Let's Build A
Gratitude Jar...TOGETHER!
Learn how to
make a simple gratitude jar that you can use to record & collect your happy
moments.
Adding to it each week is an easy way to practice self-care, as it forces you to slow down and reflect on the positive things (big & small) in your everyday life. This also makes a thoughtful DIY gift for friends, family, or anyone who's going through a rough patch (anyone living through 2020 can relate).
What is a
Gratitude Jar?
There are two
main types of gratitude jars:
An Empty Jar
That You Fill (with handwritten scraps of paper
containing things you're grateful for)
A Full Jar
That You Pull From (with printed slips of paper that have inspirational quotes
on them)
The first is
one you typically make yourself (or are gifted by others).
The second is
one you buy pre-made that you can draw from and read whenever you want.
I'm sharing
the first type today. As much as I love quotes,
I think it's
more personal & meaningful to fill the jar with your
own thoughts
of gratitude and happiness. And physically writing
out those
thoughts solidifies them in your mind.
Why Start a
Gratitude Jar?
The MAIN
REASON?
It's good for your mental health & GREAT self care to practice gratitude!
And right
now, mental health is a BIG issue.
We live in a
time where we're constantly stimulated
by our
phones, laptops & tablets. We become addicted
to the quick dopamine hits we get when folks
"like" or comment
on our social
media or forum posts.
But what
happens when an algorithm changes and suddenly
no one is seeing your posts? Or, your feed is
filled with pictures
and videos of everyone else's highly edited
& curated "perfect" life?
You start to
feel less than. You begin to fall into the comparison trap.
Wonder why your life isn't like theirs.
Here's what
to do if you fall into the comparison trap:
mute that
person's account or unfollow them
if you find
yourself mindlessly scrolling in places that make you feel bad, delete the
social apps from your phone or clear the cache on your computer so you're
logged out of all sites
UNPLUG and take a break from the digital world
And in the meantime, ground yourself in your actual, real-world life.
Interact with
your loved ones - as much as safely possible during
these times,
spend time outdoors, do something that fills you up,
& create a home environment that brings
you joy.
Practicing
gratitude helps immensely, too!
It forces us
to slow down and reflect on the things we're thankful for.
And when we
think about said positive things, it makes us feel good.
It also gives
a much-needed perspective when we're comparing our
imagined
"deficit" to another person's "surplus".
Ideas &
Writing Prompts For a Gratitude Jar
Some folks
have a hard time writing when they're sitting in front
of a blank
piece of paper. Here are some ideas to get the words flowing:
core needs
that are being met (shelter, food, safety, health, transportation, etc.)
people that
are making a positive impact on your life & why
activities
you're doing right now that make you happy: TV shows, books, movies, games,
extracurricular things, etc. (it's fun to record these and look back on them a
year later)
new
experiences you've had
funny or cute
moments from the furry friends in your life
things you've
learned recently
things you've
purchased, donated, or gifted
any creative
outlet you have
good things
that happen to others in your life (let it be aspirational for you)
places you've
traveled to (even if they're just in your local area)
how you're
feeling physically (it could always be worse - LOL)
seasonal
things (weather, holidays, etc.)
things you've
moved on from or left go in your life
new habits
you've started
things you're
looking forward to
old memories
that affect you deeply & stay with you to this day
quotes or ideas
that inspire you & why
Learn how to
make a simple gratitude jar that you can use to record & collect your happy
moments. Adding to it each day is an easy way to practice self-care, as it
forces you to slow down and reflect on the positive things (big & small) in
your everyday life. This also makes a thoughtful DIY gift for friends, family,
or anyone who's going through a rough patch.
MATERIALS:
1 glass jar
with lid - like a mason jar, hermetically sealed jar, etc.
1 pack of
index cards or cardstock cut down into your preferred size (you'll need 52
pieces of paper for a weekly jar)
a few good
pens in your favorite color
Decorations
(optional): a kraft sticker or chalkboard sticker or chalkboard paint for
decorating the jar with a "gratitude jar", "happy jar" or
"good things jar" label
STEPS:
Buy the jar,
cards, and pens and set them next to each other in a place where you can easily
see the jar & remember to add to it weekly (or daily if you prefer).
Create a
written and/or digital reminder to yourself to add to the jar all year long.
This makes it easy to add to your routine!
DECORATING
OPTION: If you're gifting this to someone else (or want to decorate it for
yourself), wrap some hemp cord (plain or colored) around the top of the jar,
then apply a sticker or several layers of chalkboard paint to one side of the
jar. Write "gratitude jar", "happy jar", or "good
things jar" using your favorite pen, markers, or chalk. You could even get
a nice tag to tie onto the cord and write brief instructions for how to use the
jar, and pair it with a few good-quality pens.
