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One Unexpected Way Journaling Improves Your Mood
By: Andrew Mcnall
Tags: Writing, Self Improvement, Journaling

You don’t have to be in good mood to journal.

In fact, I think journaling has its greatest benefit when you’re not in a good mood.

Throughout my life I’ve kept journals. Certainly not very consistently.

I recently restarted journaling though. I was depressed because of several events in my life in the past year. Two life coaches recommended I revisit journaling as way to process those events.

The result has been the most consistent journaling I have done in my life. In fact, I’ve journaled almost every day for the last 90 days. And, my mood has drastically improved.

Journaling certainly helped get thoughts off my mind. It gave me a record of my thinking that I could reflect on. Both things improved my mood.

But there is another lesson about the process that has an even bigger influence.

The act of writing distracts you from your problems. Even if it is your problems that you’re writing about.

When I’m engage in the physical act of writing, typing the words on the page or writing them with a pen, my mind focuses on that act. And that’s all. It’s almost impossible to dwell on anything other than the writing. And, so the stuff I’m ruminating or worrying about is no longer a focus of my attention. And, the stress I feel melts away and I’m happier as a result.

As a result, regardless of the state I’m in when I start, I always feel in a better mood than when I started. The times I feel best actually are the ones when I turn off the inner critical and just let my fingers type or my pen write.

So, next time when you’re feeling down, see what happens when you journal about what is on your mind.
How has journaling helped me in improving my skills
By: Wasim Rajput
Tags: Writing Tips, Journaling, Writing, Self Improvement, Skills Development

I am new to Medium and to the practice of journaling. It has been a few days since I started writing on a daily basis. Although I have been writing for many years but most of my work has been around writing technical type of material where everything needs to be explained in a very objective fashion and in clean bullet style writing.

Keeping a journal

However, I have found that journaling is different and I already feel that it has started to help me in a number of ways. If you are contemplating starting your own journal then here are some of my thoughts how it has helped me already.

First, I believe journaling has allowed me to surface those inner thoughts that seem to linger in my system but are not fully developed yet. As an example, I have been thinking lately that journaling is useful but how and why is something that doesn’t come to surface unless one sits down and writes about it. Writing allows us to peel the onion so to say and to separate each of the peels carefully and to look at it intently. Each step allows us to pause and to think before we pen it down.

When looked at it this way, I realize that it has also allowed me to become more self-aware as I am able to surface my thoughts, desires, challenges, and so much more. In the same context, it has allowed me to put ideas and potential solutions to my problems.

Second, journaling provides me with the opportunity to improve my writing. The practice of writing allows me to put words around my thoughts. There’s so much in our system that’s isn’t easy to articulate. Practicing that can be very refreshing and revealing.

In that context, I have also come to the realization that in general in life we need to all improve our skills. Just having a skill sometimes isn’t as important as the need to improve it. Constantly honing those skills and sharpening the axe intently as we go can also be quite fulfilling.

So, if you haven’t started journaling yet then I would strongly recommend that you do. Also, if you have liked this short article, I will appreciate a clap below :)
Paddy Field People
By: Thomas Klein
Tags: Perak, Journaling, Agriculture

Students, teachers, and officials pose in Haji Nisak’s paddy field

After looking around for about 25 minutes at the Leaning Tower, we went up to the bus and started our journey again. We are going to our last destination for today (Saturday). The destination is in Sungai Manik. Sungai Manik is a river that runs into the large Perak River. We went to a paddy field owned by a villager in Sungai Manik. We were invited by him to have some food and a briefing from an officer of the Department for Agriculture for Hilir Perak. We got so much information about paddy fields. From the briefing, we got to know Perak has the second largest amount of paddy fields in Malaysia after Kedah.

After the briefing, we were invited by Haji Nisak, who is the owner of the paddy field, to walk around and take photos at his paddy field. We came back to school from there at about 6.20 p.m. While on the road, we stopped at the mosque for prayer. Then, we continued the journey and arrived at school at about 8 p.m.

(Muhammad Firdaus, 5Sc1)

Students listen to a briefing on agricultural production in Perak

For our next stop, we went to a rice farm. There we had a second lunch for more energy. Officers gave speeches about the economy of Perak and the idea of growing cash-crops versus food, and they also spoke about the growing process of rice. Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world. Due to increasing demand, large quantities of nitrogen are required. We also learned about a study that was conducted in the paddy field area of Sungai Manik, Teluk Intan [4’02’N,101’03’E] Perak, Malaysia. Soil samples were separated into top, middle and bottom layer measuring 5cm in thickness. At the rice farm, finally, we got the chance to walk around the paddy field. We took some pictures — that moment was happy and cheerful.

(Viondini Sasikumar, 5Sc1)

Students pose for candid pictures in the paddy field

At 5.00 p.m, we arrived at our fourth destination, the Sungai Manik paddy field. We met one of the paddy field owners named Haji Nisak. He served us fried noodles ”Kuih Koci” and pink “apam”. My favourite dish was the Kuih Koci. It tastes very delicious, sweet and chewy. Then, we were given a briefing about the paddy field.

