A couple of years ago, I came across a Facebook post that suggested a simple but powerful idea: write down every positive thing that happens in your life and save those notes to read at the end of the year.
It sounded interesting, so my wife and I decided to give it a try.
If you don’t already have a system for celebrating the good in your life, I highly recommend this one.
Find a jar, shoebox, piggy bank, or any container you have lying around. Then start collecting notes about the positive things that happen throughout the year.
What you write down is completely up to you. It could be a major accomplishment, a piece of good fortune, a personal milestone, or something as simple as getting out of bed on a difficult day. Whatever you see as a positive in your life. Whatever you want to remember and revisit later.
The original suggestion was to start on New Year’s Day and read through the notes on New Year’s Eve, but you can begin anytime. The goal is simply to create a record of the good things that happen so they don’t disappear into the busyness of everyday life.
My wife and I have been doing this for several years now, and I can tell you from experience that you have no idea how many good moments you forget shortly after they happen.
Every time we sit down and go through our jar, we’re amazed by how much happened over the previous year.
The experience reminds us just how blessed we are, even when life is difficult.
My wife has been battling cancer, and it’s easy to remember the treatments, the pain, and the countless hospital and doctor visits. Those challenges naturally demand our attention. What often gets overlooked are the victories, the joyful moments, and the everyday blessings that happened alongside them.
When we read through our collection of notes, we’re reminded of all those positive experiences. Good news from a doctor. A special purchase. A milestone reached by our grandson. Small moments that brought us joy but might otherwise have been forgotten.
Not only do we remember those experiences, but we get to feel those positive emotions all over again.
Today, it’s a tradition we look forward to every year.
I’ve always believed that when you intentionally bring more positive messages into your life, your overall outlook improves. That’s not to say life suddenly becomes easier. Challenges will always exist. But when you focus exclusively on what’s wrong, it’s easy to overlook everything that’s going right.
Every year, we say the same thing: this year was way better than I remember. Why do we seem to remember the negative experiences so vividly while allowing so many positive ones to fade away?
Maybe it’s time we start celebrating the good stuff.
Better yet, let’s make those wins a meaningful part of our lives.
In a world that often feels overwhelmingly negative, anything you can do to focus on gratitude, joy, and hope is a step toward greater well-being.
So here’s your challenge for this week: start writing down the good things that happen to you and collect them in one place.
You can do this as events happen, at the end of each day, or once a week. Just don’t wait too long, or you’ll forget some of the moments worth remembering.
At the end of the year, set aside an evening to read through your collection and celebrate all the good things that happened.
You can also include inspirational quotes, encouraging messages, expressions of gratitude, or reminders of people who make your life better. If it brings positivity into your life, it belongs in the jar.
Let’s call it your Jar of Goodness.
If you already do something similar, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience in the comments.
I hope your jar fills up quickly.
Remember to focus on the good things so you can make an IMPACT and lead a Full Life.
Thanks for reading.