Our brains process up to 70,000 thoughts per day (Cleveland Clinic, healthbrains.org). While it’s nearly impossible to write them all down, doing so would reveal a lot of repetition: thoughts we had yesterday, last week, or even years ago—both negative and positive. We can all agree that negative thoughts don’t serve us well. Often, we worry about things that ultimately never happen. According to Psychology Today’s article, “How to Stop Worrying About Things You Can’t Change” (Sept. 28, 2021), about 85 percent of what people worry about never comes to fruition. Individuals who let go of their worries generally lead healthier lives than those who remain stressed. We tend to think negatively about ourselves, others, and the world around us.

However, there is good news! Our brains are neuroplastic, meaning they can adapt and change over time (Verywellmind.com, “How Neuroplasticity Works,” May 17, 2024). This means we can gain some control over our thoughts. This is where the Good Things Practice and Journal come into play. Other terms for this practice include gratitude, thankfulness, or counting your blessings. An article from the Mayo Clinic titled “Can Expressing Gratitude Improve Your Mental and Physical Health?” states that expressing gratitude can improve sleep, mood, and immunity. It can also decrease depression, anxiety, chronic pain issues, and the risk of disease. This highlights the importance of practicing gratitude consistently over time. Many of my clients have shared that this practice has greatly changed their perspectives on life, leading them to see the good more often. Those who commit to this practice on a daily basis tend to experience the most significant changes.