Optimism Journaling

What is it?

Optimism journaling is an alterative to gratitude journaling.

Instead of journaling at the end of your day and listing what you felt grateful for,

you go into your day with the intention of finding things that are making it brighter.

There are no rule in journaling, so you may absolutely journal whenever it suits you. (Including the end of the day). 🙂

The operative here is in going into your day with the expectation that you'll find goodness in it.

Why Do This?

For the exact reason the name implies: to invite optimism into your life and to practice it deliberately.

What is optimism if not the expectation of good?

I do believe optimism is a skill you can get better at, rather than seeing is as a personality trait you're either lucky enough to have or not. (It's the idea of being "lucky enough" to be optimistic funny).

I do think optimism is more than just "looking at the bright side".

Looking at the bright side sounds too much like toxic positivity to me. It sounds forced. It may as well say "Dismiss, silence, and ignore the dark side".

The sort of optimism this journaling practice invites is optimistic curiosity.

It's "I wonder what today has for me".

Imagine waking up like that...

How to Do It

Very easily!

Start your day by asking "What does today have for me?"

Go about your day as usually.

When you find a free moment in your day, journal about what the day, indeed, had for you.

I like lists for things, but you can absolutely write a narrative, take photos, record your voice, video, etc.

If you plan on journaling in the middle of the day, carrying your journal and keeping with with you is a wonderful way to use spare time in the day.

This is where digital journals really shine. You can take any free 5 minutes in your day to record.