Journal Your Way to a More Exciting Day
Do you feel like you’re living the same day over and over…and over? Our hectic lives can get us in such a routine that we can hardly distinguish February 2009 from February of this year! Even if something awe inspiring does catch our attention, it’s often fleeting. It can’t find a place to nestle in our overloaded memory even if it wanted to. There is just no room at the Inn.
If the only time your fingers grasp a pen is to jot down a To Do list, let’s talk.
Perhaps journaling can jumpstart a change. Not only is it a brilliant way to record memories, but the practice invites awareness. Writing opens conversations with ourselves on a much deeper level, but be warned, it can be eye opening! Looking back on past entries, I’m elated to see how far I’ve progressed in certain areas; and equally humiliated to note I’ve set up a dismal camp in others. Even the best of friends can’t be as honest as your journal will. Like it or not.
As women, our personal growth tends to come through constant dialogue. Having a supportive group of girlfriends is irreplaceable and highly recommended, but talking to ourselves in a journal can have a similar effect.
Tips to Get Started:
DO choose a journal that speaks to you
A college ruled notebook doesn’t invite a conversation as much as the one with swirly scrolls in your favorite color. Some journals have inspirational quotes included and some even prompt writing with a question of the day.
DON’T get so caught up in semantics you’re rendered speechless
Many people are intimidated by the notion that writing talent is necessary. Forget it. No English teacher will grade your material, and no one will care if you add “ish” at the end of every other word. It’s a conversation between you….and you! Write exactly as you would speak.
DO include a few details
What’s the weather as you drive to meet your boyfriend’s family for the first time? What ridiculous headline caught your attention in the grocery line today? Training ourselves to be aware of the little details makes life more interesting!
DON’T be afraid to share your emotions in your writing
Allowing ourselves a space to be honest is critical to self-care. Journaling makes it easier to “kick out” thoughts that highjack our mind during the day (or night). In a sense, we give our worries, anxieties and fearsto the pages. Here, it’s yours now, we seem to say – and the journal takes it! No questions asked. If you’re afraid to put pen to paper when it comes to emotions, you might be trying too hard to hide them, even from yourself.
DO Include Gratitude
While a journal is a safe place to vent, it’s equally necessary to engage in positive thinking. No one likes a friend who never has anything good to say!
DO be consistent
The more we set time aside to be present with ourselves, the more we crave it. We all know that a few uninterrupted moments can rejuvenate even the weariest super woman.
DON’T beat yourself up if you’re not consistent
Creating a habit can be challenging. If you miss a week or two or three, just pick up right where you left off. Journals aren’t offended by absences.
Remember, the goal isn’t to add a chore, it’s to generate a more playful awareness going about those chores we already tackle. It might seem counter-intuitive to add yet another activity, but give it a try! Knowing our journal is anxious to listen, don’t we want something interesting to say?
When we’re more alert, intentional and expectant, every day becomes more memorable!
