Tip #20: Do an Inverse Gratitude Journal

I have suggested gratitude journals often, and often to the point of annoyance. I’m absolutely convinced that doing the practice daily for a few weeks will dramatically change your outlook. Today, I’m going to twist things a bit and come in through the back door. I’m going to ask you to do an Inverse Gratitude Journal. The Inverse Gratitude Journal is the back door to the gratitude journal. It works like this:

1. Make a list of everyone in your list.
2. Go through the list and recall everything ever done on your behalf by each of those people
3. If you’re really motivated, make a list under each name of all the wonderful things he or she has done for you.

C’est tout. That’s all.

What you’ll find is that almost everything in your gratitude journal came from one of those people (except that one about making all the lights on your way to work).  You’re swimming in a sea of people who care about you. Some are kind, some are shy, some are cheapskates, some are hip, and some are bastards, yet they’ve all still found a way to do something for you.

We are not alone in this life, folks. We support each other, and we lift up the ones who have fallen. Notice those who have quietly been there for you. Got it? Now spend the rest of the day thinking about them.

Then go do something for somebody.

Make a great day.

Photo:  顔なし