Day 26

Quote:

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those things which he has."  -- Epictetus

Journal Prompt:

We all have a choice when it comes to what we focus on.  If we are wise, we will choose to rejoice for the blessings that we have and not dwell on what we lack.  What do you focus on?  How does it affect you?

In your Gratitude Journal, write down the effect of focusing on what you have and then write down the effect of focusing on what you lack.  Look at the two lists and decide which one you choose to have in your life.

Day 25

Quote:

The more you give -- the more you receive.  You always get more of whatever you appreciate.

Journal Prompt:

Take a look at your life and what you are giving out on a daily basis. 

How many smiles, kind words, laughter and hugs do you give in a day?  How many compliments do you pay to others?  Do you give of your time and talents?  Do you appreciate what others do for you and express gratitude to them?

Or are you constantly focusing on your own needs and wants?  Do you wonder "why me"?  Do you give out commands and expectations?  Do you wait around for others to serve you?  Do you constantly talk about what's wrong with your life?  Do you expect others to feel sorry for you?

Think about the questions above and don't be surprised when you receive exactly what you put out.  Record what kind of life you want to have in your Gratitude Journal and then act accordingly ... the power is in you!

Day 24

Quote:

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." -- William Arthur Ward

Journal Prompt:

How often do you think about something that you like or are grateful for, but don't openly express it?

How many times a day do you express praise and thanks to your family members versus correction and frustration?

Make a conscious effort to notice things that you appreciate and then verbally express your appreciation as soon as you can. At the same time, be slow to speak about things that are negative in nature and that you are ungrateful for.

If you were to follow this advice in your life, do you think it would make a difference? Record your thoughts in your Gratitude Journal.

Day 23

Quote:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -- John F. Kennedy

Journal Prompt:

What are ways you can express your gratitude other than words alone? What do you think it means to "live in gratitude"? Write your thoughts down in your Gratitude Journal and commit to not only speak gratitude but to live it.

Day 22

Quote:

"My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort." -- Gordon B. Hinckley

Journal Prompt:

In your Gratitude Journal, draw two columns. On the left side write the word "Positive" and on the right side write the word "Negative".

Throughout the day, make a tally mark in each column every time you catch yourself feeling or expressing one of the two emotions.

At the end of the day you will be able to see which way you are tipping the scale in your life. Are you "seeking out the storms" or "enjoying more fully the sunlight"?

If you are 50% or more negative, then you'll want to continue this exercise every day until you tip the scale to the positive.

They say the best way to break a habit is to replace it with a new one. By consciously focusing on gratitude for thirty days, you will be forming a habit that will help you naturally overcome the habit of being negative.

Day 21

Quote:

"One of the best ways we show our gratitude is by blessing the lives of those around us. The blessings that come from opening our arms to others are among the choicest this earth has to offer." -- Joseph B. Wirthlin

Journal Prompt:

Ask yourself this question: "How can I be a blessing in someone's life today?"

It doesn't need to be a huge service project. Too often we miss out on opportunities to do good because we are looking for something big to do before we act. The little acts of kindness are often the ones that have the greatest impact.

Maybe it means really listening to someone for as long as they want to talk. Or you could offer to babysit for a mom who could use a nap. Perhaps you could surprise your child by showing up at their school for lunch. Or call a grandparent that you haven't talked to in a long time. It could even be something as simple as complimenting the person who checks you out at the store.

The idea is to start connecting with others. Acknowledge them, smile, listen, and express gratitude for their influence in your life.

Day 20

Quote:

"Feeling grateful is the main cause of sustained joy. Focusing on the gifts one has been given is an antidote to envy, resentment, regret and other negative states that undermine long-term happiness."

Journal Prompt:

Today focus on the gifts that you have been given throughout your life. Try to really feel the emotion of gratitude and stay immersed in that feeling for as long as you can. Write about your experience in your Gratitude Journal.

The next time you start to feel envy, resentment, regret, or any other negative emotion, get out your journal and get back into the feeling of gratitude.

Gratitude Day 19

Quote:

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."

Journal Prompt:

If you are blessed to have the love of a family in your life, make sure to express gratitude for them on a frequent basis. Too often we take our family members for granted.

Some people have not been blessed with a family and a place to call home. My heart goes out to anyone in this situation. If that includes you, then express gratitude for other people in your life who have shown you love and determine to pattern your life after them.

Gratitude Day 18

Quote:

It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy.

Journal Prompt:

I love this quote because it reveals the secret to happiness ... be THANKFUL!

It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor. It doesn't matter what your situation and circumstances are. That's because "things" and "events" don't make us happy or unhappy. They are neutral. We are the determining factor in our own happiness.