(Muhamad Fakhri Raimi, 5Sc1)
I journaled consistently throughout the month of May
By: Kachi Eloka
Tags: Writing Challenge, Self-awareness, Life Experience, Journaling, Self Love

I journaled consistently throughout the month of May

Photo: Oroma Elewa

I strongly believe that if I were to sit with something long enough, it would reveal itself to me.

That’s what I’m hoping would happen with this piece I’m writing.

On a serious note, I cannot deny that May was a special month. I went skinny dipping.

No, seriously. I said yes to what I later found out was going to be the best trip I’ve ever been on. I threw caution to the wind and allowed myself to be mesmerized.

Every day felt like I was in a trance.

I journaled consistently throughout the month of May and I really wonder why.

For the first time in my life, I made it up to 20 days of journaling. Pretty impressive. These were my first and last sentences;

I had the time of my life.

I’m ready to start again from ground zero.

What I realized was that I was really letting myself write what I felt. Short or long. I felt content with writing only one sentence and I didn’t make a conscious effort to stay consistent. I just wrote when I felt and I wrote what I felt.

I counted, 23 days. That’s not so bad.
Identity — From lies to truth.. The last few months have been nothing…
By: Caitlyn Grigg
Tags: Prayer, Journaling, Bible, Spirituality, Identity

Identity — From lies to truth.

The last few months have been nothing short of busy. Trying to balance the work+home load while mixing in social time on the weekends led to extreme burnout. I usually pride myself on self-care. It was my absolute favorite counseling topic in grad school, & if I’m being honest, I truly thought I had the whole thing figured out.

The truth is, though, is that self-care is a largely tangible topic. The world defines it as engaging in things that produce instant gratification — shopping, favorite foods, relaxing hobbies, social time, etc. The question that nobody asked me in grad school, & the question that I want you to ask yourself today is: When the tangible things of this world no longer satisfy your burnout, what then sustains you?

There are two options here. 1) Continue on the self-destructive path of worldly consumption — idolizing materials, status, relationships, & your career in an effort to establish self-worth. Or, option 2) Give in to the notion that you are not your own saving grace, & that you are in fact a messy, sinful human who is in desperate need of relinquishing control to the One who strong+wise enough to carry your burdens. & if we all strip away our own pride & become vulnerable with our inwards selves, I think we’d all admit that option 2 is the most appealing/least heavy/most rest-evoking choice.

In the spirit of being vulnerable, I’ll admit that today is the first day in weeks that I’ve truly had my (what was once an every morning occurrence) quiet time. I’ve spent a lot of time over the last several weeks carrying the lie that I am not a good school counselor, that I’m not a good wife, that I’m not a good daughter, & that I’m not a good friend. The self-inflicted guilt of these negative statements about myself has consumed me from the inside out. We all have our reasons for why we avoid the Father. Our reasons might be similar or vastly different, but our heartaches & burnout are the same. The solution that we all need is the same. Whatever your reason is, I hope you’ll muster up the courage to speak these truths over yourself this morning.

We look the way we look & are the way we are because God wanted to use our uniqueness for His glory.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully & wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~ Psalm 139:13–14

“You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” ~ Isaiah 62:3

Quit challenging what God’s word says about us. & finally, here’s a prayer I jotted to Jesus this morning. Allow yourself to speak it to Him on your own behalf:
These past months, I’ve learnt to prioritize reflection.
By: Mitchelle Dorcas
Tags: Thoughts, Journaling, Walking With God, Writing, Reflections

These past months, I’ve learnt to prioritize reflection.

👉🏿Why I do things.

👉🏿Reassessing convictions and notions I have held dear over the years.

👉🏿Where I’m at.

👉🏿Where I desire to be.

👉🏿 How far I have come.

It’s not altogether perfect and it may never be. Heck, my life is not perfect 🤣 but I’m learning to trust God.

I am learning that it is okay to not have everything figured out and just starting out anyways. (Sue Hastings, I love you🤣)

Learning that it is okay to make mistakes rather than wait for perfect timings and situations. Learning to prioritize my convictions over what is expected of me.

Learning to trust and believe the best of myself. Learning to enjoy the journey even as I reach for the desired destination.

I didn’t get all the things I planned to do in Jan — May in the way I wanted them done but documenting what I have done with myself now and the seemingly little steps I have taken, there are things to be thankful for and to be celebrated that could have been overlooked easily.

Today, I celebrate my strength and how far I’ve come.

Today, I kick off posting my thoughts and reflection and I hope one or two things gets to resonate with you as you follow my journey, walking with God and seeing things through his eyes.

June, 10x better.

