Personal Journal Blog - WriteON!

Your Personal Journaling Awards Show: Lights, Camera, Action!

Mari L. McCarthy — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:45:00 GMT

It’s that time of year when the big entertainment awards shows seem to take over the airwaves – the Golden Globes, the Grammys and (coming up this weekend) the Academy Awards. Pop culture enthusiasts and style watchers love to tune in to see which actors, musicians, artists and filmmakers are celebrated as the best and brightest of the past year.

Although it is fun to watch the red carpet festivities from the comfort of your living room, wouldn’t it be great if you could be a participant for a change? Don’t despair if you don’t have an invitation to the Oscars this year – through personal journaling, you can host your own event!

Journal Prompts for Your Personal Awards Show

1. Open your journal to a new page. Think back on the previous year – the ups, the downs, the highlights, the main characters and the unforgettable moments. Use this reflection exercise to create your list of awards categories. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Best Supportive Friend
• Most Interesting Person
• Happiest Event
• Biggest Challenge
• Proudest Accomplishment
• Best Trip
• Biggest Surprise
• New Favorite [Fill in the Blank]

2. Write down your final categories, and use each as a personal journaling prompt. Who or what would you select as the winner for each award? Why? What about the winner was unique or noteworthy? Write a short paragraph to describe the winner of each category. For the award winners who are people, have you expressed your appreciation to them? If not, brainstorm little ways you could show them you value their contributions. For example:

Best Supportive Friend: Carrie
We started as friendly co-workers, but we stayed in touch when I switched jobs. She is the most positive, encouraging person I know, and she is so good at seeing the best in people and the silver linings in tough situations. I don’t know how I would get through a week without meeting up with her for dinner or coffee!

Need more journaling ideas? Browse these creative journal prompts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time to Sign up for April's (almost here!) 27 Days Self-Discovery Journaling Challenge!

My Many Journals

Mari L. McCarthy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:01:00 GMT

Guest Post by Robyn Chausse

What is a journal? The standard definition of a journal is “a written daily record of personal experiences.” In my definition, a journal can be a log—a place to remember things or track changes-- or it can be a mirror which reveals those things we do not yet know. Sometimes it’s just a place to vent.

For years, that’s what I had—a place to vent. Sometimes I’d ask myself why a thing had to be a certain way but most of my reflection was off the page and in my head. Then I decided to pursue my writing and began collecting blank books, spiral notebooks, and composition books. Now I have all kinds of journals!

The composition books I use to capture melancholy moods brought about by seasonal changes, gorgeous sunsets or a good rain storm. The smells, the feel, the thoughts and reflections--is the vibe in the neighborhood quiet or not? What critters are moving about? Sensory descriptions go in these.

The spiral notebooks are my “working books.” I use them mostly to brainstorm my writing projects. I found that my rough drafts lack heart when started on the computer whereas when I begin with pen and paper I capture more of myself.

The beautiful blank books, brightly colored and covered with fabrics or handmade papers, are my personal journals. These are where I reveal my hopes and disappointments that no one else can hear. Dreamtime deciphering, experiences I don’t want to forget, my thoughts at every birthday or New Year each recorded and mused upon within these bound pages. Whether or not I heed the reflections revealed is another matter; sometimes I do, but sometimes I still just vent.

About the Author

Robyn Chausse is a freelance writer and crafty creative with several books on the fire but none of them finished—perhaps she should ask her journal about that! In the meantime, she invites all of her journaling friends to join her at her personal blog, A Ponderance of Things / . You can also follow her on Twitter @RCchrps.

Do You Know Your Source of Sadness? Journaling Does

Mari L. McCarthy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:09:00 GMT

Sometimes I'm just so sad. It's a feeling, sort of like a squeeze on my heart and lungs and stomach all at once. It feels like a sickness and a craziness and a sense of total failure combined. I inhale the nasty concoction with my morning toothpaste and suffer from it all day long.

