Abstract:
A journal system for promoting a person&#39;s personal growth and a method for guiding a journal user to use a journal are provided. The journal system includes a plurality of cards, each card having a writable portion configured to receive an entry from a user and a written content portion. The written content portion includes a prompt to the user and an intention relating to the prompt to facilitate the entry from the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a journal system and method of guiding journal entries, and more particularly to a journal system and a method of guiding journal entries for promoting a journal user&#39;s personal growth. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The demands of contemporary living require constant attention throughout the day. Daily life activities include work, family, socializing and more. The constant juggling of other people&#39;s needs in addition to one&#39;s own needs leaves little time for one&#39;s self. These activities may become detrimental to one&#39;s personal growth, for example when the to do lists become too long, the challenges seem insurmountable, concentration or focus is lost due to competing needs, personal fulfillment is lacking or similar issues. 
         [0003]    There is a need to make the daily life activities more meaningful and to promote personal growth to facilitate wellness and balance. Daily activities or any life activities can become more meaningful when a person is connected to awareness. A guiding system to help direct one&#39;s thoughts toward awareness is beneficial to promote personal growth. 
         [0004]    Many people may be unsure about which of the numerous exercises, products, or personal growth systems are best suited to fit their particular needs. Moreover, one exercise or product may be effective on one occasion, but not another occasion, leading a person to be frustrated with their choices and progress in personal growth and abandon the practice altogether. Additionally, because feelings and needs may vary, one may not want to be tied down to a particular exercise, product, or system that is suited for a particular feeling, such as stress. 
         [0005]    One way to become more aware is to journal or to write about daily life activities. For new journal users or for users needing some direction to begin journaling, a blank journal page may make the journaling experience too difficult to begin. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a journal system for promoting personal growth that provides the user with one or more prompts to facilitate the journaling process. A journal system is needed that guides the journal user by providing an intention for the journal user to consider for the moment when the journal user is being aware, acting to make a journal entry and then applying that intention to reflect on the journal entry to promote personal growth. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A journal system for promoting a person&#39;s personal growth, a method for guiding a journal user to use a journal and a method of manufacturing a journal system are provided. The journal system includes a plurality of cards, each card having a writable portion configured to receive an entry from a user and a written content portion. The written content portion includes a prompt to the user and an intention relating to the prompt to facilitate the entry from the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are plan views of a card of a journal system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates the intentions, the associated symbols and scents of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are plan views of a packaging of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a scented card of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are plan views of an instruction card of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6A-7B  are plan views of embodiments of instruction cards of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a holder in accordance with an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top view of a base of the holder of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a cover of the holder of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the holder of an embodiment of the journal system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cover of the holder; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the cover of an embodiment of the journal system; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the holder of an embodiment of the journal system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings in which like elements are referred to by like numerals. The relationship and functioning of the various elements of these embodiments are better understood by the following detailed description. However, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale, and in certain instances details have been omitted which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, such as conventional fabrication and assembly. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an embodiment of the journal system  10 . The journal system  10  may include one or more cards  12 . An exemplary card  12  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . As shown, the card  12  may include a first side  16  and a second side  18 . One or both of the sides  16 ,  18  may include a writable portion  20  that is configured to receive one or more entries from a user. The writable portion  20  may include lines  21  or may be open space on the card  12  to receive user entries. One or both sides  16 ,  18  of the card  12  may also include a written content portion  22 . The card  12  may be any size and shape. In some embodiments, the card  12  may be sized to be held in the hand of a user. By way of non-limiting example, the card  12  may be about 3×4 inches (7.6×10.2 cm), about 3×5 inches (7.6×12.7 cm) or about 4×6 inches (10.2×15.2 cm). Other sizes for the card  12  may also be used. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the written content portion  22  may include a prompt  24  to the user to assist the user in making an entry onto the writable portion  20 . The card  12  may include one or more prompts  24  instructing the user to “be aware”, “act” and/or “reflect.” By way of non-limiting example, the “be aware” prompt  24   a  may instruct the user to think about a thought or an event. The “act” prompt  24   b  may instruct the user to write about the thought or the event that the user has become aware of based on the “be aware” prompt  24   a.  The “reflect” prompt  24   c  may direct the user to reflect on the feelings the act brought about. The user may enter the reflection by writing about the reflection on the writable portion  20  of the card  12 . 