🤍
A Brief Memento of Finding Oneself
By: Rachel Jean-Marie Schick
Tags: Advice, Journaling, Finding Yourself, Values, Personal Growth

Facing yourself when you become aware of mistakes you’ve made, ones that could have been avoided if only you had made better choices, is something that can easily bring about fear and self-doubt. I think a lot of being in your twenties is figuring out who you are. It sounds cliche and maybe even almost easy. I am finding that that is not the case. I know more of who I want to be rather than who I am. But maybe that is enough. At least within that there is some goal to reach. Maybe an intrinsic focus on refocusing is what is sorely needed. Understanding, however, that there are messy and dark parts in each and every one of us, is vital to this pilgrimage in discovering your true self. Too much of society and social media is greatly fixated on wellbeing and happiness, which isn’t bad, but there needs to be a greater individual understanding of the worst parts of oneself. Understanding those aspects will give guidance in becoming better and discerning who you are and who you are not. Not only this, but establishing your own personal values and what you truly believe and stand for, is something that should be held so dear to you. A dear friend taught me the importance of having values and truly sticking to them. It incites a sense of self-efficacy as well as the ability to remain grounded in most circumstances.

As this is a brief, personal rambling for myself, I’d like to think that the disorganized, yet hopeful and confident tone, can assist others in seeing that they are not alone. This is something I personally struggle with. I know I am not alone, and neither are you.
Let’s have a chit chat
Tags: Journaling

Few things I learned this past few weeks:

When you feel sad, frustrated, alone, stressed because of deadlines. The cure is not to ask people to fix you. Because when you are so dependent on others, once they are gone, you will starve to look for new people to fix you again. Is it healthy? no right? You will never be healed from your situation. Instead, you create a never-ending circle of dependency. So, what’s the best solution for this? For me, it is better to be sad and let the pain flow through your body and soul so that you will get used to it and accept your flaws. Because the key to healing is accepting that you are not perfect and you will get lost in life sometimes. Try to embrace the pain and believe that everything is temporary and happiness is absolute. Maybe it feels like hell today but it’s worth the pain. Do not ever use someone else to cure you, they are not responsible to be your emotional healer. Heal yourself first. Make yourself happy first. Till then, you may let other people come into your life. Because the key to unlimited happiness relies on you, not other people. Focus on what you want. Initially, when you are in pain. You start to notice what you want in life. Be it a dream job, a house, a place to live in, a skill to have, and many more. Go get them. Run as fast as you can to get them. But make sure you have enough armor to take you to the battlefield. Make sure you have enough alternative plans and ready for all the consequences. Write down your dream and how long you need to accomplish them. I have done that and my view starts to get clearer. Love it.
Writing Changes Your Soul
By: Danielle E. Fournier
Tags: Writing, Travel, Journaling

It all started on a bus in Brazil…

WRITING CHANGES THE SOUL

I write almost everything by hand.

It all started on a bus in Brazil.

Bouncing, wide eyed and terrified in a thrilled sort of way, I was making my way to Europe…

without a plane.

Because I didn’t fly.

Back in 2008, I barely did anything.

I was still recovering from crushing anxiety, a lack of purpose, and general overwhelm.

After my little brother was paralyzed in a diving accident, I decided I was going to see Paris if it killed me.

So, I did the unthinkable. I booked a trip to Paris via boats, trains, taxis- whatever did not require air travel.

My dream trip of three weeks Paris, London, Rome) became 3 months.

I had only ever been to Canada and Mexico before setting off for 16 countries spread over 3 continents.

Everything was foreign, remote, odd and…fantastic.

And…a little lonely.

As I watched the coast of Florida recede, knowing I was not going to see a familiar face for months, I knew I was in some trouble.

I had hours on my hands. No shopping, no errands, no duties or work.

I had time to think about my life.

This was a massively scary moment.

There were people, situations, and things within myself I knew weren’t working.

So I started writing.

I had journaled off and on. I had been published in my teens. I took writing for granted because it was easy.

But as I sat on that bus in South America, writing down everything that happened so I could tell my family in emails

A) that I was alive and well

and

B) how amazing it all was to be so free

I realized THIS-

I was making sense of my world through writing.

I was sorting out my fears.

I was admitting some long buried dreams (many of which I am living now).

I was creating a record of my travels and how they were opening my heart and eyes to new world, inner and outer

Most importantly, I starting realized I was way wiser than I gave myself credit for.

I could walk through back alleys in Morocco and find my way back to the souk on my own.

I could and did make volumes of new friends, often who started conversations with, “What are you writing?”

I didn’t have to/wouldn’t let my past heartache define my future, even if I didn’t know how I would get there.

Writing changed how I relate to myself and the world. I tapped into a woman I didn’t knew existed, but was always below the surface.

And ultimately, it has created a whole new one that I am falling more madly in love with, day after day.

Connect with me on social and tell me what you are writing.

Cheers,

Danielle
Housemanship: Week 14
By: Sharon Stephen
Tags: Health, Journaling

So, I started my Orthopedics surgery rotation this week. It’s a 1 month rotation. Just 3 days into the 1st week and I was 100% sure that I do not want to do orthopedics surgery.

