Expressing Gratitude to Myself

In a recent counselling session, my counselor suggested that I start keeping a gratitude journal and show gratitude to myself for a job well done each day. She said, "Try to find three things each day that you are proud of yourself for doing and recognize that."

I told her three would be a lot and that I would try for one each day instead. So that's what I've been doing.

For the most part it seems a little lame. Yesterday I expressed gratitude to myself for emptying the dishwasher and cleaning up the kitchen. Today I'm giving myself a pat on the back for getting up at 6 a.m. and working out. Other days it's been for things like not loosing my temper with the kids, making a decent dinner, or getting groceries.

I even had a little talk with my husband about all this. I told him I didn't know what to be grateful to myself for and he told me that he was grateful that I get up before him and put on coffee every morning. I thought that was nice - we usually don't tell each other stuff like that very often. It just went to show that the little things count too.

Although it feels more fulfilling to have someone else tell you why they are grateful for you or for something you've done, my counselor explained that waiting for gratitude from others doesn't always work - I need to be thankful for myself and for what I do.

Who would clean the kitchen if I didn't? Honestly, the days I've fallen behind it just doesn't get done. Who cleans the bathrooms, vacuums, makes dinners, or takes care of most of our needs? That would be me. And yet I don't even give myself credit for it. If someone was doing all those things for me, I would be very grateful! So shouldn't I express that same gratitude to myself?

Do you ever express gratitude to yourself? What have you done lately that deserves your thanks and recognition?