Negative Gratitude: A journal about positive thinking in reverse

So yes, I know this sounds incredibly contradictive, but hear me out for a second =)

According to Jay Shetty, a world-wide known monk who shares his spiritual knowledge combined with scientific research, has recently spoken about Negative gratitude. Negative gratitude is based on the question “what do you not want to lose?” which, if you answer it, will make your brain feel “Oh my god, I am so grateful I have that thing/person/etc in my life.” Amplifying the gratitude effect many people are practicing to gain a more positive perspective.

I want to use this journal to give myself and others the space to practice negative gratitude and see if it works for me, you, us.

One (1) basic rule I want to set in this journal is that there is no such thing as too big or too small when it comes to gratitude. Want to be grateful for a sandwich? Great! Want to be grateful for winning a jackpot? Equally as great! We are here to celebrate and reflect together about what we have. Not to judge one another.

Welcome to my corner of the internet and thank you for visiting, reading, and perhaps also joining in. No pressure. Take all the time you need. We are here to help. Not to haste. Everyone has a different path and a different pace. :white_heart:

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Day 1:

  1. I would hate to lose my sister. She is the one thing that motivates me the most out of everything and everyone. Everything I do is to be a good brother for her. Her undying love for me means the world to me.

  2. I would hate to lose the roof over my head. I’ve been nomadic for a long while, and it was not by choice. Boy does having a roof over your head and having a bed rather than an air mattress change perspective.

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I think this is a great idea! I am a real pessimistic mind sometimes and it’s very easy for me to think about what I don’t want to lose instead of thinking about what I’m grateful for… Going to follow this thread and might join in :slight_smile:

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I personally caught myself having a very heavy soul as well, which is why this way of thinking intrigued me so much =) I’m happy you found the journal. May you find the peace you need! :white_heart:

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I absolutely love this. I’ve always had a hard time with this. Thank you for sharing✨🩷

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It’s a true game changer for me! When I heard about it I was like “OH!? That exists, too?” XD

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I would hate to lose my daughter. The relationship we have is Gilmore 101 lol But she’s the reason I fight. Even though she is an adult, I never want her to get a call they found me too late. (Oof)

I would also hate to lose my fiancé. He has been my rock, my reasonable side, my knight. He is also recovering (I dragged him with me a bit) And while we are totally different he tells me everyday how proud he is of me.

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It really is. I just started working through RD (felt the struggle coming) so this resonates in that way as well. I hope it’s okay if I join✨🩷

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Absolutely! That’s what this thread is for!

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I love this! As the negative Nancy that I am, gratitude has always been a bit of a challenge. But shifting perspective seems like such a simple but effective way of doing it.

Soooo

  1. I would hate to lose my husband. This man has been my rock and by biggest supporter for the past seven years and he’s pretty awesome.
  2. I would hate to lose my dog. It’s incredible how attached we get to the little furry beasts.
  3. I would hate to lose my lifestyle. I thrive when I’m traveling, exploring and seeing pretty things.
  4. I would hate to fail another degree. Being back at school and studying is such a joy. I’m really determined to see this through.
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Day 2

  1. I would hate to lose the bond I have with my dad. We are slowly rebuilding it and it seems more natural now than before.

  2. I would hate to leave my place of residency. I’ve learned to love the big city despite growing up in towns as the anonymity is more solid and I am less anxious about coming across anyone I dislike.

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Day… 3?

  1. I’d hate to lose my autonomy. I am still learning to adult properly but I gained a lot and have been able to claim parts of autonomy that I refuse to let go.

  2. I’d hate to lose my awareness of my strength. The lessons were tough but I made it this far and am not planning on giving up.

  3. I’d hate to lose morphine shots even though I hate getting them. Which sounds very addict ish but without it I wouldn’t have been able to stay away from the ER today (thank you 24/7 general practitioner shifts). Chronic pain ruins my mood and energy levels a lot and medicine have kept me more sane than I was without and if the occasional morphine is what it takes to stay out of danger then I’ll take it.

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I would hate to lose my kids
I would hate to lose myself
I would hate to lose my new found friends
I would hate to lose my peace

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I would hate to lose my phone. I rarely think how great everyday is that I am able to keep that thing.

BTW, great thread Mav!!!

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Thank you! And welcome :white_heart:

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I would hate to lose music overall. It’s always been a passion of mine. Finding new artists, writing, playing, all of it. I would be a goner for sure if I didn’t have music :musical_note:

I would hate to lose my dogs. They are my center since the kids have moved out. My reason to force myself out of bed even when I would rather do anything else. :paw_prints:

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Day 4

  1. I would hate to lose my ability to crochet. It gives such a sense of serenity and self worth. When I am stressed or over stimulated it helps me regulate my emotions.

  2. I would hate to lose Stefan and Alfred. They always bring me joy and make me feel human again after feeling like a patient 24/7. Chronic illness and mental health are a beesh and they are the only ones in my inner circle that fully understand.

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Day 3??? :joy:

:sparkles:I would hate to lose my Billabong “BONG” hoodie. Yes a hoodie. I got it when I was 17 in 2003. I remember it was $70 (a lot for a hoodie at Pacific Sunwear back in the day) It’s literally the only thing I have not lost from all my bs thru the years. Every single serious relationship has been experienced in that hoodie. I still wear it weekly and it’s quite beat up. But it always reminds me of what I want to be again. Sober and happy 🩷

:sparkles:I would hate to lose this community and the connections made here. So many reasons 🩷

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That hoodie sounds like a crown of victorious battles :white_heart:

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Absolutely. It’s my security blanket lol :sparkles:🩷

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