Grab your pens!
How about a 30-day challenge to refocus on the positive in our lives?
With all the conflicts, differing opinions and negative discourse circulating around us these days, I felt like launching an activity that would bring us together rather than divide us - something that would unite us instead of separating us... no matter the physical distance between us.
I wanted to find a way to help us see and feel all the positive things around us - the ones we so often forget.
What the science says
Choosing to see 3 times more positivity
According to researcher and social psychology professor Barbara L. Frederickson, positivity can truly transform our lives.
In her 2009 book "Positivity", her research showed that a ratio of 3 positive thoughts for every negative thought helps create a healthier, more dynamic and more fulfilling life.
Choosing a regular gratitude practice
Psychologist and professor Robert A. Emmons shares the same perspective.
Through numerous studies involving more than a thousand people (ages 8 to 80), where he helped participants cultivate gratitude - often through a gratitude journal - he observed significant benefits in as little as three weeks of regular gratitude practice.
Physical, psychological and social benefits
Here are some examples of the benefits observed in people who practice gratitude regularly:
Physical
Stronger immune system
Lower blood pressure
Better sleep
More motivation to exercise and take care of their health
Psychological
More positive emotions
Feeling more alert, awake and alive
More joy and pleasure
More optimism and happiness
Social
More generous and compassionate
More forgiving
More outgoing
Less isolated and lonely
My experience with gratitude
I personally felt the positive effects of a regular gratitude practice a few years ago.
What struck me the most during that period was noticing that things that would normally irritate or frustrate me no longer had the same impact... It was as if I could let go much more easily when it came to events beyond my control.
I felt much more zen, calm and present in each moment.
Gratitude in the present moment
Often, I even managed to feel gratitude as events were happening! I no longer needed to wait until the end of the day to write down and acknowledge I had experienced something beautiful - I felt grateful in the moment itself!
A challenge to share!
This is why I want to relive these moments of gratitude with all of you! Given the times we’re living in, I feel that being grateful - and offering ourselves gratitude - is not a luxury but a necessity!
The details
Dates
April 14 to May 13, 2025 (30 days)
Your daily tasks during these 30 days:
Each day, write 3 things you’re grateful for (you can write more if you want, but at least 3 per day!).
You can write them in a paper journal, in an app on your phone... whatever works for you. What matters is that you write them down (not just think about them!).
A few days left to prepare for the challenge
Decide how you want to record your daily gratitudes. Do you prefer a paper journal or an app on your phone? If it's a paper journal, do you already have one? Do you need to buy one? If you prefer an app, which one? There are plenty of options!
Invite your loved ones, friends, colleagues , or family to join the challenge with us! The more of us there are, the more we'll create a wave of positivity around us!
During these 30 days
I'll be sharing a short daily positive thought on my social media platforms. Make sure to follow me so you don't miss anything! And if you feel like sharing yours with me, I'd be delighted to read them!
Looking forward to experiencing this wave of gratitude with you!
