How a Gratitude Journal Changed My Outlook on Life

By Stephanie Calderon

Every January, I choose a word of the year to center my focus and guide my intentions. At the beginning of 2024, I chose Gratitude after a particularly tough 2023 both personally and professionally. I knew I had so much to be thankful for but was too bogged down in the day-to-day to truly notice. This choice became more than a word; it became a lifeline and the beginning of a major shift in how I approached my life.

2024 opened with big changes: a shift in relationship status, a temporary move back in with my dad, and lingering work challenges from the previous year. On paper, it might have looked like a season of setbacks. But instead of sitting in frustration, I challenged myself to find the silver linings. “How grateful I was to have a safe place to land with family.” “How wonderful it was to have a career I loved enough to fight for, even when it felt hard.” “How lucky I was to have friends who showed up for me again and again.”

At first, practicing gratitude felt like something I had to remind myself to do. But the more I focused on it, the more natural it became. I realized gratitude didn’t erase the hard things, but it gave me perspective and strength to move through them with a lighter heart.

The tool that had the biggest impact on me was simple: a gratitude note in my phone. Every time something good happened, whether it was a girls’ night out, celebrating a friend’s engagement, a new skill I learned, or even just a great book, I added it to the list. By December, I could scroll back through a year that had once felt overwhelming and see instead a collection of joy-filled moments, both big and small.

That practice became a tradition. I created a new Gratitude Note for 2025 and plan to continue it every year. Even after just one year, I’ve noticed how it reshaped the way I remember my life. Looking back, I no longer see a year only through the lens of its challenges. Instead, I see the abundance I once overlooked; the laughter, friendships, opportunities, and progress.

What I’ve learned is this: gratitude isn’t just about saying thank you. It’s about shifting the story you tell yourself. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, gratitude invites you to notice what’s already present. That shift has carried over into every area of my life - my relationships, my business, and how I view my own progress.

Today, I encourage the people around me to try the same practice. Start your own gratitude note in your phone or notebook. Keep it simple. Capture the everyday blessings, because they’re what create a beautiful and resilient life.

When December comes and you scroll back through, you’ll find yourself remembering not just what you endured, but everything you gained. Gratitude doesn’t just change your outlook - it changes your story. And in changing your story, it can change your life.

- Stephanie Calderon

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