Things happen. Shit, for instance. Shit happens. My computer blows up. My relative disses me. My contributions are ignored. My car breaks down. My creations are ridiculed. I begin to feel useless and stupid.

Why are some days fortified by indomitable optimism while others slog by, overcome by misery? And if the variation is due simply to the fractal nature of reality, how can I suffer less from the fluctuations?

In short, what can I do to make the sad stuff seem less sad?

Well, there are a bunch of cures. You can go out to a movie or ask a friend to dinner or get a pedicure. You can join a choir or a volleyball team or read a novel or take a painting class. There are something like a million thirteen ways to circumvent the blues.

But the most immediate, direct, anytime accessible solution is to journal. To get out the old pen and paper and write it out. Whatever "it" is.

By the way, that is an appropriate prompt at just about any given time: What is "it"?

You pick up the pen and position the paper and bring the two in contact. You let the ink spill a nanosecond ahead of your consciousness. You dance, race, skip with your guide in this way until some end makes its logic obvious.

Then you take a deep breath and read this thing over. What does your writing teach you?

What does my writing teach me? I have only to ask and it is made abundantly clear.

The thing about journal writing is that it speaks directly to your questions, more directly than any other source.

Don't believe me?

Test it out for yourself. Ask your journal, What is happening, what am I supposed to be noticing right now, what's the significance of the current circumstances and environment? Then, reading over your entry, make a note of answers to your question. You can highlight your answers or do whatever you feel like with the answers.

Please share your revelations, ask questions and/or tell us how you did the exercise in the Comments section below and/or … in our brand new Forum: Journal Writing Ideas.

image from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23024164@N06/4757819913/
Damian Gadal

When is a Journaler like a Painter?

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:37:00 GMT

Guest Blog Post by Deonne Kahler

I’ve got a confession: I can’t paint my way out of a paper bag. (Well, I’m seriously talented with a roller and tray, but I don’t think that counts.) I’ve always envied visual artists, with their smudged smocks and intense focus, until I realized journalers aren’t that different. It’s all about tools and setting and giving yourself the gift of taking your art – journaling – seriously.

So if you’ve been writing on half-used steno pads with leaky pens at a cluttered desk tucked in the corner of the spare bedroom, stop. (An extreme example, but you get the picture.) You deserve just the right tools and space to write in because your words count. They absolutely do.

Whether you’re jotting ideas for a novel, complaining about your crabby boss, or analyzing last night’s dream, make it fun and special. It’s the only me-time many of us get, so why not make it great?

There’s no right way to journal and that’s the beauty of it – the experience should be as unique as you are. Turn off the phone and email and journal like a painter would.

You need a canvas. What’s your favorite? A leather-bound journal, big lay-flat notebook, diary with a beautiful illustrated cover, or guided journal with prompts? Do you like blank pages, lined, or graph? None of this has to be expensive; in fact it’s better when it’s not. There’s great joy in filling up a journal then cracking open a fresh new one, but if it’s high-priced you may hold back on doodles and notes and wild ideas because each page feels like gold. And you, as an artist, should never hold back.

…a brush. Pen or pencil, take your pick, but whatever you choose, make sure it moves easily across the paper. I love a gorgeous fountain pen as much as the next guy, but it can be heavy and scratchy. My pick is a medium-point roller ball – light and smooth.

…and a studio. I journal in an overstuffed green chair in my living room, but maybe you prefer your four-poster bed, sitting at an antique desk, or rocking on the porch. Wherever you feel calm and comfortable is best. Candles add a little magic, even during the day, and music (without lyrics, since they tend to distract) can get the thoughts flowing. A beverage is a nice touch – tea, coffee, and seltzer with lime are good, and wine or a cocktail can loosen things up even further. (But use the latter in moderation if you want your words to make any sense in the morning.)

What’s your favorite way to journal? Share your thoughts below!

