Download the Five Minute Journal App to Start Retraining Your Brain to be More Positive
Time. It’s constantly shifting from the past, present, and future. I often struggle with being “in the now.” I can easily get stuck fretting over the should have’s and could have’s of my past…. or worrying about what the future holds.
Although it’s good to set goals and intentions, I know that it’s not healthy to micromanage everything I can control, make endless to-do lists, and obsess about the unknown (Can you tell that I’m Type A?). For instance, when I found out that my reservations fell through at club I planned on hosting my birthday party at, I had a hard time enjoying my delicious birthday brunch. While I should have relaxed and savored every bite of my omelet and delectable, flaky biscuit… I was riddled with anxiety as I Googled and Yelped new possible venue options and feared that no one was going to show up. Flash forward to 6 hours later: my Plan B ended up being even better than the first venue and more friends showed up than I even expected! So the message of this silly story is: I should’ve enjoyed that buttery biscuit!
While I groggily fantasized about my under appreciated biscuit the morning after my party, I had a moment of clarity (yes, biscuits may go straight to your ass, but they can save lives). I realized that if I learned to let go and embrace the present, I could harness more positive memories and walk into the future with a pep in my step! I also made a vow to myself for the year: try to be more grateful for all the things that are good in my life, both big and small.
After doing extensive research on gratitude apps, I stumbled upon The Five Minute Journal. Out of all of the apps that I looked at, the interface and structure worked the best for my needs and goals. I’ve been doing it every day since my biscuit epiphany and I absolutely love it! It allows me to focus on the past, present, and future in an optimistic way. In the morning, it asks me to:
- List 3 things that I’m are grateful for (be in the present).
- Write down 3 things that I plan to do to make the day great (goal setting for the future).
- 1 affirmation (a positive declaration about myself).
In the evening, it asks me to:
- Write down 3 things that made my day amazing (good memories of the past).
- Note 1 thing that I could’ve done to make my day even better (constructive reflection).
The Five Minute Journal App is so easy, takes up very little of my time, and allows me to start and end my day on a positive note. My goal is to continue doing it every day for the next year and beyond! I challenge you to give it a try too! I’d love to hear if it’s helping you reshape your thoughts and improving your life in any way. I also encourage you to go treat yourself to one of your favorite guilty pleasures and truly enjoy it from beginning to end without any distractions. Life can go by quicker than the blink of an eye… or be drawn out slowly by savoring every moment! Start retraining your brain to stop and smell the roses!
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