Friday Blooms: Morning Journaling ~ Starting my Day with Gratitude, Affirmations, and Intention

Hello Bloomers!

While I wouldn't categorize myself as a morning person, the older I get the more I come to appreciate the quiet stillness of the early morning — the world hasn’t fully woken up yet, and everything feels just a little softer, a little slower. I am working on using this time as a sacred space where I center myself.

One practice I've begun is morning journaling — a ritual that gently guides me into each new day with clarity, calm, and intention.

I like to begin each morning not by reaching for my phone, but by reaching for my journal. That simple act alone is powerful. It’s a choice to ground myself, to pause, and to listen — to my heart, my breath, and the kind affirmations in my mind before the noise of the world filters in.

My journal entry today

Morning journaling isn’t about being productive—it’s about being present. It’s a quiet moment I gift to myself each day. It’s where I empty my thoughts, explore my emotions, and most importantly, connect with gratitude and mindfulness.

In those first few minutes with pen in hand and coffee nearby, I ask myself:

• What am I grateful for today?

• What energy do I want to carry into the day?

• What do I need to release to feel lighter?

• What matters most today?

It’s amazing how answering even one of those questions can shift everything.

Alongside my journaling practice, I’ve grown to love starting the day with positive affirmations. These small but mighty phrases help me step into the day feeling supported, confident, and clear. They remind me of who I am and who I’m becoming.

Some mornings I write just one affirmation; other days, I’ll fill a whole page. But no matter what, I make sure to choose words that feel nourishing, grounding, and true.

Some of my favorite morning affirmations:

• I welcome this new day with an open heart.

• I am grounded, calm, and exactly where I need to be.

• I give myself permission to live today with intention and ease.

• I trust that what I need will find me.

• I am worthy of peace, joy, and growth.

We talk a lot about “living with intention,” but I truly believe that intention is born out of mindfulness. We can’t move with purpose if we haven’t first paused to check in with ourselves—emotionally, spiritually, energetically.

This practice—this sacred pause—has become one of the kindest things I do for myself. It keeps me rooted in what matters and allows me to meet my day with grace instead of rush.

Morning journaling is my way of whispering to myself: “You matter. Your thoughts matter. Let’s begin from a place of love.”

And that, to me, is the heart of living with intention.