The Life is Worth Living Way Gratitude Journal

30 Days of Being Mindful of What Makes Your Life Worth Living

The Inspiration

Children were our inspiration for creating this journal. If we could view the world through a child’s eyes, it is likely that our perspective on life and the way we live would shift. We would become more grateful.

Children often do things in abundance. They love deeply, play hard and experience joy while doing every day activities. Children teach us to pause and appreciate life. Their happiness is contagious and their carefree attitude can turn a day around. This gratitude journal will continue to teach children about happiness and that it is not what we have, but who we have in our lives that is important.

Remember when you were a child and how magical the world seemed?

Often the most mundane things were interesting, exciting and there was always something to explore. As a parent, teacher, mentor or guide, we encourage you to partake in these exercises, and recapture your inner child. Sometimes in the seriousness of life it can be easy to lose that sense of wonder. By recapturing this magical sense of gratitude and connection we remember that a miraculous power surrounds us.

The world that children are growing up in today comes with a lot of added stress, constant connection, and a need for instant gratification. Sometimes the best thing we can do is disconnect from the world around us and focus in on what is inside of us. By taking the time to sit with ourselves and our thoughts without outside distractions, we can find healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and difficult situations.

Experts estimate that we have approximately 60,000 thoughts a day and that 50,000 of those thoughts are negative. That is 80% of our thoughts! It can be easy, especially with what is happening in the world today to let our thoughts turn to fear, worry and self-sabotage.

As Robert Braathe says, “Gratitude and attitude are not challenges, they are choices.”

At The Life is Worth Living Way, we believe that learning to have an attitude of gratitude as a child can provide important coping mechanism for children to take into their adolescent and adult years.

Why gratitude?

a message from Kim Derkach, cofounder

Confession: Practicing gratitude as a way to find inner peace, contentment, and lasting happiness initially seemed ridiculous to me. It was too simplistic, right? I wanted to dismiss it, but I couldn’t. I decided to follow the research and see where it led me. I decided to begin practicing gratitude intentionally.

Overall, practicing gratitude has shifted the way I think and move through life. I have stopped taking for granted all the tiny good moments. I stopped looking for happiness out there and learned to find it right in front of me. I felt more connected to friends, family, nature, and my surroundings and even on the toughest days, I managed my stress better. My conclusion? Give gratitude a shot.

If you are skeptical like I was, do it anyways. Gratitude is a skill and a habit you can cultivate, and just because it doesn’t come naturally, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to feel the benefits that come with nurturing your gratitude habit over time.

What’s inside?

Positive Affirmations | Quotes | Drawing | Writing | Open Discussions

To help you on your gratitude journey we have created 30 days of gratitude activities. The Life is Worth Living Way Journal includes engaging activities that reinforce the lessons of gratitude in everyday life.  This 94 page journal will assist children to practice gratitude, spread kindness, encourage resilience, practice learning form mistakes, while encouraging an overall sense of calm. The journal can be used every day as your gratitude practice, or you can come back to the journal on a regular schedule weekly or monthly! It is something the whole family can enjoy.

Gratitude does not have to be saved for the big things in life. The habit of being grateful starts with appreciating every good thing in life and recognizing that there is nothing too small for you to be grateful for. We want children to learn how to live each day being mindful of what makes their life worth living.

Who is it for?

This journal was created for children with parents, educators, and other professionals who work with children in mind. We want to watch children grow into thriving, happy, and grateful humans! Completing this gratitude journal can be completed independently, as a family activity, or it can be used by educators and other professionals that work with children.

The journal is suitable for children aged 5 - 12 years old and possibly older depending on maturity. In the earlier years, children may require more assistance from an adult, but it can be a fun activity to do together each day!

What does Gratitude Feel like?

| Happy | Calm | Connected | Curious | Mindful | Compassionate | Love | Peace |

Everyone experiences gratitude differently, but research continually shows that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions.

Gratitude is about focusing on what's good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Although gratitude is not something we are born with, it is something we can learn! We practice gratitude by pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we may often take for granted, like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends, and family.

Our goal with The Life is Worth Living Way is to design activities that encourage children to feel better each and every day! While working through the journal, children will feel more resilient, courageous, relaxed, knowledgeable, content, confident and brave. These are all positive emotions that will have a positive effect on a child’s life.

Ready to Dig In?

Help your Child Develop an Attitude of Gratitude and live The Life is Worth Living Way

Through The Life is Worth Living Way gratitude journal we have made it easy for you to incorporate gratitude into each day in a fun, healthy, and interactive way!

Practicing gratitude daily can rewire your brain to be naturally more grateful, and you will start feeling happier, and who couldn’t use a little more happiness in their life!