Gratitude in Practice: Ending Every Entry with ‘Thank You’
Why finishing with gratitude can reframe your mindset and shift your outlook
My journaling habit has always revolved around cultivating gratitude and building empowering perspectives. In many ways, journaling feels like a form of meditation: it connects me directly with my inner thoughts. A thought arises, I put it on the page, and in doing so, I become more aware of my own internal dialogue. That awareness is powerful - it gives me the chance to ask whether those thoughts and stories are serving me, or holding me back.
When I write, I do my best to look at each situation through the lens of gratitude. Of course, life doesn’t always work out the way I want it to, and I’ve had my share of difficult days. But one of the gifts of journaling is the ability to look back and realize that challenges often bring unexpected blessings. Time and again, I’ve thought I wanted one thing, only to discover later that what actually unfolded was far better for me in the long run.
Through this practice, journaling has helped me develop three perspectives that I return to again and again:
"This too shall pass." Looking back at old entries shows me how worries that once felt overwhelming eventually shifted or faded away.
"What can I learn from this?" When I treat setbacks as lessons, they stop feeling like failures and instead become stepping stones for growth.
"What’s holding me back?" By noticing patterns of self-sabotage on the page, I can better understand where they come from, and hopefully begin to change them.
You might say this all sounds a bit idealistic, but for me it comes down to one simple habit: ending every entry with the words thank you. No matter what kind of day I’ve had, that small act closes the page with gratitude - for being alive, for breathing fresh air, for the chance to take one more step forward.
It’s a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, life itself is a gift worth honouring. And I’ve found that when you end the day in gratitude, you’re far more likely to begin the next one with hope.
Happy journaling, and stay Surefooted.