Gratitude journal prompts are the perfect way to enhance your life for the better. Why? Expressing gratitude is easy to do, it only takes a few minutes, it’s a quick stress reducer, and it helps deal with negative emotions and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
In this article, I will give you a quick overview of gratitude and the benefits of a gratitude journal. You’ll also get a massive database of gratitude journal prompts, including;
- Journal Prompts to Reflect on Your Family, Relationships and Loved Ones
- Self-Appreciation Gratitude Journal Prompts
- Financial Gratitude Prompts
- Gratitude Prompts About Education and Opportunity
- Gratitude Journal Prompts to Express Gratitude for Your Physical Health and Well Being
- Body Image and Self Image Gratitude Journal Questions
- Journal Prompts to Express Gratitude Around Mental Health
- Prompts to Help You Feel Gratitude About Your Career and Professional Life
- Seasonal Prompts to Help Focus on the Best of Each Season in the Year
- Gratitude Prompts to Use Daily as Part of Your Gratitude Journaling Practice
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is a natural offshoot of positive psychology, a term coined by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1998.
Whereas the field of positive psychology refers to the methodical study of what makes people thrive, gratitude is a daily practice that anyone can commit to.
And by committing to expressing gratitude, you can take a step towards thriving in your own life, and enjoy the benefits of gratitude.
Indeed, “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” (source).
In other words?
Practicing gratitude is when you appreciate and are thankful for moments in your life. It’s one of those habits you should aim to do without even thinking of it.
And a great way to practice gratitude is through a Gratitude Journal.
What are the Benefits of Having a Gratitude Journal?
Practicing gratitude is one of those habits that can improve your life. It can help you live a more abundant and healthy life, decrease stress levels, and generate a positive mindset.
You can journal about anything that makes you grateful—for instance, something you did well or someone that brings you joy.
Most often, it’s done daily, or twice daily (in the morning and in the evening), but you can try out different routines to practice gratitude, until you find one that works for you. You can habit stack it on top of your morning pages routine to make it even more effortless.
Keeping a gratitude journal helps you focus on what you have rather than what you lack. It’s an opportunity to reflect on everything you are thankful for and makes a beautiful memoir to read through later in life.
Of course there are other ways to practice or experience gratitude, other than a journal. You can even join a gratitude challenge!
Appreciating something in the moment is a beautiful way to enhance your well-being for free.
Who wouldn’t want that?!
Gratitude Journal Prompts:
Gratitude Journaling Prompts About Family & Romantic Relationships
- What’s one thing a loved one has done for you that you appreciate?
- How can you show your friends/family/kids how much they mean to you?
- List some acts of kindness towards your loved ones that you can easily incorporate into your life.
- Who is the one person you can rely on no matter what?
- When have you been a good friend to someone?
- Who are you most grateful for in your life?
- Who’s someone important in your life? What do you love about them?
- What’s a beautiful or positive memory you have from childhood?
- Name one good thing your parents or a family member taught you.
- List some of the blessings you have that are because of your family.
- Write down one compliment a loved one gave you. Place it somewhere you can see it every day.
- What’s one thing you told a close friend? How did they help you?
- Name a loved one who used to be in your life. What do you appreciate about your time with them?
- What’s one small thing someone does for you every day, and why do you appreciate it/how does it make your life easier?
- What’s something you can do or say to a loved one daily?
- Name a time a loved one listened to you.
- What habits help you be a better person around your friends/family/partner?
- Is there something you haven’t told a person you love? When can you tell them?
- If you have a pet you love, write about how they improve your life.
Gratitude Journal Ideas to Practice Self Appreciation and Self-Esteem
- What’s one thing you like about yourself?
- What positive attributes do other people see in you?
- What are the top three things that make you proud of yourself in your personal life?
- When did you show bravery and courage?
- What is going well in your life right now?
- List different ways you’re able to explore and express creativity in your life, and how your creativity makes a positive impact.
