Recently, my worries have increased. I wanted to find a solution, knowing that merely worrying would change nothing. To me in such a state, God gave the answer: Be thankful.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
While thinking about how to put thankfulness into practice, I came across the idea of a “gratitude journal.” At first, I wondered what effect simply writing down things I was thankful for could have. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I decided to give it a try. Without any set format, I began filling a notebook with a list of things for which I was grateful.
Surprisingly, it didn’t take long before the pages were filled. I was amazed to realize I had so many things to be thankful for, and my heart warmed. As these small records accumulated, negative thoughts faded away and a sense of happiness welled up.
An American psychologist once said, “We don’t smile because we’re happy; we’re happy because we smile.” Thoughts and actions become the foundation of emotions. In the end, if we build the habit of giving thanks, we will live a life full of God’s grace and joy. I thank God for giving me, through the small act of “writing a thankfulness journal,” the opportunity to create great happiness.