         [0024]    The journal system  10  may include a plurality of cards  12  wherein the plurality of cards guide the user by including an intention  26 . The intention  26  is based on a determination to act in a certain way. The intention  26  is informed by western psychology and inspired by Buddhist teachings and includes, but is not limited to the following: grounded, creative energy, gratitude, loving kindness, courage, wisdom, and inspiration. Each intention  26  may have a symbol and/or a scent associated with the intention  26 . In some embodiments, each intention  26  may have a color associated with the intention  26 . The symbols, scents and colors for each intention  26  in this embodiment are shown in  FIG. 2 . The grounded intention may be symbolized by the acorn, the scent associated with the grounded intention may include patchouli and ylang ylang and the color may be burgundy. The creative energy intention may be symbolized by the butterfly, the scent associated with the creative intention may include cardamom and juniper berry and the color may be orange. The gratitude intention may be symbolized by the flower, the associated scent may include bergamot and balsam oil and the color may be green. The loving kindness intention may be symbolized by the hummingbird, the associated scent may include lavender and cinnamon bark and the color may be pink. The courage intention may be symbolized by the song bird, the associated scent may include basil, thyme and eucalyptus and the color may be blue. The wisdom intention may be symbolized by the owl, the associated scent may include lavender, geranium and clary sage and the color may be purple. The inspiration intention may be symbolized by the star, the associated scent may include jasmine and ylang ylang and the color may be white. Additional intentions  26  may also be used with the journal system  10  and may include their own symbol, scent and color. 
         [0025]    Each plurality of cards  12  may guide the user by including one intention  26 . For example, the journal system  10  may include a plurality of cards  12  including grounded intention  26  to guide the user. Another plurality of cards  12  may include the gratitude intention  26  and other cards  12  may include one each of the other intentions  26  shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are non-limiting examples and illustrate the card  12  including the gratitude intention  26 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , a symbol  28  is included on the card  12  and illustrates the gratitude symbol  28 . The word “gratitude” may also be included on the card  12  as part of the written content portion  22 . A message  30  relating to the specific intention  26  may also be included on each card  12 . Each of the plurality of cards  12  including the specific intention  26  may be provided together in a packaging  40  as described in more detail below. The written content portion  22  may also include a quotation or inspirational message  32 . Each card  12  may include a different quotation or inspirational message  32 . The plurality of cards  12  may also include written content portion  22  for the date and a writable portion  22  for the user to enter the date upon which the entry is made. In some embodiments, the card  12  may include rounded corners  29 . 
         [0026]    The plurality of cards  12  may be provided in a packaging  40  such as a box or an envelope or the like. The packaging  40  is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  and is sized and shaped to receive the plurality of cards  12 . The packaging  40  itself may include a closure  41 , such as a flap so that the packaging  40  is self-closing. The packaging  40  may also include a band  42  slidable over the packaging  40  to secure the cards  12  in the packaging  40 . The band  42  may also include a written content portion  44  and a writable portion  46 . The written content portion  44  may include one of the intentions  26  on the band  42  to indicate to the user the guided intention  26  of the cards  12  contained within the packaging  40 . The symbol  28  and the name of the specific intention  26  and the message  30  relating to the specific intention  26  may also be included in the written content portion  44  of the band  42 . 
         [0027]    The journal system  10  may also include one or more scented cards  50  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The scented card  50  may include a written content portion  22 . The written content portion  22  indicates one intention  26  that corresponds to the intention  26  on the plurality of cards  12  and on the band  42 . The scent on the scented card  50  corresponds to the intention  26  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The scented card  50  may be positioned on top of the plurality of cards  12  and packaged within a cellophane wrapper (not shown). 