- What are you better at now than you were a year ago?
- What’s one negative thing you’ve done that ultimately led to you becoming a better person?
- What are five qualities you love about yourself?
- Write about a time you felt a burst of inspiration and were able to act upon it.
- Describe how you feel when you’re engrossed in your favorite hobby.
- If you could tell your future self five things you are grateful for right now, what would they be?
- What’s something you’ve learned that you didn’t know last year?
- What self-improvement resources do you have access to? Why are you grateful for them?
- What’s a positive mindset change you’ve had before and how did it feel to replace negatives with positives.
- In which areas of your life have you grown the most? How can you show yourself credit for those achievements?
- What’s one thing you would tell your younger self? Why are you grateful you know this now?
- Name a time you were honest with yourself. How did that help you become a better person?
- What personality traits do you have that you love and are thankful for?
Gratitude Writing Prompts About Finances
- What are the basic purchases and things in your life you are fortunate enough to afford?
- How will you help other people when you are financially abundant?
- Who or what inspires you to become financially free?
- What will you do once you are financially successful? How will it bring positivity into your life?
- Name a challenge you’ve had with money. What positive change or changes did you make to overcome it?
- How is your financial mindset healthier in the past year than it was the year before?
- What parts of your life are you grateful for? How can you practice the same gratitude towards money? (e.g., I am thankful for my kind friends. I can be kind to myself about my financial situation).
- What resources are you grateful for that help you learn about money?
- When has someone given you something for free? Why did you appreciate it?
- What are some positive lessons you learned when you had less money?
- Are there any money habits you currently have? What can you learn from them?
- Do you have a favorite quote that motivates you to reach your money goals? Take some time to reflect and write about it.
- Think about a financial accomplishment you’ve achieved, and how it made your life better.
Gratitude Journaling Prompts About Education
- What qualifications do you have, and why are you grateful for them?
- Write about a time you saw an opportunity and increased your learning.
- Who can support you when you are struggling with your education?
- What resources do you already have that help you with your education?
- What education is easily accessible to you?
- Name one educational challenge you’ve overcome.
- How is your education helping you in your everyday life?
- How have you helped educate others?
- Who do you find inspiring when it comes to developing your education?
- What’s going well in your education?
- What mistakes have you made in your education? How do those mistakes help you now?
- Name one person who is proud of you for pursuing an education (it could be you!)
Gratitude Journaling Prompts to Help Focus on Your Health
- What’s your favorite food or meal to enjoy and why?
- What are you doing at the moment that’s good for your body?
- What’s one positive thing your body allows you to do every day?
- What’s one function your body has that other people don’t?
- How have you shown your body respect today?
- What is one thing you can do to show your body appreciation?
- What are three things that make your body feel good?
- In what ways are you healthy?
- What parts of your body feel strong and capable?
- What exercise do you enjoy the most and why?
- What’s one thing you regularly eat that nourishes your body?
- Name one way your health helps you every day.
Journal Prompts to Express Gratitude About Your Body
- What outfits make you feel positive about your body image?
- What’s one unique quality about your body that no one else has?
- What’s one aspect of your body that you like and appreciate?
- Note down one change in your body. How is that change bringing positivity into your life?
- Name one color you like on your body and why (e.g., hair, skin, eyes, tattoos).
- Who has a positive influence on your body image and self esteem?
- What body part do you need to practice the most gratitude towards?
- What is something about your body that you take for granted?
- How can you help others appreciate their body?
- What’s one compliment you’ve had about your body?
Mental Health Gratitude Journal Prompts
- What made you happy today?
- How can you help yourself laugh and smile more?
- How can you show yourself better self-care tomorrow?
- What’s causing you stress right now? How can you change it?
- What’s one way you are taking care of your mental health?
- What opportunities do you have to increase your mental wellbeing?
- What’s the most significant mental health struggle you had? How did it make you a better person?
- Who is there to help you when you need mental health support?
