In these tough economic times, it’s easy to be become depressed and overcome with a “woe is me” attitude.  Afterall, when each day becomes a struggle to pay bills, scrape up enough gas money to get to work or buy food, it is easy to slip into a negative frame of mind.  However, since this crises is not going to go away anytime soon, wouldn’t it be better to focus on what you do have and what you are grateful for.  

That is where a “gratitude journal” can begin to bring your mindset back around to the positive side.  If you set aside just a few minutes each day to jot down all of the things that you are greatful such as your health, your beloved Golden Retriever who loves you unconditionally, or the sound of your precious child’s laughter, it will begin to put your life back into perspective.  It will help you prioritize those things in your life that really matter and snap you out of your funk.  Gratitude journals also get the mental juices flowing.  If money is the issue, make a list in your journal of all the inexpensive or even free things you and your family can do together and then do them.  Take a walk with your children, gather some leaves and come home and do a craft project by mounting those leaves into picture frames.  How about sledding together nearby your home or spending an evening around the fireplace, sipping hot chocolate and taking turns sharing what each was grateful for that day.  

The more you write in your journal, the more you will look for things in your life to be grateful for.  In fact, you will seek them out. 

There is no greater feeling in the world that doing something kind for someone else.  While my beloved mother was in assisted living with advanced Altzheimer’s, I use to visit several times a week and polish her nails.  When I was through with my mom, I would go around the room and polish all of the other patient’s nails as well.  It was an overwhelming feeling of joy to see the sweet smiles on their faces after I was done.  Once you feel the joy that service to others brings you, you will become addicted to it and won’t be able to stop.  Whether it be volunteering at a nursing home or an animal shelter, it doesn’t matter it will change your life forever.

Talk about taking gratitude to a whole new level.  You will have plenty of material to write about, make a lot of other people or animals happy and make some new friends to boot.  Best of all, it will keep you focused on  living in the moment and making each of those moments the best of your life.