         [0028]    The journal system  10  also may include an instruction card  52  as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The instruction card  52  includes a first side  54  and a second side  56 . The first side  54  may include general instructions to the user in the written content portion  22  for helping the user to consider moments and capture thoughts and feelings on the cards  12 . The first side  54  may describe a specific intention  26 . The second side  56  of the instruction card  52  may include one or more written content portions  22  that include explanations to the user to “be aware,” “act” and “reflect.” Additional instruction cards  58  may also be included with the plurality of the cards  12 . By way of non-limiting example, the instruction card  58  shown in  FIGS. 6A-7B  may be included and positioned after the first fourteen cards  12  and the first twenty-one cards  12  to encourage the user. The card  58  includes a first side  62  and a second side  64 . The first side  62  may include the written content portion  22  that provides the user with a positive statement. The second side  64  may include instructions to the user to review writable portions  20  that have been completed by the user on the previous cards 
         [0029]    The journal system  10  may also include a holder  70  configured to hold a plurality of cards  12  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The holder  70  may include a base  72  and a removable cover  74 . The base  72  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 9 . The base  72  includes a base cavity  76  formed therein. The base cavity  76  is sized and shaped to receive the packaging  40  or the plurality of cards  12  without the packaging  40 . The base cavity  76  is surrounded by a wall  78  having an exterior periphery  80  and a recessed edge  82  extending inward from the periphery  80  toward the base cavity  76 . The recessed edge  82  is shown in a cross-sectional view in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0030]    The removable cover  74  is shown in FIGS.  8  and  10 - 14 . The removable cover  74  is sized and shaped to enclose the base cavity  76 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 14 , the cover  74  fits within the periphery  80  of the wall  78  and rests on the recessed edge  82 . In some embodiments, the cover  74  may fit over the base  72  to enclose the base cavity  76 . The cover  74  may include a first portion  84  and a second portion  86  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The second portion  86  is movable relative to the first portion  84  to enclose a cover cavity  88  formed in the first portion  84 . The cover cavity  88  is surrounded by a wall  90 . The cover cavity  88  is sized and shaped to receive a plurality of cards  12 . In some embodiments, the first portion may include a second cover cavity  118  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The second cover cavity may be formed by an interior wall  120  extending across the first portion  84  and connected to the wall  90 . The second cover cavity  118  may be sized and shaped to receive a writing utensil (not shown). In some embodiments, the second portion  86  is pivotally connected to the first portion  84  by a pivotable connector  92  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The second portion  84  may be pivoted to expose and reclose the cover cavity  88  and the cards  12  stored therein. The second portion  86  fits close to or against the first portion  84  so that the cards  12  stored in the cover cavity  88  remain within the cover cavity  88  when the second portion  86  is in a closed position  93 . As shown in the exploded view in  FIG. 13 , the pivotable connector  92  may be screw  104  that is mountable in a hollow post  105  in the first portion  84  and connectable to a hollow post  106  on the second portion  86  so the second portion  86  is movable to expose and reclose the cover cavity  88 . In some embodiments, the second portion  86  may include one or more magnets  108  positioned on a side  110  of the second portion facing the cover cavity  88  to help hold the second portion  86  in a selected position. The magnets  108  may be positioned in opposite corners  112  of the second portion  86  so that when the second portion  86  is pivoted, the magnet  108   a  connects with a first portion magnet  114  positioned in a hollow post  116  on first portion  84  when the cover cavity  88  is enclosed. The magnet  108   b  connects with the first portion magnet  114  when the cover cavity  88  is exposed. 
         [0031]    The second portion  86  may also include a raised central portion  94  and a recessed peripheral edge  96  so that the second portion  86  forms a friction fit with the first portion  84  in the closed position  93  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The second portion  86  may also be connected to the first portion  84  by any other mechanism known to one skilled in the art. Preferably, the connection of the first portion  84  to the second portion  86  does not interfere with the positioning of the cover  74  on the recessed edge  82  of the base  72 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second portion  86  of the cover  74  may be positioned against the recessed edge  82  of the base  72  and the first portion  84  extends away from the base  82 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 11 , the first portion  84  of the cover  72  forms the top  98  of the holder  70  and the base  72  forms the bottom  102  of the holder  70 . In some embodiments, the second portion  86  of the cover  74  may be completely enclosed in the wall  80  when the cover  74  is positioned on the recessed edge  82  so that only the first portion  84  and the base  72  are visible and the cover cavity  88  is hidden. The first portion  84  may also be positionable on the recessed edge  82  of the base  72  so that the second portion  86  of the cover  74  forms the top  98  of the holder  70  as shown in  FIG. 14 . The cover cavity  88  may be exposed when the cover  74  is positioned on the recessed edge  82  and the second portion  86  forms the top  98 . 