DEONNE KAHLER is a writer, photographer, road tripper, and mom to Sam the Wonder Pup. Her work has been published in anthologies, online, and in print. She also owns a business, JournalsAndNotepads.com, and is obsessed with paper products, National Parks, small towns, and quirk. Her current journal has a drawing of a devilish little girl on the front.

Get List Happy! 10 Journal Prompts for Quick Inspiration

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:43:00 GMT

Creating a list is a fast and easy way to spark your creativity and kick your journal writing into gear. The next time you are staring at the blank page, trying to think of what to write, start by using one of these ideas for inspiration. Simply pick a theme and write until you run out of steam!

10 List-Making Journal Prompts

1. Places you want to travel: Look at a map and daydream about the far-flung places you will visit someday.

2. Professional goals: Think about where you want to be in your career in a year, five years or 10 years.

3. Things you love: Chase away the bad day blues by listing your favorite things – from movies and books to smells and words.

4. Accomplishments: Use journal writing to record your proud achievements and successes in your personal and professional life.

5. Heroes: Who inspires or motivates you? Who are your role models? Write down the names of your heroes, whether they are personal friends or famous leaders.

6. Bucket list: Reflect on everything you want to do, see or accomplish before you die. Dream big!

7. Traditions: What are the important rituals or traditions in your family or circle of friends? Make a list of those that mean the most to you.

8. Milestones: Look back on your life so far and write down the most significant events (for example, moving away from home for the first time or meeting your spouse).

9. The best of you: Sing your own praises for a change; brainstorm your best qualities, attributes and quirks.

10. Values: Take a close look at your personal values. What is most important to you?

Which of these journal prompts resonates most with you? Have one you like to use? Please share.

And here are 136 and counting journal prompts if you need some more list making ideas.

How to Start a Book Club with Your Personal Journal

Mari L. McCarthy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:01:00 GMT

Reading is one of life’s great joys; there is nothing like losing yourself in the plot of a good novel or engaging your mind with interesting non-fiction. The problem is, with all of the commitments and distractions in your daily life, sometimes making time for reading falls by the wayside.

When was the last time you read an excellent book? Did you experience the feeling of not wanting to put it down until you finished the last page but also not wanting it to be over? Remember that feeling, and use your personal journal to keep you reading and writing.

Journaling for Reading Inspiration

1. Start by thinking about how often you read and compare it to how often you would like to read. Is there a big difference? Why? If time is the issue, reflect on parts of your schedule you could rearrange or cut to carve out more time for reading. Tell your personal journal how you are going to make reading more of a priority. For example:

I probably watch more mindless TV than I need to. I do it because it’s an easy, relaxing escape after work, but if I limit myself to an hour of TV instead of two a night, I can use the extra hour to open a good book.

2. In your personal journal, make a list of books you have been wanting to read. Don’t include any that you feel you should read but aren’t actually interested in; limit your list only to books you are genuinely excited about. For inspiration, visit your local bookstore or library; you can even keep track of books you have read and want to read (as well as friend’s recommendations) on Goodreads.com

3. Choose the first book for your journaling book club. As you begin to read, take breaks every few chapters to tell your personal journal about the book. Pretend that you are telling a good friend about it. What are you enjoying about it? What are you not liking about it? Is the story capturing your attention? What do you think is going to happen next? What about the author’s writing style do you like or dislike?

4. When you finish the book, write a slightly longer journal entry reviewing it. On a scale from 1 to 10, what would you rate it? What is your overall feeling about the writing, the plot, the characters or the ending? Would you recommend the book to a friend? Would you read another book by the same author? What about the book was most memorable?

5. Select the next book on your journaling book club list and repeat!

My goal this year is to read more fiction so my list alternates between a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction. What books are on your to-read list? What books have you read recently that you would recommend to others? Please share your experiences!

Take the 7 Days Self Discovery Journaling Challenge Write Now

Mari L. McCarthy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:53:00 GMT

We've been talking a lot lately about using journaling for Self Discovery. Maybe it's time to stop talking and start doing!

