Being a writer is NOT a requirement
Starting your Journaling Journey starts with an open mind.
Journaling is one of the easiest, yet hardest, Self-Care tools that we all have access too. Journaling is not about being the best writer, or having decent grammar, or being ‘neat’ in your cursive style. To write in a Journal is to be honest to yourself, to be vulnerable, and to be Just You.
Your First Journal
Through out your life you probably have journaled a few times – think about it.
I bet one of the first times you journaled was in early grade school when your teacher asked you to pull out a new fresh booklet (maybe a Hilroy?) Then she instructed you to write your name on the front cover in your neatest printing, followed by everyone opening their books to the first page and adding the date in the far right corner.
Finally – your journaling journey started with the popular topic — ‘who is your hero and why”, or “what did you do on the weekend?”
Sound familiar?
Why We Journaled
When we were younger our teachers encouraged us to write. This was for a couple of reasons – grammar, sentence structure, and self-reflection.
Huh?? Self-reflection in grade 3??!! Actually yes it was. It was for our little brains to slow down and think about what made us happy, sad and confused. It was our own private world where we could get out what we were really thinking without judgement from our friends. We were learning to understand who we were and what made us tick.
As we got older the notebooks that once were a way to focus on our school assignments eventually turned into more personal journals…private stories that were for our eyes only.
I have witnessed my own kiddos filling out their school journals. Sometimes I get the whiney voices saying that they hate writing in them about their weekend – nothing fun happened….lol (I totally disagree.) But then I see pages and pages of content and I am beaming with pride – not about the volume, but the flow of thoughts filling up their pages.
Re-Starting Journaling Over the Age of 18
And no you are never too old to start. Remember – it is all about an open mind.
Through out my coaching practice I have been handing out journals to my clients – added bonus! I have clients as young as 21, and as old as mid-fifties. It is a good mix of those who have and have never journaled. Regardless of experience, every single one of them so far has been so excited to receive their journal…I haven’t been rejected (yet!) in my offering.
Sometimes it feels like I am giving permission to clients that they can journal. Feedback from them always reverts to reflecting on how they loved journaling when they were younger, or how they have always wanted to start journaling and just have never done it. This is where I can be the small nudge to get them going.
Tools of Journaling: Open Mind!
You don’t need to have a fancy journal or notebook to start – it is all begins with an open mind.
Sometimes journaling is using your phone to capture your thoughts in a notes app, or filling out a word document in your computer, or scribbling on a napkin in a restaurant. Journaling can be captured online, in a book, in a box filled with notes, or even video’d. Journaling is about capturing your feelings and moments. It is about the time you are taking to really focus on what you are feeling – or not feeling.
Let’s Kick Off Journaling Journey Today (or Maybe Continuing) Your Journaling Journey
- Location – ANYWHERE
- Time – ANYTIME
- Topic – ANYTHING
Remember: There is no right or wrong thing to journal. If you want to just reflect on your day, or outline what you will be doing today, or even talking about the weather – you are writing and thinking….you are journaling.
Journaling Thought Ideas to Get You Started:
- List 5 Things or People I am Grateful For – and Why
- Describe My Favorite Place to Visit – and Why
- Describe One Act of Kindness that I Witnessed or Performed Yesterday. How Did it Make Me Feel.
- What is My Self-Care Plan For the Next Week.
- My Closest Friend is _____________. I Appreciate Them Because……………
Note: Choose one of the ideas above and just write – don’t worry about grammar, or spelling, or flow….just write and see where your mind takes you. If you go off your topic – awesome – keep going. No one should be reading your journal but YOU.
Have Fun Friends –
Jen
Looking for a Life Coach? Well look no further – actually yes look, set up other calls, talk to a few Coaches, and find the right FIT for you. Let’s set up a FREE discovery call and see if we are a fit.
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Photo Credits: Plush Design Studio on Unsplash, Ana Tavares on Unsplash; Noémi Macavei-Katócz on Unsplash; Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
