Every morning, Jews have the practice of reciting the “Modeh Ani” prayer, an expression of gratitude to God for waking up to another day.
I gratefully acknowledge Your Face; Spirit lives and endures;
You return my soul to me with compassion; How great is your faith in me!
That gratitude, hopefully, extends into the day ahead as well.
Gratefulness connects us up to the great flow of receptivity and generosity. When we begin the day in gratefulness, we step on to the path of love.
A gratitude journal is a place in which, when the world feels too dark, heavy, or overwhelming, you can go to clear your mind and remind yourself of what a wonderful opportunity it is to be alive. These Jewish journals consist of fifty-two pages, one per week, one for teens and the other for young adults, and are designed to help you analyze your life and encourage you to practice gratitude for a few moments each week.
The essence of hakarat hatov isn’t just to express thankfulness to those around you and the objects you possess in your life; it is also to truly feel the gratitude deep in your heart and soul. To do so, you must practice gratitude every day.