Whether through journaling or meditation or conversation with someone or prayer or whatever you decide to do, it’s really grounding to sit and choose to be thankful for the things, people, and opportunities in your life. It’s nice to reflect on how far you’ve come. It’s good to appreciate that you’re alive and have things worth living for.
The ancient cultures would call something like this a discipline, and the idea is that by habitually practicing it it’ll shape your way of thinking and living. The goal isn’t the choice of & formation of the habit (journal, prayer, etc.), that’s just the means by which you arrive at gratitude.
Try it out! Maybe the customs of older spiritual beliefs may actually hold some type of truth & benefit to our lives.