Make a Happiness Jar, Thankful Jar, or Kindness Jar for the New Year!

The year is coming to an end and it’s that time: time to look back at the year and reflect, time to look ahead to the coming year, time to make resolutions or set goals …

I like to think back across the year and reflect on what was good, what was not so good, and what could be better. I really don’t make a New Year’s Resolution anymore, but I do think about what I’d like to strive to do better in the coming year. I usually try to come up with one word that describes my “goal” for the year. This coming year, as I mentioned in my Christmas post, I want to stick with things, follow through, finish what I start, and do what I’m called to do. Do you see a theme here? Well, we’ll see how I did when I revisit the idea next New Year’s. What is your goal for the year?

Maybe your goal is to be happier in the new year, be more grateful, or show more kindness to others. If you are looking for a fun and easy way to help you or your family with happiness, or gratefulness, or kindness, or if you think this might be something a friend or family member could use, continue reading.

Last Christmas, my sister-n-law saw a cute idea on Facebook and posted about it … this is where the idea blossomed. I looked at it and said, “I can make something like that for her!” The idea was a Happiness Jar. The premise of the idea was to have a jar or container where you would put slips of paper in each day. On the paper, you would write something that made you happy that day. At the end of the year (or anytime during the year), you could go back and read the things that made you happy. It is a great way to remind yourself that you have much to be thankful for, that you are blessed, and that even when life has downs, there are still good things in life. Too often, we focus on the bad things or when things go wrong. The Happiness Jar can help us to focus on all the good things going on in our lives.

So another twist on the “Happiness Jar” would be to write down things you are thankful for or grateful for or write down how you showed kindness to others (could even be Random Acts of Kindness) or kind things others did for you each day. When you find yourself feeling envious, jealous, left out, lonely, unfortunate, etc., open up your jar and remind yourself of all that you do have, and though it may not totally change your outlook that day, it should help you feel a little better and maybe even guide you in what to do to make changes in your outlook.

Here are some thoughts on how you can make/construct your Happiness Jar (for those of you that are crafty and noncrafty):

• You can repurpose an old jar or container, you do not need to spend a lot of money on this project. I used a plain old jar.
• You can decorate your jar or container anyway you like and use materials you have on hand. For my jar, I spray painted it first, added some glitter to the bottom (Mod Podge and glitter), added wording in vinyl using my Cricut, then finished it off with some ribbon and a charm. So easy! (see photo below)
• You could certainly buy something to use for your container as well or repurpose something in your home to be your “Happiness Jar”.
• If you don’t want to make a jar, you could do “A Gratitude Journal” instead.
• These make great gifts! Help others in your life that you love!

The whole purpose of this blog post, is not to just share an “activity”, a “craft”, or “a way to bring in the New Year”. I want to say to my readers, there is HOPE in this life and not to give up, sometimes we just need to find ways to keep us on track. My hope in this life is Jesus. I could not live in this world without his love, mercy, grace, and his promise. If you do not know Jesus, I pray that maybe one day you will.  I’ll leave you with a few scriptures about Hope that speak to my soul. Happy New Year to all of you and God Bless! ~Kristina~

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5