To your pens!
How about a little 30-day challenge to refocus on the positive in our lives?
With all the conflicts, differences of opinion, and negative rhetoric circulating around us these days, I wanted to launch an initiative that would bring us together rather than divide us—something that would unite us rather than separate us… no matter how far apart we are physically.
I wanted to find a way to help us see and feel all the positivity that surrounds us—the kind we so often forget.
What science has to say
Choose to see 3 times more positive
According to Barbara L. Frederickson, a researcher and professor of social psychology, positivity can truly transform our lives.
In his 2009 book *Positivity*, his research showed that a ratio of three positive thoughts for every negative thought leads to a healthier, more dynamic, and more fulfilling life!
Choose a regular practice of gratitude
Psychologist and professor Robert A. Emmons shares this view.
Through his numerous studies involving more than a thousand people (aged 8 to 80), in which he helped people cultivate gratitude—often through a gratitude journal—he observed significant benefits after as little as three weeks of regular practice.
Physical, psychological and social benefits
Here are a few examples of the benefits observed in people who practice gratitude regularly:
Physical
Strengthened Immune System
Lower blood pressure
Better sleep
More motivation to exercise and look after your health
Psychological
More positive emotions
A feeling of being 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 myself experienced the positive effects of regularly practicing gratitude a few years ago.
What struck me most during that time was realizing that things that would normally have irritated or frustrated me no longer had the same effect at all… It was as if I was able to let go much more easily when it came to events beyond my control.
I felt much more at peace, calm, and present in every moment.
Gratitude in the present moment
Often, I was even able to feel gratitude right as things were happening! I no longer had to wait until the end of the day to write down and acknowledge that I’d had a wonderful moment—I was grateful right then and there!
A challenge to share!
That's why I want to relive these moments of gratitude with all of you! These days, I feel that being grateful—and showing gratitude to oneself—is not a luxury but a true necessity!
Details
Dates
April 14 through May 13, 2025 (30 days)
Your daily tasks during these 30 days:
Every day, write down 3 things you're grateful for (you can write more if you feel like it, but at least 3 a day!)
You can write them down in a paper journal, in an app on your phone... it doesn't matter—the important thing is to write them down (not just think about them!)
You still have a few days left to get ready for the challenge
Decide how you’d like to keep track of your daily gratitude. Do you prefer a paper journal or an app on your phone? If you prefer a paper journal, do you already have one? Do you need to get one? If you prefer an app, which one? There are plenty of options!
Invite your loved ones, friends, coworkers, or family members to join the challenge! The more of us there are, the more we'll create a wonderful wave of positivity around us!
During those 30 days
Every day, I'll share a little positive thought on my social media. Be sure to follow me so you don't miss a thing! And if you'd like to share your own, I'd love to hear from you!
I look forward to experiencing this wave of gratitude with you!
