7 Minutes in Heaven

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Remember the game “7 Minutes in Heaven”?

Do this writing prompt and you will feel almost as excited as you did in grade school when the bottle landed on you!

Take the next seven minutes and write down at least seven things you feel grateful for. It will shift your mood immediately. Now see if you can keep this up for seven days. It doesn’t matter when you do this – morning, noon or night. Just try for seven days, to gather seven things to write down. It’s only seven days; if you miss a day, just keep going. Start right there in the moment when you notice something you’re grateful for, and jot it down. Right that second!

Don’t beat yourself up for forgetting to write sooner; just move forward with your gratitude. You can write,

“I’m so grateful I remembered to do this,” and keep going with your day.

Some days it may feel like the only thing to be grateful for is that the day is over. That’s okay, too. It won’t be long before you notice the shifts – a slight feeling of lightness as you wake up, a bounce in your step, smiling at strangers.

These are some of the little ways in which gratitude can seep into your day. There is no wrong way to do this. Just have fun, make it a game, and see what happens.

Here’s a journal entry from my husband, made when I was nudging him to keep a gratitude journal:

  1. I am so grateful that Denver just won the Super Bowl.
  2. I am so grateful that I’m about to sleep for eight hours.
  3. I am so grateful that I have shelter from the elements.
  4. I am so grateful that I am in good health and my family is in good health.
  5. I am so grateful that Sandy stopped yapping about journaling.

~excerpted from JOURNALUTION: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life & Manifest Your Dreams (New World Library, 2005)

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Comments
3 Responses to “7 Minutes in Heaven”
  1. Vanessa says:
    March 1, 2011 at 10:00 am

    I ordered your book on line and got myself prepared to use it by going out and finding me a perfect journal. I had tried on many occassions before to keep a journal and failed. I got your book February 23 and when I went to work that night I began to read it. The first entry was about being here at work and then a little about myself. That particular night I was feeling “depressed, tired, angry and worried.” Tonight in answer to that question I would have to say that I’m at peace, alert, and happy. I have to give you the credit. Your book has made me take a real look at myself and see the self-defeating behaviors that I’ve been clinging to. Let me tell you that 99 year old me was a tough old bird, but she was right. The thing is, I still don’t know where those things came from, I just let go. Thank you will never be enough so I’ll also wish you bright blessings. You have been that for me.
    Extremely grateful,
    Vanessa

  2. christopho says:
    March 23, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    awesome job, im envious at this time