- Name someone who has helped you with your mental health.
- List some favorite songs that can boost your mood when need it.
- What mental health resources are out there that you feel grateful for?
- What are three things you’ve done recently that positively impact your mental health?
- Write about how taking time for self reflection has helped your emotional health.
Career Gratitude
- When have you turned up for your career/job even when you didn’t want to?
- What are you doing well in your professional life right now?
- When did you learn something in your job? How is that helping now?
- Who can you ask for support when you’re struggling with your job/career?
- Who inspires you to be successful? Why?
- How is your career/job helping your life change for the better?
- What failures are you grateful for and why?
- What’s one of the toughest challenges you’ve faced in your career? How did you overcome it?
- Name one person who helped you with your career.
- Write down a time you helped someone with their career.
- Remember and write about a favorite memory from your career to date.
Daily Gratitude Journal Prompts
- What went well today?
- What was your favorite moment?
- How can you make tomorrow even better?
- What are three small things you appreciate having or doing every day?
- What’s something you take for granted?
- What’s one thing you are looking forward to tomorrow?
- Name three small things that bring you joy.
- What is the favorite part of your day and why?
- List something you set out to achieve today and were able to accomplish.
- What are three simple pleasures you could express more gratitude towards?
- Name something you love about the weather or season today?
- What’s one thing you love about nature?
- Write down your favorite activity/hobby. How does it bring you joy?
- Name your favorite movie. Why do you like it so much?
- Look around you. What are five things you see that bring you pleasure?
- What is something you learned today that you didn’t know yesterday?
- Write about something that made you grateful for today.
Seasonal Gratitude Journal Prompts
- List your favorite sight or favorite place to go in the current season (Spring/Summer/Winter/Fall).
- Write about your favorite season of the year, your favorite thing about the season, and why you love it so much.
- Describe a scent or smell associated with Spring/Summer/Winter/Fall that you love.
- What’s your favorite holiday in (season) and what’s a wonderful memory from the last time that holiday came around.
- List some of your favorite sounds in (season) and how they make you feel.
Tips for Using These Gratitude Journal Prompts
Here are some pointers on how to use gratitude journals and the prompts in this post:
- Make a daily habit of gratitude, with a set time each day to journal. Daily gratitude journaling in a notebook or diary doesn’t have to be a chore – a few minutes a day is all it takes!
- If you can make it work with your schedule, the morning is a great time for your gratitude journey, to get you in a thankful and positive mood for the day. If you’re too rushed in the morning, evening is also good for gratitude journaling, as you can reflect on the things that happened during the day that you’re grateful for.
- Make it a habit to revisit past pages in your gratitude journal. I think you’ll find past entries will remind you of positive experiences of the past, and you’ll get to feel that gratitude all over again!
- Mix up your journaling practice to include point form notes and longer, more expressive and detailed entries. Point form or lists have the benefit of being quick to complete when you’re in a hurry. However, longer, super detailed entries will give you more chance to reflect and soak in the positive emotions associated with the memory or event.
- When you’re first getting started with the habit, consider what kinds of things will help you stick with it. I find I’m much happier to write in a journal with beautiful paper and a favorite pen, and love to take the time to draw out pretty, hand-lettered titles and subheaders. Stickers, washi tape, a rainbow of colored pens and markers all help me stay motivated to make time with my gratitude journal each day.
Practice Gratitude to Change Your Life
Gratitude is an easy way to appreciate the simple pleasures in life and create meaningful experiences.
You can write something down daily, reflect on what you’re grateful for each month, or keep a small gratitude journal in your pocket and jot down anything that warms your heart or makes your life better.
Happy gratitude journaling!
Emma Carey is a freelance blogger. She writes about mental health, personal development, and wellness. Readers relate to her life struggles while being offered practical and compassionate advice to become a better human. Emma has a passion for organization, mainly to tame her chaotic life, but also because she thoroughly enjoys pens.
