Gratitude: finding peace amidst chaos

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Caitlin Chan shares how journaling soothes her mental health

In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to count our blessings. Since starting university, I’ve moved away from home to a new and unfamiliar city. There have been many moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed and struggled to see the good amidst the chaos.

Overall, I’ve had a positive experience, but juggling endless assignments and living by myself for the first time has been challenging. I’ve found it hard to to recognise the many positives in my life.

While embracing gratitude doesn’t magically make issues disappear, I find that taking five minutes out of my day to reflect on what I‘m grateful for is incredibly beneficial. These moments, focusing on the positive, have helped me feel lighter even during the hardest days.

Every day, I write down five things I’m grateful for

What works for me is keeping a gratitude journal. My mum introduced me to the practice of noting what I’m grateful for. At work, she would share her gratitude with others and they would do the same. During dark wintery mornings driving across London, she’d speak aloud what she was thankful for. I knew this wouldn’t work for me, so I decided to write down the things I was grateful about instead.

Every day, I write down five things I appreciate, whether that’s my loved ones, great music or even my favourite t-shirt. Whatever it is, seeing it on paper brings a smile to my face. Nothing is too small or unimportant to be grateful for. It’s taken me by surprise how such a simple task could be so effective in improving my wellbeing. I use a notebook to jot down my thoughts but you can just as easily use the notes app on your phone. It’s as simple as that!

In the past, I struggled with jealousy. I wanted what I couldn’t have so badly that it impacted my mental health. I would work myself up over what other people had, that I didn’t. Sometimes, these feelings would linger, ruining my mood for hours on end.

Since I’ve started my gratitude journal, my mood has lifted considerably

I found it difficult when I had to return to university for exams, and felt jealous of my friends who were staying at home for weeks longer than me. I realise this sounds like a small inconvenience, but I really felt down about my situation. That day, I wrote about how I was grateful for my amazing opportunity to study towards a degree that will help me build a career and bring future advantages.

My gratitude journal helps me manage my jealousy. I focus on what I do have and am thankful for. Gradually, it’s creating a sense of space where I feel free and my mood has lifted considerably.

For me, being aware of what I’m grateful for and then committing it to paper goes a long way. It influences my approach to each day. I would recommend it to everybody. Just carve out a few minutes every day and you’ll see a difference in your mindset. Check out more about gratitude journaling here.