Well, in all honesty, I want nothing to do with surgery at all, but I was trying to have an open mind regardless.

This week, I was extremely frustrated and for many reasons that I can not write about. (sorry)

gettyimages/istockphoto

I had bad experiences with patients, patient relatives and senior colleagues. I was so frustrated that I even cried at a point. This was one of my toughest weeks emotionally and I just thank God for seeing me through. To be honest, at this point, I wish I could put house job on hold or fast forward to the end, because I’m really uninterested in all the drama that comes with it.

I’m curious to see how doctors abroad work. I’d like to see their work environment, how senior doctors relate with junior doctors and how doctors relate with patients. Hopefully, I get the opportunity to do so.

But then again, i’m not sure if i’ve had these awful experiences because i’m a doctor or simply because humans suck. 🤷🏽‍♀️

teepublic.com

Oh well, hopefully, this week would be better.

If there’s anything I learned from these experiences however, it’s to try to understand human emotions better. Sometimes people’s emotions are deeper than they seem. Most times we can only see their response to certain situations but we do not understand their reasons for responding the way they did. If you tried to understand the underlying issues, you just might be able to respond better to human emotions.

Another thing, emotions can be really fickle and extremely temporary. Try to not respond to situations when you’re “in your feelings”. Calm down first before you respond out of anger, sadness or extreme happiness.
Sathya’s Newsletter 5
By: Sathyanand S
Tags: Simplicity, Productivity, Bulletjournal, Journaling

Freedom Writers discuss Anne Frank’s Diary

I have always been fascinated/ inspired/ grounded by using journaling/ diarying/ writing regularly. Freedom Writers — the movie and the movement — was nevertheless an inspiration. Here is a glimpse of what it is.

https://www.pbs.org/video/freedom-writers-discuss-anne-franks-diary-l4etin/

Minimalist Journal: Why You Should Keep One

“Journals help you have a better connection with your values, your emotions, and your goals — and they help keep track of personal development.”

This was more than a reason enough for me to (re)start journaling. Here are 5 specific things that could help you think about journaling seriously for the coming year 2020.

https://nosidebar.com/minimalist-journal/

A Teacher’s Bullet Journal Story

“Every Friday (if they had completed their AP work for the week), I brought in all of my markers, turned on some chill music and we would talk and bullet journal together.”

Once a teacher always a teacher. And I was more than happy when I discovered that a teacher is using Bullet Journal — not only help her organise but also “(I) helped a young man struggling with depression set up a mood and sleep tracker; a young woman with multiple college options set up a pros/cons list; inspired by Pinterest, a couple students made “date idea” lists for their weekends and “books to read” lists”

https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/bulletjournalist/a-teachers-bujo-story

10 Famous Writers Who Don’t Use Modern Tech to Create

When one of your most admired director, Quentin Tarantino says, “I just write it all by hand. I go to a stationery store and buy a notebook — and then fill it up.” — I am more than delighted.

Lately I have been moving back and forth with whether to set up a digital or an analog productivity/ organisation system — my rediscovery of writing in hand led to this article. Not only that, I am have been successfully using an analog sytem (more about it soon) for the past 10 days consistently (that’s an achievement, for me).

https://mashable.com/2014/02/15/modern-writers-technology/

How to start simplifying your life

“Simplicity is about eliminating the unnecessary; decluttering physically and mentally.”

As I am learning, simplifying is a life journey. The more I explore, the more I learn that I find an opportunity to simplify. I recently learnt about a friend — Mr.K — that for the past 3 years he had never ‘purchased’ water. Not even while he travels, which he does frequently. He did say he struggled a lot, to get ‘water’ for free — but he hasn’t given up.

https://www.mindful-company.com/blogs/notebook/6-ways-to-simplify-your-life
How I Journal
By: Lily Arul
Tags: Self-awareness, Journaling, Writing, Self, Growth

Journaling has been beyond life changing for me. It’s only been a few years (I’ve been on this track since 2017 but this last one year I kicked it up a notch) and I can already tell that this will be a permanent lifestyle. I just have to make sure I do it regularly. Constant maintenance is the reality of being a flawed human. As an adult, it’s our responsibility to figure out which of our thoughts are toxic and to learn how to fix them. At some point, we have to start making ourselves better individuals. And in my opinion, the best way to accept when a behaviour has been toxic to myself or to others, to sit with that feeling and not avoid it and to make a decision to fix it — is through journaling.

On my down days, when I feel like I don’t deserve to be happy or have anything good, I just write all my fears and pain- like, “I feel invisible”, “I feel like a horrible person”, “I feel like no one will ever love me”- and then when I feel relieved, I write affirmations against all the negative stuff I just wrote down. I start with whatever’s the biggest thing on my mind- like, “I’m so mad”, “I feel like a hopeless wench” or “I am a sack of flour” — and then I write my feelings down really dramatically. When I get it all out and have calmed down, I switch around and decide I need to get out of this. Then I go through each feeling and tell myself- “okay, this is not true”, “ this isn’t true either”, “this is not that bad”, etc. Then I write down all the reasons why they’re not true and why there is hope and a bunch of affirmations- like, “I’m a good person”, “I’m lovable”, “I’m kind” (basically, the opposite of all the ways I was feeling before).

