It’s no secret that many of us Moodscopers have a ‘thing’ for stationery! At a conference last week, I saw the most gorgeous journal I’ve ever seen. Handmade, the owner had got into the habit of journalling for so long that he brought two with him to share. They were magnificent and inspired me to take my journalling not only more seriously but also more organically. Cover, paper, pen – all matter.

Why journal?

The daily practice of capturing intentional gratitude has a proven track record for boosting wellbeing.

It's a deceptively simple habit, but its impact is profound and well-supported by neuroscience and positive psychology research. Here’s why I believe it’s the keystone habit for mental fitness…

Why Gratitude Works:

Neuroplasticity & Rewiring: Our brains have a natural negativity bias—a survival mechanism that scans for threats and problems. Consistently practicing gratitude actively rewires this neural circuitry. We are training our brains to scan the world for positives, gifts, and things that are going right.  Over time, this becomes the default setting, reducing anxiety and depressive rumination.

Perspective Shift: It is almost impossible to feel genuinely grateful and deeply victimised, angry, or anxious at the exact same moment.  Gratitude forces a cognitive shift from a mindset of "lack" to one of "enough" or even "abundance." It doesn't deny life's difficulties; it simply ensures they don't monopolise our entire field of vision.

Builds Resilience: On the toughest days, finding even one tiny thing to be grateful for (the warmth of a cup of tea, a brief moment of sunshine, a text from a friend) acts as an anchor.  It’s a lifeline that reminds us that not everything is bad, building emotional resilience to weather life's inevitable storms.

What are you grateful for today?

Lex

A Moodscope member