Glimmers, Gratitude and Growth with Sarah Shellard

As adults, it can sometimes feel awkward to try new things. And as adults we feel like awkward is for the young - not for us. But at Jen Shellard explains, the benefits mentally and emotionally (and chemically) for adults who try and pursue new things, are significant.One of the new things she took on as an adult was journaling. Specifically gratitude journaling. She amassed quite the collection of journals. She tried them all and found what she liked, and what wasn’t so great. She searched high and low looking for a journal that had all the things she wanted - but it didn’t exist. So, Sarah got to work and decided to create her own gratitude journal, and so the Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal was born. It’s a journal that gives small prompts to help you think about small things throughout your day that evoke gratitude. We talk about how this kind of daily practice can seem daunting sometimes. Sarah wanted to take the pressure off - so the journal is undated, meaning the pages don’t have a date on them. Miss a few days? No worries, just pick up where you left off, no pressure. Having a super tough day that feels like nothing went right? Sarah provides prompts to help you find ‘glimmers’ - small details throughout a day that may otherwise go unnoticed that are worthy of thanks (think ‘breath in my lungs’, ‘sunshine through a window’). Sarah wanted to provide a way for a gratitude practice to be accessible. And she wants you to write it down. She shares how her own ADHD brain will wander when she tries to just think through the list in her head. Stopping to write her thoughts down pauses the rest of her thoughts and activity and gives just a few minutes of focus to find what’s worth being thankful for. That process of slowing down is important - and the body/brain connection of taking a thought and writing it down, pen to paper, leaves a powerful imprint on you. Sarah and I both talk about how we both experience better sleep when we write our gratitude down before sleep. But we also talk about the fact that it can feel hard for a lot of people. They like the idea but often say ‘I could never do that’ - and we talk about why that might be and some strategies to potentially overcome it.For some people sitting down to put your thoughts on paper may be something they aren’t used to - and for some adults picking up something new can feel tough. Sarah and I talk about some of the new things we’ve picked up as adults and how the brain is wired to give an extra push of dopamine when you’re grown and trying new things.Gratitude seems so simple. Find something you’re thankful for and acknowledge that you’re thankful for it. But life can be messy and busy and taking even a few moments to think through our day and find things - even small little glimmers - can sometimes just seem like ‘one more thing to do’. But Sarah is convinced that could be the most important moment of your day.Do you have a gratitude practice? Do you journal or write your gratitudes down? Do you ever focus on glimmers? Find the Daily Glimmer’s Gratitude Journal Here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit findingmyfrequency.substack.com/subscribe