Once you write it all down, you realize how crazy it sounds- like, “No one cares about me!”. A lot of people feel that way. We’ve all been there. But deep down, we know this isn’t true and is only going to negatively impact other people and the ones we love.

Another way to use the tool of journaling is to write out your vision for your life. And I mean beyond just “I want to be happy and successful”. You need to map out the actual type of situations you are looking for and convince yourself you deserve it. For me, the more I write it out and picture it, the more I am able to identify it when I have it. And I’m also able to identify when I don’t have it. Journaling helps you ask, “is this my vision?”, “does this match the goal I set for myself?”. It makes it easier to decide whether or not to continue with a situation, relationship or event because you’ll know whether or not it’s what you’re looking for.

And lastly, what I’ve learned is once you experience it, it’s just a no-brainer. We are all worthy of amazing lives and we all have the power to create them.

Thanks for reading!
New Year, New Planner
By: Timothy Reynolds
Tags: Productivity, Journaling, Planning, Goals, New Year

Hey everyone, good morning!

I’m here doing my hour of power this morning. I just got done with my workout this morning and now I’m in here working. It’s the beginning of January. The beginning of 2020. Crazy, right? It’s a new year and a new decade, so it’s a good time for me to help you understand how I do my monthly planning, and maybe that’ll help you whether you use the LEM Planner-Journal or not. It should help you either way, but obviously using the Planner-Journal will make it easier.

So, I start by reviewing the previous month. The Planner-Journal gives you an opportunity to do that by asking you three questions:

What’s the biggest lesson that you learned last month? Are you happy about how you spent your time? Where do you need to commit more focus this month?

Honestly, that’s all just about thinking about the last month and evaluating the month in general. It was a crazy month for all of us. This gives us an opportunity to look back and ask ourselves if we’re happy with how things went, find out what’s not working in our lives, and what may need to be changed.

So, once I’ve had some reflection time, I move over to the next page, which is actually more important. At the top, I write out a “Business” and a “Personal” category. I’ll even break those categories down even further. I break Personal down into “Constant, Never Ending Improvement,” “Health,” “Wealth,” and “Relationships.” I’ll break Business down by each business that I run.

Ask yourself these questions:

So, come the end of the month, when I look back, what will have made this month successful in my personal life — in my relationships, my health, and my wealth, all of the pillars of importance in the Living Every Minute Concept — and in my business and my missions?

What things need to be done at my job to make me more successful at my side-hustle?

Do I need to develop a side-hustle?

What does that need to look like?”

Just plan out the month and see for yourself how it works, and I think that will help you a lot.

Living Every Minute,

Dr. Tim
Journaling Ritual for New Moon
By: Payal Patel
Tags: Yoga, Journaling, Healing, Spiritual Growth, Spirituality

Art: Ameya Ajay

‘Like a dark steed adorned with pearls, God has decorated the heavens with constellations. The light of the Sun hides them in the day, and all knowledge of them is divined in the darkness of the night.’

~ Rig Veda

The moon mirrors back our emotional body — the feeling layer — it also reflects the ever-changing waves of the mind. When the moon is dark and empty (amavasya) we too empty ourselves.

It’s time for a deep release.

What have you been holding onto that no longer resonates with who you are and who you’re becoming?

Can you make space in the mind and the body by letting go of something that’s no longer for you?

Spare a few precious moments for contemplation and set your new moon intentions.

In which direction does your breath feel expansive and free?

Where can you allow in more gentleness and self-trust?

What does it feel like to be in right relationship with yourself?

Plant your seeds: What would a new beginning look like?

Write the answers down using the present tense. Then, by candlelight or by burning some sage, read out your notes and seal your resolve.

____________________________________

For a deeper manifestation ritual, you may wish to go through my

GUIDED CREATIVE VISUALISATION video.



New Moon Blessings.

​Payal

​

Mind Body Spirit Yoga

Warrior Training for the Sensitive Soul
September 3rd 2020
By: Hide In A Chair
Tags: Music, Diary, Journaling, Work, Spain

daily journal. DON’T READ THIS

Today, i was in a complete autopilot. woke up in the morning, not feeling 100%. this mouth ulcer is killing me, i mean i seriously feel tortured with the pain every time i speak or eat. bought some sort of a mouth ulcer drop from the pharmacy and it has done nothing but makes my throat super itchy. well that sucks.

Did my classes as usual and not to my maximum capacity since i am terribly jaded. looking for a new escape and new activity to do, including this blog writing, knowing that no one reads my first post, i believe no one would read this as well, so i figure this would be an interesting way to journal my thoughts.

