Gratitude and Goal Journaling: A Practice for photographers (OR ANYONE ELSE)

Nine years ago, I took an online business course for portrait photographers that started with a mindset module. We were advised that it would be tempting to skip this step, but if we trusted the process, it would truly provide the strong foundation we would need to build sustainable and profitable businesses. This mindset module included listing 10 things for which we were grateful each day, along with writing down any goals we were working toward…every day. I thought it was repetitive and wasn’t completely sold, but I am a rule follower!

getting started

So I started each morning with my coffee and favorite pen, writing 10 things for which I was grateful.

Some were big (like the health of our family, a lovely home), some small (just enough cream for my coffee), followed by the main goals I was working on at the time.

I had revenue goals and goals for the number of sessions in a month that I wanted to hit in my Houston-based photography business, but the WHY behind my goals was a bigger idea - to give our kids a classical Christian education while continuing to support their extracurricular interests.

what happened

What I found surprised me. When I took the time each morning to give thanks - IN WRITING - for both simple pleasures and bigger blessings, I was happier and more content…and more at peace.

When I listed the goals I wanted to achieve (yes, EACH day), it motivated me and generated excitement for the work I needed to do that day to move me closer to my goals.

By the end of the course, I’d achieved my goal of transferring the kids to their new school. I didn’t hit all the revenue goals I’d outlined, but I did have my best year up to that point!

moving forward

I’ve not been as consistent with this practice as I’d like, but I’m picking it back up again. (With one in college, another two years away, and major travel dreams, there are some new goals to hit, ha!)

If I’m being honest, I can tend toward inactivity in my business, thinking that work will just show up. (This is especially tempting when the personal side of my life gets quite busy.) Sometimes the work does just show up, but that’s not the norm. It usually requires effort and intentionality, moving me in the direction I want to go.

Through the practice of gratitude and goal journaling, I learned that intentionality and keeping my eye on the prize (er, my goals) move me much closer to meeting my goals than sitting around hoping for a phone call or email.

If you want to give it a try, grab a notebook (as simple or luxurious as you’d like) and a favorite pen, and carve out a few minutes at some point in the day to journal your gratitude and goals. (I like the morning; it sets the tone for my day.) Pick the time that works best for you. Let me know how it goes!