Anna Beria: A Gratitude Journal Was an Experiment That Changed My Life

Anna Beria is the founder of the sportswear brand Twinsber. She actively engages in various types of sports, dance, and yoga, and promotes a healthy lifestyle and balanced nutrition.

In an interview with VITAGURU, Anna shared how she discovered the concept of a gratitude journal, and how what started as a simple experiment unlocked her “superpower” and transformed her life.

Anna, tell us about yourself. What do you do?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve associated myself with health and well-being. I’ve always loved everything useful, organic, and beneficial — both for myself and for others. I’ve always felt a deep connection with sports, even though I’ve never been a professional athlete. But I’ve always stayed active, regularly went to the gym, and loved trying new things.

That’s how, five years ago, I came to create my own sportswear brand, Twinsber. It functions like a second skin — it’s comfortable, practical, and stylish. Speaking of usefulness: we use only natural fabrics, and are currently working on a new collection made of organic fiber.

Why did you start keeping a gratitude journal? How did you learn about the practice?

In September 2018, I visited a close friend. I was overwhelmed with questions and doubts; that day, week, even the whole month felt unsuccessful. She had just returned from a workshop by a well-known coach in Kyiv and told me about the gratitude journal.

To be honest, I was skeptical. But I love trying new things, and I trust her. She made me promise that I’d buy a journal within a week and start writing in it daily until the end of the month.

I still remember it clearly — we even signed a kind of “declaration” stating that if I failed, I’d have to pay a penalty. And since I’m a competitive person, I kept that promise. On September 27th, I had the gratitude journal in my hands and started writing in it that same day.

Was the gratitude journal a personal challenge or experiment for you?

It was definitely an experiment that changed my life. I just started using it exactly as described in the instructions.

Huge thanks to Alla Klimenko — she’s the coach who, along with her team, developed this incredibly convenient and ideal journal. I began filling it in every evening before bed, with zero expectations.

But after just a week, I realized something: I hadn’t been saying “thank you” to people in my life — I took many things for granted, and I certainly didn’t express gratitude toward myself.

One of my favorite sections in the journal is called “I especially want to thank for…” There, you write about the things you dream of, giving yourself permission to want them. Back then, I dreamed of being in New York for my birthday, and I wrote, “I especially want to thank for walking through Manhattan on my birthday.” That inspired me the most.

What motivated you to continue the practice?

The main motivation was the desire to change my life.

If you want to change something, you need to start doing things differently and build new habits. I didn’t expect magic from the journal or think of it as some miracle tool — it was simply an experiment for me.

When did you first start seeing results?

The effects came sooner than I expected. Just three weeks later, I received a gift I had dreamed about.

A month after starting the journal, it was my birthday — and I was in Manhattan, just like I had imagined!

It happened unexpectedly, as if the universe had arranged it for me. Honestly, I was amazed at how everything just fell into place.

What changes did you notice in yourself? How did your life transform?

I can say with confidence: thanks to the journal, I became kinder, more attentive, and much more efficient. My life’s focus shifted from the moment I started writing in it.

The journal helped me realize my worth, which gave me the strength to do more and do better.

If I hadn’t experienced it myself, I wouldn’t have believed that a simple notebook could completely change the course of someone’s life.

The gratitude journal helped me love myself, see the good in people, and focus on it. I started sharing this “superpower” with those around me, inspiring them with my story, gifting gratitude journals to my friends — and I saw transformations in their lives, too. That brought me even more joy.

Did the journal help you achieve your goals?

Yes, it helped me manifest my dreams. I call them dreams, not goals, because the way they come true feels nothing short of magical.

The journal attracts people, events, and situations that are directly or indirectly connected to what I dream about, and everything just unfolds naturally.

But it’s not like I sat around writing what I wanted and then things just magically appeared. No — I continued my usual life, worked, developed myself — but I added the habit of noticing the little things and allowed myself to dream.

For me, it all works together as a system.

Did the practice affect other areas of your life?

Absolutely — it influenced my personal relationships and family connections as well. I became more generous with kindness, more eager to help and inspire others.

Since I started keeping the journal, the word “thank you” became one of the most used in my vocabulary.

It’s a powerful word — “I give you goodness” (the literal meaning of “blagodaryu” in Russian).

Do you still practice gratitude journaling today?

Right before this interview, I filled out my journal — thanking for the chance to relive these pleasant memories.

Nowadays, I don’t buy a formal gratitude journal — I just use an ordinary notebook. And I’m a big advocate of writing things by hand: it makes the process more conscious and programs your mind. It’s definitely more meaningful than typing on your phone.

For me, this is a daily ritual that clears my mind and inspires me.

It only takes 10 minutes a day. I usually write in the evening — reflecting on the day, summarizing, getting inspired, and going to bed with good thoughts.

So if you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend you start right now. You don’t need much — just a notebook, a pen, and the desire to change something in yourself and in your life.

Interviewed by Katerina Tugusheva