Think of someone you know who is an unhappy person. What are they focused on? What are they seeking for? Why do you think they are unhappy?

Now think of someone who is really, truly happy. What do they focus on? Is their life perfect? How do they handle disappointments? Why do you think they are able to be happy despite their circumstances?

Day 17

Quote:

"Those who live in thanksgiving daily have a way of opening their eyes and seeing the wonders and beauties of this world as though seeing them for the first time." -- Joseph B. Wirthlin

Journal Prompt:

When was the last time you really stopped to enjoy nature?  Take time to go on a "Gratitude Walk."  During your walk, focus on all the things that you are grateful for.  Listen to the sounds of nature and notice the flowers, trees, clouds, sky, etc.  Really focus on the tiniest details and express gratitude for the beauty around you.

Day 16

Quote:

"We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude.  Let us not wait until it is too late for us to express that gratitude.  Speaking of loved ones he had lost, one man declared his regret this way:  'I remember those happy days, and often wish I could speak into the ears of the dead the gratitude which was due them in life, and so ill returned.'"

Journal Prompt:

Write a list of the people who have made a difference in your life. Then look at your list and determine who you have been taking for granted.

Take time to either call those people and say thank you and/or write them a letter of gratitude.  This can happen over the course of a couple weeks or longer depending on your list.  You may want to decide to write on person a week until you have completed your entire list. 

Doing this exercise will not only bless the lives of those you write, but it will have an amazing impact on your life as well.  Record your experience in your Gratitude Journal.  Your might want to make a copy of the letters you write and keep them in your gratitude journal as well.

Day 15

Quote:

Blessed are those who give without remembering and receive without forgetting.

Journal Prompt:

Take time to reflect on the following questions and record your thoughts in your Gratitude Journal:

• How often do you do something and then get upset when others don't notice or when the favor isn't returned?
• What would happen if you did random acts of service without expecting any praise or favors in return?
• How much time do you spend thinking about what others have done for you versus what you do for others?
• How often do you think about and verbally express gratitude for what others have done for you?
• How would your life change if you lived this mantra on a daily basis?

Day 14

Quote:

"Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind."

Journal Prompt:

There are some memories that make you smile just by thinking about them ... these are the ones that are stored in your heart.

Take time to record some of these memories in your Gratitude Journal.  As you write, you'll be filled with a deep sense of gratitude. When you're having a bad day, it will help to go back and read these memories to help you feel good again.

Day 13

Quote: 

"Focus on what is working in your life and what is right in the world.  It doesn't matter how small or seemingly insignificant it may be.  Before long you will notice that more things will fall into place with little or no effort on your part.  Gratitude is a wonderful tool to use to feel good fast."

Journal Prompt:

Today make a list of all the things that are "working in your life."  This is especially important if you feel that not many things are working for you.  Then make another list of all the things that are "right in the world."

Too often, we focus on what isn't going right with ourselves and the world.  Let's shift our focus to gratitude.  As we do this, our lives will shift and more good things will begin to show up.

Day 12

Quote: "I thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself, my work and my God." -- Helen Keller

Journal Prompts:
Helen Keller was one of my childhood heroes and still is today. Of all people, she could have easily found an excuse to be bitter and ungrateful. Instead, she chose to rise above her trials and live a life of meaning and gratitude.
Her "handicaps" allowed her to be an inspiration to the world and a message of hope in the midst of trying circumstances.
What are your "handicaps" or trials? Do you let them drag you down? Or do you use them to lift & inspire others? Do you thank God for your trials? Or do you blame him and ask "why me"?
Take time to think about these questions and how you can show gratitude for the trials in your life. Record your thoughts in your Gratitude Journal

Day 11

Quote: "Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love." -- President Thomas S. Monson

Journal Prompt: When we take time to reflect back on our blessings, we realize God's hand in our daily lives. Today, record in your Gratitude Journal how your Heavenly Father has helped you to feel his love.

Day 10

Quote: "Feelings of gratitude give you a 'natural high'. Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that researchers say boosts the immune system. Studies indicate that daily gratitude exercises result in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Grateful people experience less depression and stress, are more likely to help others, exercise regularly and tend to make more progress toward personal goals. People who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved."

Journal Prompt:


Consider all the amazing benefits that come as a result of practicing gratitude on a daily basis. Write in your Gratitude Journal how your life could benefit from the things listed in this quote.

Day 9

Quote: "God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say Thank You?"

Journal Prompts:

How many times a day do you stop to say thank you?

Today try saying thank you every opportunity you get. Record what it did for your day in your "Gratitude Journal."