In January, we had a full 27 Day Journaling Challenge, with dozens of participants and innumerable epiphanies. Whether or not you were there, you're going to love our next Challenge: an action-packed, no-holds-barred seven days of journaling down to your core Self.

The 7 Day Self Discovery Journaling Challenge begins next Monday, the 20th, and runs through the 26th. You can sign up here. No cost for the workshop; just purchase the (waaayyy inexpensive, if I do say so myself) workbook.

You'll be investing in the creation of an heirloom, or at least a treasured collection of your discoveries that will serve as your personal guide for years to come.

Don't trust yourself to be faithful to a journaling process? Come on board anyway and you're very likely to get hooked.

The seven days are focused on collecting large amounts of new information about your Self: your motivations, personality, fears, loves, and tons more.

The course begins with an orientation towards writing by hand, strongly suggested for the week's exercises. This may be a challenge in itself, for many of us. But writing by hand is a shorter route to Self understanding.

The week continues with exercises that open up Self awareness, including dealing with self-criticism and fears that keep us from Self knowledge. The seven days conclude with suggestions for next steps.

It's a lot to promise in a mere week, but that's the awesome power of journaling.

If you've done our Challenges before, you'll find this one is little different: certainly shorter, a bit more intense, and it includes some stimulating new exercises.

We're also hoping that the abbreviated time commitment required by this Challenge will attract newcomers to journaling. If you're reading this post and toying with the idea of keeping a journal; or if you know someone who might like to try it, now's your chance!

The risk is teensy tiny and the rewards are unspeakably great.

So. Here's the sign-up link again. Do your Self a favor.

image from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cupcakes2/3514343096/

Journaling: Getting Nitty-Gritty with the Real YOU !

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:48:00 GMT

Guest blog: Journaling on authenticity
© Iris von Brandstatter

Oh boy the 'A' word - yes folks, Authenticity! Today I want to talk about authenticity and how to use creative journaling to get closer to the 'real YOU'. Your true YOU is a flexible concept, as you change, so does your authentic self. Most of all, it's an exciting exploration of your wonderful YOU!

Many years ago, I found the mere concept of thinking about my authenticity was something really daunting. Especially when I looked around me: stuck in a job I didn't like, with people I did not care for, and a half-hearted relationship - well so much for authenticity. Where had I lost myself?? I was baffled that my life had come to this.

So I sat down one day with my journal and an intuition let me outline my hand with a pen on the page. I stared at this, something wanted out.
I gathered some magazines and cut out words that resonated with who I truly was and started sticking them in the outline, always focusing on authenticity. Not too long and I felt an answer forming: a) fear of not fitting in b) fear of not being able to survive doing what I really love. Lightbulb moment! I put my own hand over the outline and all those words, closed my eyes and breathed deeply … and then the tears came but also deep inside me a flame was lit anew … to just not give up finding the real me!

A great start for any Authenticity journey is:
1) Look what's in my head - aka what are you telling yourself on a daily basis and with which words.
2) Look at what comes out of your mouth – how do you verbalise your responses, feed-back, self-express?

"Authenticity is a matter of self-awareness and self-responsibility." That's where I had gone wrong or abandoned courage. I had not taken very good care of myself, no sir!

So I started writing words around the outside of my hand of 'ideal-case' scenarios … like 'wonderful, safe home' - 'lovely, trustworthy people' - 'fulfilling, creative work' etc. and spilled over onto more and more pages.
This soon became a journal in itself: My life in balance!
I started with the perfect authentic living arrangement, expanded on that in detail, with new words and pictures, then job satisfaction, then romance etc. Close to midnight, I was tired, yet psyched and put the journal under my pillow and slept on it - literally.

Looking at my inner vocabulary, I realised how much other people’s phrases and words had gotten into my head and formed a dictionary that was not quite 'me' … and a lot of it was negative and depreciating.

