Get a Journal, Change Your Life
Photo credit: Jess Bailey
“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, is not only life-changing but life-expanding.” ~ Jen Williamson
Over the month of October I am blogging about mindfulness practices. Today’s post explores journaling as a mindfulness tool, and in the coming weeks I’ll be writing about gratitude, yoga, meditation, and sensory experiences in nature. I hope that one or more of these practices encourages you, dear reader. Whether you are a converted believer in the value of mindful living or new to the concept, choosing to create positive change is a worthwhile endeavour.
I’ve written musings blogs and guest posts on other people’s platforms about journaling before, so I’m going to kick off today’s musings blog with a summary of how my journaling practice has evolved into what it is today. I’ll present some alternatives to traditional journaling and resources that might intrigue you to either start or expand your practice.
When I first started writing my thoughts and feelings on paper, it was in a neon-pink diary, at the age of ten. It had a golden lock and key, and it felt like a safe place to bare my soul. I didn’t embrace journaling as a practice until I was in my thirties, on the verge of a mental breakdown. Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book, Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self was a lifeboat for me. I filled the blank pages of a sketchbook journal with drawings, cut-outs from magazines, photos and words. My authentic self, who had been buried beneath layers of labels, expectations, pain and trauma, emerged. I found journaling with images as valuable as the traditional written expression, and I continue to enjoy visual tools of self-discovery like vision boards.
Later I discovered The Sacred Journey: Daily Journal for Your Soul by Cheryl Thiele. My planner personality embraced Cheryl’s goal-setting guidelines for each month of the year. The end-of-year reflections and beginning-of-year intentions created a solid foundation for my developing self-discovery. Thiele’s emphasis on a spiritual path and personal growth resonated with me, and I was so busy at that time in my life, I appreciated the brief amount of time needed to complete the different monthly tasks while staying organized with my schedule.
In the fall of 2011, I dove into The Artist’s Way writing course by Julia Cameron. The morning pages were transformative for me. I never missed a day, three pages of daily freefall script over twelve weeks. I filled an entire notebook, including five pages of what would become the inspiration for my first novel, The Healing. That was fourteen years ago, and the daily practice of writing in a journal has stuck with me to this day.
Journaling has increased my self-awareness, ignited my creativity, and become my most valuable tool for processing emotions and thoughts. As a mindfulness practice, it’s helped me to become a more conscious human being—able to perceive beyond my own self to feel greater compassion and understanding for other people, and all life on our planet. I feel more attuned and at peace with what is than I ever have before, and in my opinion, journaling is a big part of that.
There are many books on the subject besides the titles I mentioned that inspire and guide a journaling practice. Some books I found on a quick google search include: 49 Ways to Write Yourself Well by Jackee Holder, Heart, Sass, and Soul: Journal Your Way to Inspiration and Happiness by Greta Soloman, and The Untethered Soul Guided Journal: Practices to Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer. I wrote my own guide, The Holding and The Healing Companion Journal, as a tool to uncover and live an authentic life.
If reading books about journaling sounds about as fun to you as walking to work in a snowstorm without a parka, uphill, maybe a podcast is more your thing. The Art of Journaling on Spotify, The Power of Journaling on Apple, and The Mindset Mentor on YouTube are a few examples I found that claim to speed healing, increase productivity, reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and increase creativity.
I have a friend who prefers collages as a tool for creative expression and self-awareness. If you’re someone with an artistic talent or just enjoy doodling, there are beautiful journals filled with blank pages. If you are someone who likes playing with colour, you can swap a pen or pencil with a collection of coloured pencils, paints, or even crayons. The format you choose can be as varied as your imagination. It’s the process of manifesting your internal thoughts and feelings onto paper that has the power to expand your mindfulness.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, feelings, and responses to my musings. If you have the time and inclination to drop me a few lines in an email or on social media, I would appreciate the opportunity to read and respond. Stay in touch for next week’s blog on gratitude as a mindfulness practice. Until then, I wish you well as you strive to change your life for the better.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
· I am still determined, pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.
· Watch The Holding trailer.
· Watch The Healing trailer.