         [0033]    The journal system  10  may be provided to ease the user into the journaling experience. By way of non-limiting example, the specific intention  26  of gratitude will be described. The journaling experience described below may be achieved for any for the seven intentions  26  described in the embodiment above using the journal system  10 . The cards  12  may be provided to the user in the packaging  40  with the scented card  50  and the instructions cards  52 ,  58  also provided in the packaging  40 . The scented card  50  includes a specific scent including bergamot and balsam oil to reinforce the specific intention  26  of gratitude on which the user would like to work. The packaging  40  may be stored in the base  72  of the holder  70 . 
         [0034]    To begin the journaling experience, the user removes the cover  70  from the base  72  and removes the packaging  40  from the base cavity  76  in the base  72 . The user removes the band  42  from the packaging  40 . The band  42  includes the name of the specific intention  26  gratitude and the symbol  28  on the written content portion  44  of the band  42 . The user opens the packaging  40 , exposes the scented card  50  and inhales the scent of bergamot and balsam oil. The user reviews the instruction card  52  and selects one card  12 . For subsequent uses, the user may select one card  12  without reviewing the instruction card  52 . The user reads the instruction “be aware” on the written content portion  22  of the card  12 . Next, the user reads the “act” instruction and places a journal entry on the writable portion  20  of the card  12  in response to the “be aware” instruction. The card  12  may be flipped to the second side  18  so the user can read the “reflect” instruction and place a journal entry on the writable portion  20  of the card  12  in response to the “reflect” prompt  24   c.  At any time during the journaling experience, the user may read the messages  30 ,  32 . Once the user completes the journaling experience for the selected card  12 , the user may hide card  12  including the journal entry in the cover cavity  88  of the first portion  84  of the cover  74 . The second portion  86  may be moved to enclose the cover cavity  88  and hide the card. The band  42  may be placed over the packaging  40  and the packaging  40  returned to the base cavity  76  in the base  72 . The cover  74  may be positioned on the recessed edge  82  of the base  72  with the second portion  86  hidden from sight so that the location of the card  12  with the journal entry is hidden. Alternatively, the cover  74  may be positioned on the recessed edge  82  of the base  72  with the second portion  86  forming the top  98  of the journal system  10  so that the journal user can access the card  12  in the cover cavity  88  when the base  72  and the cover  74  enclose the base cavity  76 . 
         [0035]    The user may repeat the journaling experience multiple times, each time journaling on a new card  12 . The user may also complete a portion of the cards  12  and reach the additional instruction cards  52 ,  58 . The user may review the previous journal entries following review of the instructions on the cards  52 ,  58  or at any time during the journaling experience. 
         [0036]    The journal system  10  may be manufactured using a variety of manufacturing techniques. For example, the base  72  and the cover  74  of the holder  70  may be formed by molding the base  72  and cover  74  such as by injection molding. The cover  74  may be formed in two parts by forming the first portion  84  and forming the cover cavity  88  therein. The second portion  86  may be formed separately from the first portion  84  and then connected to the first portion  88 . The second portion  86  may then be connected the first portion  84 , for example, by friction fit or by providing a pivotable connector  92  such as the screw  104  and posts  105 ,  106 . The magnets  108  may be secured to the second portion  74  by any method and the magnet  114  may be positioned in the post  116  and secured thereto. 
         [0037]    The cards  12  may be made of any suitable material for receiving a written entry from a journal user, for example paper or cardstock. The corners  29  of the cards  12  may be rounded and the written content portion  22  maybe printed on to the cards  12 . The scented card  50  may be cut from blotter paper or the like and the appropriate scent added to the card  50 . The card  50  and the cards  12  may be packaged together and placed in the base cavity  76  of the base  72 . The cover  74  may be positioned on the base  72  to enclose the cards  12  and the card  50  within the base cavity  76  for delivery to the journal user. The cards  12  and the card  50  may also be provided to the journal user separately from the holder  70 . 
         [0038]    The above Figures and disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in the art. All such variations and alternatives are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the attached claims. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the attached claims.