Writing this journal while listening to Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack played by 2 Cellos is something i prefer to do late in the evening. Picked up my frozen Cassava i purchased from a friend because i forgot to bring em home last Monday, that is one thing i found out about me, super forgetful unless i write it down somewhere, that reminds me, i have to pick up my laundry before home tonight.

Noticed that my headset has a rather horrible quality, i changed my playlist from AC/DC’s thunderstruck to Yann Tiersen’s Comptine d’Un Autre Été- Die fabelhafte Welt der Amélie. Quite relaxing and gives me this hopeful aura that i can do anything i set my mind to. what a wishful thinking and suddenly i can feel the pain in my mouth ulcer again. Fuck this

source: barrio-gotico-de-barcelona

I am suddenly reminded of the time I was in Spain, Barcelona, to be exact, walking around in El Gotico area exactly 2 in the morning with no one else around, standing in the middle of a Plaza surrounded by beautiful old building and i felt that sense of freedom. I was with a friend, but i felt like i was alone. Just two people walking together with their own minds going places. Now i wonder what happened to my friend Bob whom i met there, wonder where he is and how he is during this pandemic. Beautiful places always get me, it give me the reflective moment and the feeling of melancholy. Moments like that always gives me the impression like i was in a movie with a background song.

Simple things like smell, a song, a face, can always take me back to that exact moment in my memory.
How to Journal Your Way to Spring Cleaning
Tags: Spring Cleaning, Life, Journaling

Now that spring has arrived we can look forward to some beautiful weather and get ready to create the most beautiful memories in the coming months. When we think of spring we also often hear the term “spring cleaning.” What does this mean for you? Is it time to KonMari your home or simply clean up some old stuff that you don’t need, or to make room for some new things? Either way, we’ve got the best tips on how you can journal your way to spring cleaning.

Use your journal to make a list of things that you don’t need.

Take a stroll around your house and see if you can spot things that you’ve been thinking of replacing or things that you’ve been thinking of getting rid of for a while. Make note of them and also make a quick note as to why you’ve been thinking of either replacing them or completely getting rid of them.

Making changes to our homes can be exciting but also stressful for many. Making note of why we want to purge certain items will help you in the process.

Make a list of new things you’ve been dreaming of getting for your home.

We all dream of giving our favorite rooms a fresh new look with some new furniture and decor. It’s exciting to see what can happen when we make small changes. It’s almost the same as being in a brand new home all over again.

When you make a list of things you’ve been wanting to get for your home, also make note of items in your home that you could compromise in exchange for your new wish list. Think of it as your one-for-one list. You get a new item, you give up an item. It’s a great way to keep your home uncluttered and also appreciate what you already have. When you review your final list you’ll likely identify what you really should get rid of and if you really need anything new.

Use your journal to create a cleaning schedule.

Your journal can become your best friend during spring cleaning. Use your journal to create a cleaning schedule with only a small number of tasks per day during a timeframe that you allow yourself to complete these tasks. Using your journal to help you during spring cleaning can keep things fun and organized.

We hope that this season, spring cleaning in your home is a breeze and exciting.
10,000 hours
By: Elizabeth Wilcoxon
Tags: Memoir, Amateur Writing, Writing, Journaling

I have no idea if I’ve reached 10,000 hours of writing, but my hunch is that I did a long time ago.

I’m so afraid of not being ‘good’ or not ‘selling’ my story well enough. A worry I never used to care about.. ever. Even when my journaling on paper in my bedroom became blogging in public on the family computer, I never worried about what people would think.

Now I do, and frankly I’m sick of it. I think deep down in my heart of hearts, I write unfettered with a freshly sharpened Dixon Ticonderoga pencil in a brand-new moleskin journal from Barnes and Noble. Seriously. I’m not trying to be a millenial… I am a millenial, and I created the trope of a unsure girl wandering aimlessly around Barnes and Noble, taking herself on a coffee date and trying to find the ‘one’… the one new journal, that is.

I want to stop caring what people think. I am being compelled to stop caring, because I’ve been holding my story back like a dam. It’s released at the most inopportune of times: 2 am on a ‘school’ night (I’m a teacher so I still call them that); in the doctor’s office; during a work meeting.

So, anyway, I’m here. Writing more, adding hours to the many many hours I’ve been writing, chronicling my life and feelings and… everything. This is a new page, new journal, and I’m gonna go sharpen my pencil.
The Year of You: Day 14 — Advice. “ What is the best or most helpful…
By: Iris Wiesen
Tags: Money Advice, Life Change, Money, Journaling

“ What is the best or most helpful piece of advice you’ve heard about money? And the worst? “

As I was thinking about writing this post, I was surprised to realize how little the people around me are talking about money. Even in my family, the subject of money is very much taboo.

I started thinking about my finances when I was in a serious relationship with my current husband. We began talking about our financial goals for the future and it was from there that I started to educate myself more about money. I read books, listen to motivational speakers, read online blogs.

I’m not sure exactly where I picked this first piece of advice, because it’s mentioned all over in financial literature, but it’s something that changed my life.