So later that weekend, I went online to look at a thesaurus and made a list of my favorite words and their relevant synonyms … like 'abundance' (affluence, ampleness, bounty, copiousness, fortune, myriad, opulence, plentitude, plethora, prosperity, riches, thriving) you get the idea. Just reading those words made me feel happier somehow! I had my positive affirmations right there, plentiful!

I also did this with words that I did not like or felt threatened by and that conjured up negative feelings and by doing so and finding their synonyms, I found it easier to 'dispel' the context and associations I had - after all they are only words and words … can be replaced.

I can say that this focusing on my Authentic Self got me rather quickly to
a) a wonderful place to live, just right for me
b) a new career doing what I love and being able to support myself
c) amazing new people and most of all a happier, more content self.
Call it the law of attraction - it worked, and still does. And it has led me to a new career bringing Authenticity also into businesses and throwing in a good bit of Emotional Intelligence on top. I run a LinkedIn group called: 'Authenticity & EQ in business' if you care to join.

After starting my workshops in creative journaling 10+ years ago (www.journaling4freedom.com), I included that very same hand-outline exercise in the manual and people have found it truly helpful for whatever their obstacles in the search of true self might be. So why not try it yourself. I would love to hear your feedback and see how you get on.

The journey of Authenticity is the most profound you will ever embark on and your journal can be a to help you step by step get more in sync with the core of your soul and the heart of what really defines YOU! “Feeling follows focus, it always does, it’s a powerful force!”

     Happy journaling,
     Iris von Brandstatter
     Founder | Coach | Speaker
     www.journaling4freedom.com

Monday-to-Friday Journal Writing: 5 Days of Fun Prompts

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:19:00 GMT

If you have ever hit the snooze button on a Monday morning, hoping to wake up back on Sunday, you’re among good company. The daily grind of the work or school week can be tiring, but making time for journal writing can give your energy and creativity a welcome boost.

This week, instead of reaching for your third cup of coffee, try these journaling prompts to help you stay awake and engaged. Write when you get up in the morning, while you eat lunch or as you unwind at the end of the day.

Weekday Journal Writing Ideas

Monday
Open the nearest book, magazine or dictionary and write down the first three words that catch your eye. Don’t overthink it; just go with the words that interest you. Use them as a starting point for your journaling today. What do you associate with each word? Does it remind you of a story or a person or a time in your life? What other words do you think of when you see or hear it? If you are on a roll, draw a picture or write a short story featuring all three words.

Tuesday
What is the most important topic on your mind today? Is it a concern, an exciting piece of news or a conflict? Tell your journal about it, and ask yourself questions that help you process your feelings. For example: Why is this significant to me? How do I feel about it? Do I want to share it with someone else? Is there any action I should take?

Wednesday
Spend 30 minutes people-watching in a place you enjoy – a park, a coffee shop, a library, a restaurant. Observe what they look like, whom they interact with, what they say and what they do. Write down notes about each person, then put together a story with your new characters.

Thursday
Make a list of the top 10 things that make you happy right now. Think of the journal writing exercise as taking a snapshot of today – what makes you laugh, smile or feel good about yourself?

Friday
Reflect on the past week. What made you happy or proud? Did you learn anything new? What worked well for you? Do you think daily journaling helped in any way? What do you want to carry with you into the following week?

Your comments? Help or Hinderance in getting you into or back into daily pen to page journaling? Would really love your thoughts.

Have you signed up for the Who Are You? 7 Days Journaling Challenge. Free sample chapter!

Sweets for the Sweets: 5 Valentine’s Day Journal Prompts

Mari L. McCarthy — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:30:00 GMT

If you consider yourself a hopeless romantic, you might adore Valentine’s Day and its over-the-top decorations, presents and declarations of love. If you see yourself as more of a realist, you may roll your eyes at the candy hearts and sappy greeting cards instead.

