Turn Your Camera Around
All of our phones have cameras, along with a multitude of other apps and gadgets. When I think about it, using the phone for its original purpose of calling someone seems to be an afterthought. I often prefer a text for most contact, but sometimes it is important to have a real conversation.
However, the camera on my phone is used sparingly. I know I am in the minority with that. And when I take a photo, it is usually a picture of my dogs or something I want to remember, such as a prescription number. Yes, I am showing my age.
With the explosion of people of all ages using their phones to post on social media, we are using our camera phones to focus on ourselves. What we are doing, how we look…all to get people to “like” our post. With all the focus on getting others' approval, it is natural that when we don’t receive the recognition we seek or it results in negative attention, we may experience a downward spiral of self-esteem and other destructive negative emotions.
I realize that this trend is likely to continue for a while. And frankly, I’m not advocating that it should or shouldn’t, but I propose we take a break to change our focus. Why not use our cameras to boost our positive emotions? Why not change the object of your camera to others and the beauty and good surrounding us in everyday activities?
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Create a Gratitude Photo Journal
This very simple process involves pointing your phone camera at something or someone you are grateful for. It could be a picture of your family or friends, pets, or a beautiful scene. For some, seeing a photo of what they’re grateful for may be even more powerful than looking at words on a page.
To begin, we suggest you set up a “gratitude” photo album on your phone to store and easily retrieve your trove of gratitude images.
Try taking a picture of one thing you are grateful for every day for a week. It doesn’t have to be something grandiose. It might be a picture of a flower or a bird.
As you move through the week, you might even begin each day with a quick review of the photos you’ve taken so far. It will only take a few moments to do but will pay off in big dividends in how you feel.
The more photos you take, the easier it will be to recognize what you’re grateful for. You may even notice trends in what you value and what is important to you when you scan your photos.
Take a moment now to consider what photo you want to capture as the very first one in your gratitude album. You might learn about yourself by what first pops into your mind.