Hello again, savvy savers! Today finds us with an awesome new review, one very close my heart this week, that of the new Money Saving Mom’s Gratitude Journal.
Why am I so excited about this journal? Because Money Saving Mom’s creator, the very talented Crystal Paine, graciously mailed me a copy of this journal to review on my blog.
So you might ask, what’s so special about this journal? Let me explain.
Currently, I am at a great crossroads in my life. My husband and I are TTC, I clerk from home, run a blog, ETSY online store, as well as am in the process of opening a new upcycled, crafting shop, and all of this coupled with a doctors recommendation to lose five percent of my total body weight, as part of a new healthy lifestyle change. To say I often feel overwhelmed is an understatement.
With all of this said, when I recently awoke several weeks ago, only to quietly walk into my kitchen, in the quiet still of the early morning light, it dawned on me. Despite all of my stress, my life, my beautiful semi-charmed existence, is so blessed! I sat quietly drinking my lovely, steaming mug of chair tea, sat in my breakfast nook looking out of my bay windows. and cried at how beautiful the fall foliage seemed.
Fast-forward two days ahead, and during my evening stroll through my emails I came across an email from one of my favorite bloggers, Crystal Paine, sharing her emotions surrounding all of her own personal blessings, and how these events influenced her to create a gratitude journal, I felt compelled to comment. In a comment of kitschy glee, I said, ” You should send out a few copies to other stressed out bloggers, for review. :)” I thought nothing more of the comment.
To my chagrin, Crystal commented back, stating that she would be more than happy to do so, and this this review was born!
Well, this week my brand new, hard covered, funky little journal arrived in all of its snazzy, much-needed glory!
The journal, divided into monthly sections, laced with quotes and inspirational passages, carefully chosen to positively uplift the spirits of the journals keeper. Each monthly section contains several weekly lined pages, ready for daily gratitude denoting. The nature of the journal is one that encourages the keeper to participate in the journals maintenance, and unlike a lot of other journals, does not present either too few spaces, nor too many pre-fabricated suggestions and passages to swag the journaling habits of others.
Though I will not be photographing several of my pages, I would like to say that the sense of cathartic sense of gratitude and personal clarity that I am currently working towards in my busy, cluttered life is easier to channel by way of this journal. This journal has already helped me to put forth my ideas of what I am not only grateful for, but to redefine my vision of the greater good I seek inside.
The basic practice of using this journal is not only straightforward, but goes hand-in-hand with my whole living vision for my blog. Being able to wake up each morning, seeing the blessings in my life will help me be grateful for every blessing I have, from having a roof over my head, to a stockpile of groceries, to having a healthy family, in a likable, workable, functional edition.
This journal is the real deal.
Moreover, there are also several reasons to consider keeping a journal of gratitude yourself, such as :
- Research by leading psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, suggests that journaling helps workers to lead more effective lives.
- Elaborating in detail about a particular thing for which you’re grateful carries more benefits than a superficial list of things.
- Focusing on people to whom you are grateful for, will inevitably, and positively, impact your life by forcing the journal keeper to redirect their focus from being on things, to emotions, relationships, and personal purpose.
- Gratitude Journaling is an effective way of helping you reflect on what your life would be like without certain blessings, rather than just tallying up things..
- Journaling once or twice per week, can help you not only boost, but maintain, personal happiness long after journaling sessions stop.
Overall this journal has helped me to establish a daily practice of embracing the gifts, grace, benefits, and good things life, hard work, and the grace of God have allotted me. you enjoy. I so enjoy the time I have begun to set aside, on a daily basis, to recall moments of gratitude associated with ordinary events that help to utterly sustain me. This journal also helps me to remember the not so positive moments as well, to use these moments not as wallpaper for my subconscious, but as workable, living example and learning moments.
This journal begs the following questions:
- What have I received?
- What have I given back to the world, or to whom?
- What troubles and difficulty have I caused?
- What have I done to better my world?
As a spiritual person, this journal helps me to recognize that the ultimate source of all that I am and all that I will ever be is within my reach, and it is within my grasp to make my heavenly father as product of me as I can. This journal is a call to the soul, a call for discovering your own love languages, and a utter vow of gratitude and love. This journal is lifesaver, and I highly recommend it!
This journal is currently available online at Amazon, and also on Crystal’s site, here!
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