Whether you fall into one of these extremes or somewhere in between, you can use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to reflect on the holiday and the meaning of love in your life. Choose one or more of these journaling prompts to feel the love!

V-Day Journal Prompts

1. What does the word “love” mean to you? It’s a big idea, and it carries very different meanings for different people. What is your personal definition of love? Does this definition change for the many relationships in your life – your family, your spouse, your children, your friends? How do you express your love? How do you want others to show you they care?

2. What is the most romantic thing someone has ever done for you? Who was it? Is it someone who is still a part of your life? What about it made such a strong impression on you? What is the most romantic gesture you have ever done for another person? How did he or she react?

3. How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? Do you look forward to it, dread it or ignore it? Do you have any traditions associated with the holiday? If you celebrate it with a significant other or friends, what are you planning for this year?

4. Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day when you were a child? What are your strongest memories of February 14 while you were growing up? Did you give cards or candy to classmates or make crafts or gifts for your parents?

5. How do you pamper yourself throughout the year? What are your favorite indulgences that you look forward to? Do you treat yourself to chocolate sundaes or movie outings or new hardback books? How do you feel when you allow yourself these gifts?

Which of these journal prompts did you write about? Did you make up one for your very own? Let us in. Happy Valentine’s Day!

What about giving Y-O-U a special journaling gift? Finding out who you really are in just 7 Days!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Consider All The Angles for Journal Writing Discoveries

Mari L. McCarthy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:10:00 GMT

One of the best ways to look at anything is cross-eyed.

Not literally, of course. I mean when you examine anything from both sides – right and left, up and down, pro and con – you end up with a more precise understanding of it.

We have political debates to look at different sides of questions. Education generally tries to help us grasp many angles of events and issues. And you comparison shop, right?

So why not apply the same principle to your process of self discovery through journaling?

You can get used to the idea by imposing an opposite viewpoint on something you just penned into your journal. Suppose you're going on about how you are sad and blue, wishing you were somewhere else. You can get a better idea about this suffering by imaging and then writing what the opposite of it would be.

If you are journaling obsessively about a particular concern, you can begin to counter the anxiety by devoting a similar amount of ink to the opposite of that worry.

On the micro level, within your daily posts you may wish to pop into the opposite of things now and then, because this sparks up your thinking and writing and feeling.

A few examples:

Why do I have such an adverse reaction to her? It's like I will take a detour rather than drive by her house. It's almost superstitious, like I think she has cast a spell on me. (Or, maybe she has blessed me in some mysterious way.)

Or perhaps,

Leaving work every day is always such a thrilling moment. I can't wait to sink into the car seat and cruise home, free at last. There's gotta be a better way to live. (Or, I love slowly cooking dinner, drinking a glass of wine, enjoying my family.)

Or how about,

I hate eating alone in restaurants. I always think people are staring at me, feeling sorry for me. (Or, the fact is they are probably not thinking about me at all.)

And then as an in-depth exercise, you can apply this principle of the opposite using the following process.

1. At the top of a clean page, write I am aware. Then keep writing until a page is filled.

2. At the top of the next page, write I am afraid. Again, keep writing until the page is filled.

3. Looking back over these two pages, fill a third page with a comparison of them. How does what you are aware of relate to what you are afraid of?

4. As a bonus, you can circle the words in the third page that stand out and write more about them on a new page.

How's about giving this exercise a try? Let us know how it worked (or not) for you. Post your comments below.

Check out more other journal writing options, avenues and exercises write now.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesswebb/5249752972/

Creative Writing Therapy: Finding Direction, Figuring Out Fulfillment

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:11:00 GMT

Guest Blog Post by Margaret

I kept a diary as a child. Purple with polka dots and a gold keyed lock. I wrote about my feelings, my thoughts, my opinions. It well served as an outlet of expression, but lacked implication. Emotions were laid out willy-nilly, never arranged in a way that made sense. Their rationality was unchallenged. Their origin unexplored.

