What happened to my mind after keeping a Gratitude Journal for 30 days - sharing my experience, Assalamu Alaikum

Assalamu Alaikum everyone, I wanted to share a simple experiment I tried after reading a few books (my favourite author is John C. Maxwell) - he mentioned keeping a Gratitude Journal and at first I thought, who even does that? But I’d started feeling ungrateful about my situation, even though I’m in a place many wish they had and a lot of people sacrificed for me to reach here. One day I was sitting alone with my thoughts and really thinking about how much effort it took to get here, and how many people helped along the way. I asked myself: am I just being shaped by others’ expectations? How can I bring out my true self instead of living what others expect of me? Here’s what I realised after trying the gratitude habit: 1) I’m more like my childhood self than I thought - curious and content in simple ways. 2) My environment strongly affects how I feel and act. 3) I need to remind myself often that my situation is the result of a collective effort - family, friends, and those who supported me - not only my own doing. 4) Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally, especially if you’ve gotten used to being dissatisfied. Like a stuck ball, you have to push it to get it rolling. 5) Start writing what you’re thankful for. I keep a journal locally (I use Obsidian) and try to note three good things each day. Changing how you see things really can change your life. I also combine this with short daily dhikr and quiet reflection (meditation). Remember, reflection or meditation isn’t a cure-all, but it helps when used with other healthy habits. I also moved to a new apartment with respectful, positive neighbours which boosted the practice a lot - good company helps. If anyone wants help starting a simple daily reflection or dhikr routine, I have a free guide I used myself to get into the habit. May Allah make it easy and bless you for remembering your blessings.