One Positive Thing a Week: How a Jar of Gratitude Changed My Perspective

I feel like most of us can agree that there are those days where you feel lost and down but can’t exactly pinpoint the source of these feelings.  I very much cycle up and down with eating habits, exercise habits, sleeping habits, thinking habits, all the wellbeing stuff. But I am a lifelong learner.  I thrive on new perspectives, studies, data, opinions, experiences, etc.  I allow my mind to remain open to endless possibilities, even ones I don’t personally agree with, I’m willing to listen. I pull certain tidbits from all the information that is fed to me daily and apply it to my own life, like practicing gratitude.  I can’t express what a deep and powerful concept it is and there’s even science behind the benefits of it, like increased feelings of happiness and increased self-esteem. Who doesn’t want to feel those benefits? 

For Christmas last year, a friend (my biggest cheerleader I like to say because he’s so good at reminding me that I have all the power and tools to be amazing within me already), gifted me the most simple but impactful gift - a glass jar with a pad of sticky notes in it.  The outside of the jar reads: “write one good thing that happened per week for a year starting 01/01/2025”, which was the upcoming weekend of the mid-week visit we had.  He reminded me that no matter how busy you get, how many directions you get pulled in, or how down you may feel at times, reflecting once a week on a positive experience will act as a moment of grounding and reminder that with perspective, life is pretty good.  I obviously ate this up.  I’ve tried several gratitude journals and even the ones with the prompts are unrealistic for me to write in every day.  Recording 1 positive thing 1 time a week isn’t too much to ask, it’s actually very sustainable.  I keep the jar on my desk, so every Monday morning it stares me right in the face until I reflect on the week that just passed and add a sticky note to it. The real beauty of it is that it’s just for me, I don’t have to worry about writing the wrong thing because of an audience that will judge me on.  Sometimes my gratitude stickies are so simple, but impactful enough on my week that I remembered and reflected.  Don’t underestimate perceived simple or small things, they can positively shift and shape your life.  

At the close of one jar (year) and the start of a new jar (new year), read all your sticky notes, and if you love to analyze like I do, look for patterns in topics like work vs personal, reoccurring people (& dogs!) and reminisce (likely laugh) about the things you valued.  Be mindful of what you documented and do more of what made you feel good.  If you’re looking to add another multidimensional aspect to your wellness routine, I highly recommend trying this!   

This January, I’m taking my gratitude jar to the next level by participating in LEANFIT®’s #PathToProgress. Instead of per week, just for the month of January, I’m challenging myself to do a sticky note per day to kick off the year with 31 positives.  If this sounds like a good starting place for you to do one small thing a day to help positively shape your 2025, join me and the LEANFIT® team.  Bonus points if instead of a jar you use an empty LEANFIT® tub 😉.

Your Path to Progress

January is a fresh start - a time to embrace small, meaningful changes that lead to lasting progress. True transformation happens through daily habits, not drastic, unattainable goals. Whether it’s meal prepping, taking a 10-minute walk on your lunch break, journaling to reflect on your day, adding an extra glass of water or protein to your routine, stretching for 5 minutes in the morning, or swapping one processed snack for a healthier option, every small step is part of your journey. Let’s focus on progress over perfection and build sustainable habits together this year! Slow and steady, wins your race.

Your path to progress is uniquely yours - celebrate the wins, big or small, and recognize the effort it takes to show up every day. We invite you to share your #PathToProgress with us for a chance to be featured in our January campaign. Submit your story, photos, or videos to info@leanfit.com, and each Friday in January 2025, one submission will be randomly selected to win a $100 LEANFIT e-gift card.