As a teenager I graduated from my purple diary to composition books, black and white speckled, and begin to write those thoughts I held private from the world, convinced they would be misunderstood. I composed song lyrics about love and tried to make sense of my adolescence.

I became consumed with exploring the ideas of others versus my own as an adult. Trying to unravel the mystery of my life, I searched the used bookstores of San Francisco in search of the answer – the one book that would make sense of my existence. I never found that book.

Between working and endless job searching, a consequence of the Silicon Valley tech bust, I became consumed with the day to day. My reading became limited to the commute on the train. I never wrote at all. The journals of my childhood and adolescence had been long disposed out of the embarrassment about the less-than-adult self they revealed.

I had dismissed writing as a component of my identity, consumed as I was with finding my niche in the world of work – so consumed that most all of my conversations rotated around my pursuit. Instead of searching for the answer in novels, I began to informally catalogue the experiences of others. If it worked for them and they were happy, then maybe if I followed their pattern then I would be...Well, that method didn’t work. But through the collection of stories, I gained reverence for the process. I saw that there wasn’t one clear way to find fulfillment, no right answers; there was only probable directions chosen partly by intent and partly by circumstance.

I wanted to make sense of it all. To organize my experiences, the stories I had read and the stories I had heard from others, and finding no other outlet suitable, I began to write about the process of finding a niche, the process of figuring out one’s fulfillment. I wanted to create a place for others to explore, to stay a while, to meditate on their own processes.

The beginning of my posts always came quickly. I laid out the scene, but I got stuck at each ending. I could feel what I wanted to say, but I could not find the words. I’d walk away and come back until I could pull the words from myself, finally, unlike the writing of my childhood, coherent in their application.

Writing about the process of finding my niche, the vicarious experiences of others, I made sense of my direction. Stop by. Share your experience. Join me in Figuring Out Fulfillment.

Here is my composition book. I write every morning before work, and find the practice of organizing my thoughts helps me through the day.

About the Author

Margaret is an author on the blog, Figuring Out Fulfillment, a storytelling project about finding a career and finding yourself. After finishing a Masters in Business Administration, Margaret moved to San Francisco in her 20s, where she lived through the technology bust at the beginning of the 2000-2010 decade. In San Francisco she tried on and tried out a number of different jobs and possible careers. Each one taught her something about herself and got her a little closer to figuring out fulfillment. Increasingly interested in the role work plays in peoples’ lives, she completed a Masters in Social Work at Columbia University, where she focused her studies on workplace issues. She now works and lives in Washington, DC with her husband, three cats, and a few roaming fur balls. You can email her at Margaret@FiguringOutFulfillment.com.
Margaret’s Journal today is her composition book. She says, “I write every morning before work, and find the practice of organizing my thoughts helps me through the day.”

Therapeutic Writing Bounces You Back from Failure

Mari L. McCarthy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:56:00 GMT

Whenever you take on a major goal – whether it’s learning a new skill for your job or completing a personal creative project – you’re sure to run into at least a few setbacks or obstacles along the way. It is hard not to get discouraged when you experience disappointment or failure, but remind yourself that this is a normal (and sometimes even necessary) part of growing.

Instead of giving up during tough times, turn to your journal and use therapeutic writing to pick yourself up and keep going. Find your supportive inner coach and listen to what he or she has to say!

Therapeutic Writing for When the Going Gets Tough

1. Start with a short period of reflection or meditation. Focus on your breathing and try to quiet your thoughts.

2. Open your journal, and spend a few minutes free-writing about the goal you are working toward and the challenges you are encountering. What is bothering you most right now? What major setbacks have you encountered? How are you feeling, and how is that affecting your progress?

3. What is the biggest failure you’ve experienced while working toward your goal? First, vent and write about why it upsets you. Then, try to examine it more objectively. What can you learn from this disappointment? What lessons can you take away to avoid similar situations in the future? What will you do differently going forward? How will this failure help you change or improve your plan of action? Is this similar to any situations you’ve encountered in the past?