Day 8

Quote: "Let us rise up and be thankful. For if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little. And if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick. And if we got sick, at least we didn't die. So let us all be thankful." -- Buddha

Journal Prompts:
I love the humor in this quote! Try using humor today when you find yourself thinking negatively about something. Start out by saying, "Well at least I didn't ... (fill in the blank).
So, for example, if your car breaks down you can say, "Well, at least I have a car!" OR "At least there are mechanics who know how to fix my car," etc.
Or you can be totally random and say something that doesn't even apply to your situation like "at least the sky isn't falling" or "at least I can still remember my name."
You get the point! Just have fun with it and see how many "at leasts" you can come up with to turn your negativity into gratitude.
Record your experience and how it helped you feel in your Gratitude Journal.

Day 7

Quote: "Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy & change ordinary opportunities into blessings." -- William Arthur Ward

Journal Prompt:
As you go throughout your day, find ways to appreciate the "common" things that you normally would take for granted or even complain about.
For example, when you have to take out the trash (again), feel gratitude for the abundance in your life. You wouldn't have trash to take out if you weren't abundantly blessed with the things that are in there.
The next time you have to do ten loads of laundry, you could express gratitude for the following: clothes to wear, a washing machine to wash them in, the family members you are serving, electricity, laundry detergent, etc.
The idea is to realize how incredibly blessed you are on a daily basis. Approximately 80% of the world's population would feel lucky to have the things you take for granted. Record your thoughts in your "Gratitude Journal."

Day 6

Quote: "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." -- Thornton Wilder

Journal Prompts:

Write a list of all the "treasures" in your life. How do these things make your life "rich"? Make a conscious effort to think of these things when you are having a bad day. You could come back and read this list as a reminder to count your blessings.

Day 5

Quote: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

Journal Prompt:
Think about the things that you take for granted every day ... like your cell phone, your car, the internet, your microwave, a hot shower, etc. When you stop to think about it, all of these things truly are miracles. Not too long ago, many of these things didn't even exist and were thought to be impossible.
Make a list of all the "miracles" you benefit from on a regular basis.
How would it change your life if you looked at and appreciated everything as the miracle that it is?

Day 4

Quote: "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." -- Albert Schweitzer

Journal Prompt:
Think about the people in your life who have "rekindled the spark" within you. Write a list of all the names that come to your mind and how they have influenced you.
Choose one or more people on the list to write a thank you note to. They can be living or someone who's already passed on. What matters is that you take time to think with gratitude about that person's influence on your life and express your gratitude to them.

Day 3

Quote: "When you are grateful, fear disappears & abundance appears." -- Anthony Robbins

Journal Prompts:
Gratitude is a principle of abundance. When you are grateful for what you have, you will receive more.
Think about these examples: If you gave someone a gift & they complained that it wasn't what they wanted or needed, would you give them another gift?
What if you gave someone a gift & they were truly grateful & went out of their way to say thank you Would you be more likely to give them more?
How do you choose to live your life? Are you the first example or the second one? Do you find yourself constantly in a state of fear or gratitude? Record your thoughts in your gratitude journal.

Day 2

Quote: "Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend ... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present -- love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -- the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth." -- Sarah Ban Breathnach

Journal Prompts:
Think of someone in your life who focuses on the good rather than the bad. How do you feel when you are around them?
Now think about your own life and all the blessings that you enjoy on a daily basis. Remember, do NOT let your mind wander to anything negative. Set a timer for 5 minutes and write down everything you are grateful for.

Day 1

Day #1

Quote:

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise." -- Oscar Wilde

Journaling Prompt:

Everyone experiences trials. It's part of our experience here on earth.
Think of someone you know who has turned a trial into a blessing. What was their trial & how did they use it for their good & the good of others.
Think of a time in your life when a trial ultimately became a blessing.
If you are going through a trial right now, determine to express gratitude for it & ask your Heavenly Father to help use your trial to bless your life & the life of others. Sometimes, we go through things to develop empathy for others so that we can help them.
If you absolutely cannot be grateful for your trial at this time, don't focus all of your energy on it. Choose to focus your energy on the things that you CAN be grateful for!

Presidency Introduction

Good morning, ladies. First, we'll quickly remind everyone how this works.

Each day for a month, we will send out a quote on gratitude along with corresponding journal prompts.

Read the daily quote and prompts, then try to keep them in your thoughts throughout your day -- including during scripture study.

At the end of each day, please take a few minutes to record your thoughts and feelings in a journal.

We appreciate your efforts and hope you have a wonderful experience.

Ann Mecham

Evelyn Lloyd

Elise Halling

Lynda Clements