward
After 60 days of appreciating the things I love in life, I decided to change my approach to Appreciating for the final 30 days.
During my journey with The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal, I was gifted a small angel that I have taken to calling my Angel of Appreciation.
By having something to hold while appreciating the good things in life, I have been able to turn my daily gratitude into a ritual, and I now have a physical object that represents all the good things in my life.
Since my Day 60 Review, I have been spending five minutes in silence with my Angel of Appreciation, where I focus on the things that I am grateful for with no limits of how many.
Sometimes I try to see just how many things I am grateful for, and others I spend the full five minutes thinking about the same thing.
Either way, my new daily ritual of checking in with my Angel of Appreciation has revolutionised a habit that I had begun to take for granted.
Call to Action!
Think about the things you appreciate in life. How can you build daily habits that will help you increase your gratitude for the things you love? By taking time each day to tap into your positive emotions, you can shine a light on the good things in your life and benefit from a daily boost to your wellbeing.
This blog was written as part of a 90-day blog writing fundraiser for Live Well with Cancer, a volunteer-led charity serving North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. If you enjoyed this blog, please show your appreciation by donating to my JustGiving page. Every penny raised from donations or sales of the journal will help deliver workshops, events and support groups that empower better health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers, and healthcare workers.
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