What is a happiness journal anyway? Learn how to start your own happy journal and keep track of the good in your life. This has been sooo good for me. I'm so glad I started a happy journal! This article also includes a free printable to help you get started. #happinessjournal #howtostartahappinessjournal #happyjournal

What is a Happiness Journal?

What is a happiness journal anyway? Learn what this whole happy journaling thing is about as well as my take on it!

Apparently, keeping a happiness journal is a thing now. When I began my happy journal twenty years ago (when I was a toddler, ahem), I didn’t even call it a happy journal. Sure, I was drawing things that made me happy, but I didn’t have a name for it.

Now, everywhere I look I see happiness journals, happiness planners, happiness books. It’s a thing. But truthfully, I think it is a good thing.

Our world is so fast-paced right now, it’s good to take the time to stop and listen and look for the good in our lives. Truly, that is what a happiness journal is all about. Finding the good.

Learn what a happiness journal actually is and how you can start your own. It's so easy and SO worth it! Happy journals are great for adults AND kids!
I’m using the Make Art Every Day planner for my happy journal in these photos.

What is a Happiness Journal?

Some people use happiness journals to dive deep into their souls, to mine what makes them tick, what makes them truly happy, etc.

Me? I take a simpler approach.

Years ago, one of my friends in college mentioned that she was always on the lookout for God’s gifts to her. This kind of thinking was revolutionary to me. I had never thought of God working like that, but when I began to look, I began to see.

The sun sparkling on the frosted grass.

A bunny peeping out from behind a bush just as I walked by.

A little kid giggling with a full belly laugh.

When you begin to look for the good, you might be startled to find there is a lot of beauty in this world, even if your personal life is not that great right now.

What IS a happy journal? Learn how to start your own with a blank notebook and a pen today. This is such a great way to find the joy in all the little and big areas of your life. You're going to love this!

What to Put in a Happiness Journal

I like to doodle and draw stick figure vignettes of my day. (Here’s a video tutorial on how to draw cute stick figures. :)) It’s something I’ve been doing for years and the results, though not art gallery worthy, are w o n d e r f u l to look back on.

How can you NOT smile when you see a sketch of you standing in line to go on that trip you were so excited about? How can you NOT smile when you flip through the pages of an old happiness journal and see image after image of the things that brought  a smile to your face?

That’s actually one of my favorite parts about happy journaling. In the moment, you’re thinking about what made you happy that day or even how you made someone else happy. You’re recording the beauty in your life.

That’s the first benefit. Taking the time to acknowledge your beautiful life.

Then there’s the looking back months or even years later and remembering. Over and over in the Bible, God encourages his people to remember. He had done SO MUCH for them but like us, they were quick to forget.

Creating your own happiness journal is your way of setting a stone in the sand per se, and declaring, “I will remember.” You’ll look back and those moments will come flooding back to you.

Happiness journaling is for anyone and everyone! Just grab a pen and learn how to get started by clicking here!

Finding the Good and Being the Good

I mentioned how you can record the good in your life as well as the good you’re doing for others. This isn’t so you’ll post it on Instagram and be proud of yourself. It’s more of a quiet testament of how you are being aware of those around you. It might be the quiet nudge you need to show love to others.

I love this quote from Johannes Pedersen as quoted in Eugene Peterson’s A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (HIGHLY recommended):

Life consists in the constant meeting of souls, which must share their contents with each other. The blessed gives to the others around him . . . The characteristic of blessing is to multiply.

So, what is a happiness journal? A happiness journal is a book where you record the good in your life. You can do this by listing items or as I do, drawing sketches. You can write the good you are committed to doing for others and keep notes on the blessings you have personally received.

Want to start your own happy journal?

Here are some resources to get you started:

Happy Journal, Happy Life the book!

Read the book, Happy Journal, Happy Life

Find more happy journaling resources by clicking here.

Have an amazing day!

 
 

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3 responses to “What is a Happiness Journal?”

  1. Teresa Avatar

    This is a very interesting idea, and starting a happiness journal could be a great new year’s resolution.
    Thank you for joining The Really Crafty Link Party this week!

  2. Lisa Cratty Avatar
    Lisa Cratty

    I need pictures or a flip though video to relate to.

    1. Jennie Avatar
      Jennie

      Thanks for your comment, Lisa! I’ve added pictures and additional resources to this post. Enjoy! 🙂

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I love it when you pin and share tutorials and articles that resonate with you. However, please remember that everything on this blog: articles, photos, drawings, and artwork are created by Jennie Moraitis and are under copyright. Please do not remove watermarks, crop, or edit any of my images or artwork without first receiving written permission from me. You may use one photo to share but please link to the original post on my site. The printables I offer are for personal use only. Please do not email the pdfs to others. Feel free to share the original post link for the printable with your friends and family so they can come over and download one of their own! Thanks so much for stopping by!