It is important to incorporate journaling into your daily life. The purpose of a journal is to draw out what is within you. Journaling is a wonderful process because it combines both left brain and right brain activities and synthesizes both experiences. Writing tends to be logical and sequential. Yet, when you get lost in it, your right brain creativity kicks in.
You may want to keep several types of journals. You may want to keep an unlined journal and a lined journal. This is where you get to be creative in your life. You can have many different journals or you can buy a journal with several sections to it.
You want to select a journal or journals that quicken your heart when you see it. Beautiful. Colorful. Quirky. Retro. Select a journal that triggers a response in your heart when you see it and expand on that feeling with the journaling process.
Your journal is about creative self-expression. It is a way to speak your truth. This is the season of your life when speaking your truth is critical. When you schedule a time every day to journal and you follow through with it, you are creating space for you in your life. Creating that space communicates to yourself that you see yourself as a sacred being.
Here is what you want to keep tabs on with your journal:
~You are a valuable person. Journal about the tangible and intangible things that are valuable about you, within you and to you.
~When you discover quirky little things about yourself that you like, write that down. Get in the habit of saying, "I like that about myself."
~Make a list of things you like.
~Make a list of colors and write down how they make you feel. Play with colors. Write down words you associate with colors. Become aware of colors in your life.
~Delve into your childhood in a positive way and remember the things that brought you joy. Remember all the things you did that got you in trouble and write them down and chuckle over them all over again. Reconnect with your childhood.
~Feel free to cut out pictures from magazines and paste them in your journal or doodle or draw in your journal. It is not just for written words.
~Make a list of things you want and be sure to add everything outrageous that you can think of. List things and experiences that you want. Write down all your hopes and dreams.
~Journal to get the junk out of your head and your emotions. Brain dump and clear out what is going on in you behind the scenes.
~Have a self-dialog journal. Start out with person A, which is you. Write something down and let person B answer Person A. If you can, use your right hand for Person A and your left hand for Person B or vice versa. This way, you become more aware about your internal dialog.
~Keep a gratitude journal. I prefer to call it an awareness journal. Each day, list five to ten things you are grateful for. As you write down your list, enter into that space of awareness of what is going on with you and in the world around you. Look for things you do not normally look for. Then experience the emotion of gratitude for all of it. Wallow in it. Enjoy it.
Develop the habit of journaling and you will reap many rewards for it. As you are consistent with journaling, you will find many new things about yourself that you did not know existed. You are an explorer of yourself. Journaling is a way to record your exploration.
This article is part of a 40 page report by the author on "How to Reinvent Yourself at Midlife and Maintain Your Sanity." If you would like a free copy of the full report, please visit http://www.CoachIyabo.com/reinvent
Iyabo Asani is a life and business coach. A former lawyer, she left the practice of law after twenty years and now, she helps empower smart boomers create businesses and attract abundance by discovering the gifts and talents of their Inner Genius.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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