Does today’s news get you down? Wish you could retreat to a five star resort and just get away from it all? Do you then realize that is a distant place from where your life is now? You don’t need a fancy spa or a retreat in the woods to recharge, although it would be nice. The good news is that you can start right now by simply feeling grateful for what you have.

It might sound cliché but just try it. You are bummed about losing hours at work and taking a pay cut. That is putting added stress on your financial situation. You feel lousy and just wish the day would go away. Stop right where you are. Now, think about all of the good things that are going on in your life. You have a roof over your head, your children are healthy, you are healthy, and you can provide food for your family. Stop that “doom and gloom” mind in its tracks and realize you have an endless list of things to be grateful for.

An easy thing to do is to start the day with a gratitude journal. You can keep it by your bedside, so that when you wake up in the morning it is right there for you. List at least five things that you are grateful for that day. They can be small things such as “I’m grateful for the fact that the sun is shining”. Or they can be bigger things such as “I’m so grateful that I am taking that much needed trip to visit my sister”. Take at least five minutes to write down five things that you are grateful for.

You may want to go back to the journal before you retire to bed and write things that came about throughout the day that you are grateful for. Also, it is nice to reread your journal to see how things are really going well in your life. Keeping a “grateful” journal is such an inspiring thing for your life. Immediately it lifts the spirit and soul. It changes your focus to something positive. When doing this you are bringing more positive energy into your life. The cycle is continuous and you will continue to receive things that you are grateful for.

Keeping a gratitude journal is such a simple thing you can do for yourself and the benefits are extraordinary. Not only will it benefit you and your life, but it will trickle to those close to you. Start now! What are you grateful for in this very moment?