This doesn’t need much of a description because it is what it is. This piece of advice helped me not to fall into the trap of consumer debt and live beyond my means only to keep up with others. I stopped comparing myself with others because what we see it’s just something that others allow us to see. We don’t know their struggles, their priorities, nor their financial situation. I’d rather not have that fancy vacation, latest smartphone, brand clothes, you name it, and then struggle to pay my bills.

Another crucial piece of advice I received from my husband and I’m extremely grateful for that.

Life insurance it’s something that everybody should have and it’s best to do it as early as possible and for as long as possible. If you start young the annual premium will be much smaller than if you so that when you’re in your 50s or 60s. Also, it serves as an investment as well and you can gain a nice profit at the end of the contract. Not to mention the peace of mind you get knowing that you are insured.

Bad financial advice I’m sure it’s everywhere. I’m sure I’ve heard loads of it but somehow I managed to dismiss it.

I’d be grateful to read about your good money advice that impacted your life, in the comments below.
Why “Climate Anxiety” Is Normal and What You Can Do About It
By: Climate Journal Project
Tags: Climate Anxiety, Journaling, Anxiety, Empowerment, Mental Health

Coping with Climate Anxiety

The first thing you should know about climate anxiety, especially if you think you identify with any of the symptoms mentioned above, is that it is completely and utterly normal. In fact, there are many psychologists and mental health specialists who would call it a healthy response to such an existential threat. Sarah Niblock, for example, said something to this effect in her opening speech for a UK Council for Psychotherapy meeting in 2019 and Dr. Kriss Kevorkian has been working for years to help people through their environmental grief, understanding it to be a common response to climate change and the climate crisis.

The first step to coping with climate anxiety or ecoanxiety is to acknowledge the feeling in yourself and to accept that you are not alone in feeling it. From young schoolchildren to professional climate scientists, climate anxiety is affecting many people all across the world. It is not an illness or anything to feel ashamed of — it is a shared worry. In fact, it’s such a widespread feeling today that even our language is evolving to acknowledge it. Terms and phrases like climate anxiety, ecoanxiety, solastalgia, eco-trauma, and environmental and ecological grief (coined by Dr. Kriss Kevorkian in 2001), are all tools for expressing how we feel about the climate crisis, and these terms are becoming universally understood. They are words that are enabling us to communicate more effectively with each other about the topic, providing us with an all-important sense of community in acknowledging their place within our shared language.

Accepting and acknowledging your anxiety connected to climate change and the climate crisis does not mean that it’s something unchangeable in you. Feeling powerless or immobilized because of your anxiety is a symptom of fear, but as in all situations where we’re scared, we can move past that fear to action if we take the time to put ourselves in the right place mentally and feel supported in doing so. It’s for this reason that I love so much Caroline Hickman (a psychotherapist studying children’s attitudes towards climate change in the UK)’s use of a scuba diving mantra as a way of coping with climate anxiety: “Stop. Breathe. Think. Connect. Act.” These are important steps towards preventing climate anxiety from disempowering you. It’s about taking the space to settle your thoughts and breathe, looking after yourself and making sure you are not feeling overwhelmed by information or traumatic experiences, and reaching out for help and support and sharing your experiences with others. All these things will help you move from a state of anxiety to taking meaningful action.
Suffering from insomnia?
Tags: Sleep, Journaling, Mental Health, Insomnia

Do you often work late into the night? Do you stay up or party with friends until the early morning? Or do you perhaps have young children who usually keep you awake at night? Have you noticed any adverse impacts of a poor sleeping schedule when it comes to your daily life activities?

Poor sleep can very easily have negative effects on our mental health and emotional well-being. Poor sleep can often make you feel grumpy, tired, and easily irritated, but sleep problems are also thought to contribute to the onset of different mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

It is essential to address sleep issues early-on to not see long-term adverse effects of it on your body. In order to properly treat your insomnia, you need to become a sleep detective. Emotional issues such as stress, tense situations at work, or home cause half of all insomnia cases. But your daily habits, simply as your sleep routine, diet, physical health, also play an essential role.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with insomnia and had difficulties understanding how to deal with it. It seemed that I would never again have a proper good night’s rest and keep on waking up multiple times every night. It took me a year to realize that this is not something that can just pass naturally and that I need to take action. The first thing you can do to become a sleep detective is to try and identify all possible causes of your insomnia. When you wake up in the middle of the night or cannot fall asleep, try to notice your thoughts’ pattern — what is on your mind? Did something happen today, and it does not allow you to close your eyes? Once you figure out the root cause, you can tailor treatment accordingly.

If it becomes too challenging to identify the trigger behind your insomnia, remember that certain lifestyle changes can promote good sleep and help you beat insomnia. One of the most significant difficulties I have when trying to fall or stay asleep when I wake up in the middle of the night is to avoid using my phone or laptop. These devices give off a bright light and make it harder to fall or stay asleep. Try to minimize your phone usage before going to bed and not reach for your phone when you wake up. It is better to try to fall asleep naturally, and if that seems too complicated, get out of bed and take a book rather than your mobile phone.

Another suggestion that helped me personally was to follow a routine to relax before going to sleep. I try to listen to some calming music, perhaps take a longer bath. I usually find myself lying awake, worrying about things that take too much of my headspace. I then take my notebook and make a to-do list before I go to bed. I try to take 10–15 minutes, allowing all my thoughts to run on paper instead of my mind. This may help you to not focus on those worries overnight.
HOW TO START JOURNALING WITH THESE 2 SIMPLE STEPS FROM TODAY IN 2021
By: Ashif Jafrani
Tags: Habit Building, Habits, Journaling, Journaling Benefits, Life Lessons

HOW TO START JOURNALING WITH THESE 2 SIMPLE STEPS FROM TODAY IN 2021 Ashif Jafrani Jan 16·3 min read

Are you interested to do journaling?

But didn’t know where to start? What to write? And is it helps you to improve or not?

Your answers are here.

Hey buddy!

Nice to see you here.

I just started journaling on 5th December 2020 and today is 21st December 2021, Yes I’m just new but with a new experience.

I only missed 2 days till yet.

So let’s go thru it.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN FROM THIS ARTICLE?

From where and how to start.

What to write.

How it helps you and your mind.

1. FROM WHERE AND HOW TO START?

Start from today.

Yes… start from today, in the morning or at night. (don’t worry I’ll tell you what to write.)

You just need a pen and a notebook.

You can purchase a journal or bullet journal online or from a stationary store.

I suggest that, purchase a diary or a simple notebook from a stationary store. Those journals are too costly to start.

Whenever you write, write like you’re talking with your best friend, who never gonna tell anyone about you.

2. WHAT TO WRITE IN JOURNAL?

(2.1) Write a date, day, and time.

Because whenever you want to read your journal you can see when you wrote it.

(2.2) Write a to-do list for a day.

Write a to-do list in the morning for a whole day and at night analyze it.

Have you done most of the things from the to-do list?

Yes… then congratulate yourself, and if,

No, then find why you have not completed it. (write the real reason, not excuses)

And write the task for the morning.

(2.3) If you had experienced good or bad things done with you or with others and what are your thoughts about it-WRITE IT.

For example: Completed any book.

Saw any fight on the road or any accident — what are your thought about it.

Meet with any new people, etc.

If you watched any movie or any video of what you learned from it, write a summary.

You think any new idea about life, business or any start-up, etc.

(2.4) And at last write down this question and answer wisely.

“have I used my day wisely and completely?”

3. HOW JOURNALING HELPS YOU AND YOUR MIND?

When you write all your stuff which is suffering in your mind then your mind feels less stress than before.

Which helps your mind to think new things and give a broad view of thinking which help you to improve.

When you write a to-do list so all your task is on paper and you can see them complete, also you don’t need to memorize every time after every task.

Keep in mind that, when you are writing a to-do list write first things that are important to you.

With the help of it, you can analyze your progress that how much work you have done in a day.

And if you’re still reading this means you’re serious about it than others… Congrats buddy!

Thank you for your patience.

Don’t forget to share with others.
A Life Worth Living…
By: Rob Fore
Tags: Life, Journaling, Personal Power, Tony Robbins

I recently picked up a copy of Tony Robbin’s Personal Power II at a garage sale.

It cost me all of $10.

When I cracked open the box, pulled out the manual and started reading the instructions, I was instantly transported back in time. Deja vu.

Because I had “faked” my way through half of the original Personal Power I tapes series many, many years ago.

Back when I was broke. Emotionally, financially and spiritually.

Today things are different.

Today Lisa and I work from the comfort of our home in Reno, Nevada.

We earn a comfortable income, drive new cars with personalized plates, give to charity, have money in the bank and have lots of free time to spend with family and friends.

Passive income and cash flow is the name of the game.

In our primary business, we have over 7,000 active distributors on our team.

We also makes tens of thousand of dollars each month blogging.

So today I’m more open to growing and exploring, and as I thumb through each of the twelve cassette tapes, it feels like I’m meeting an old friend after years of not seeing each other and playing catch up.

Familiar, yet not totally comfortable.

“Can Tony come out to play?”

Personal Power II

The course begins by suggesting you keep a journal, stating:

A life worth living is a life worth recording

… and I remember NOT starting or keeping a journal way back when because it didn’t feel like I had a life worth recording. In fact, at the time, due to a seemingly endless number of back-to-back challenges, hardships and financial setbacks — I remember feeling a little LESS THAN.

A little beat up.

Looking back, I now realize all the challenges were self-imposed. Crazy. I was a master of creating my own chaos.

What bizarre behavior.

And while I’ve created dozens of “promotional” blogs over the years to help pay the bills and feed the dog… I’ve never posted a personal blog.

Guess the time is right. So here’s my blog.

Bless and be blessed,