4. Think back to why you started on this journey in the first place. What were you trying to achieve? Does that motivation still resonate with you? Do you need to reaffirm your original goal or revise it? Write down one sentence that sums up your goal and will keep you focused and persistent through any future bumps in the road. Refer back to it when you need words of encouragement.

How do you cope with failure? Do you ever use therapeutic writing to help you keep going? Share your experiences in the comments.

Can Personal Journaling Really Help You Lose Weight?

Mari L. McCarthy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:35:00 GMT

Keeping a personal journal can help you make positive changes in your life and boost your emotional, mental and physical health. A recent study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, found new evidence to support this connection between personal journaling and improved health.

Researchers studied a group of 45 female undergraduates who had an average body mass index (BMI) of 23 – 18.5 to 24.9 is considered “normal weight.” They asked half of the women to write about their most important values; they asked the other women to write about why one of their least important values might be important to another person. The women in the first group, who wrote about their most important values, lost an average of 3.4 pounds over the course of a few months. The women in the second group gained an average of 2.8 pounds.

An article in The Atlantic discusses the results of the study:

The researchers think the weight loss was due to increased self-affirmation or self-esteem. Writing about their values made the women see themselves as better people and feel better about themselves. It may also serve to strengthen resolve. Often, heavy eaters eat in an attempt to elevate their mood…

The researchers speculate that writing about one's values can kick off a chain reaction. It starts when writing about an important value makes you feel better about yourself. Maybe when you go home that night you skip the brownie or cookies you've been using as an emotional crutch.

Do you think this personal journaling exercise would help you stay focused on making good decisions and maintaining healthy habits? Let’s give it a try!

Share Your Top Values With Your Personal Journal

1. Open your journal, and set a timer for 15 minutes. Make a list of the values you rank most important in your life (try to keep it to fewer than 10). Rank them by importance, on a numbered scale from most important to least important. For example:

1. Family
2. Friendships
3. Meaningful work

2. Write about your most important value. Why did you rank this as number one? Why is it meaningful in your life? What do you think this value says about you as a person?

3. Stop writing when the timer goes off. Repeat this activity for 15 minutes every day, and pay attention to any improvements you see in your health or lifestyle.

What did you think of this personal journaling activity? Ya think there's some kind of connection between our thoughts and feelings and our body mass index? Please share your experiences in the Comments section.

More stories of personal journaling stories write here.

Journal Writing: Take a Look Outside for Inside Answers

Mari L. McCarthy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:14:00 GMT

Journal writing for the main purpose of better knowing and understanding yourself can be a lifelong adventure full of rewards. But some of us, some of the time, find the process slowed by a feeling of too much introspection.

It's not a long lasting funk, usually, but it can be devastating. It's as if the Inner Critic has blown up big as the sky. You can't bring yourself to focus on your self at the moment. You're disgusted, bored, ashamed, sad, hopeless, or any of an infinite number of ways to feel negative, tired, uncreative.

When you are overwhelmed by these emotions, sometimes spending any time inquiring about your true self can seem not only impossible but distasteful. You have, simply speaking, no heart for it.

We're all subject to heartbreak at various points in life. How do you mend your heart when it has been wounded?

Becoming more introspective is sometimes the choice: we look for alone time to connect spiritually, finding healing in inner contemplations.

At other times, though, the cure for a broken heart is to look outwards on the surrounding environment and society; to center your attention on external activities and objects; to use your senses for heightened perception.

So if you are working on self discovery and using journaling as a tool, there may well come a time when you can't stand talking about yourself right now. Does that mean you give up the process?

Non, non, non ma cherie.

It is a fallacy to think that only by thinking you can discover your reality.

When your own ideas, thoughts, dreams and imaginings are no longer helpful, it's time to turn to your powers of observation and description. Through observing and writing about what you see (or perceive in any way from the world around you), you continue to make discoveries about yourself.

• Look at the view outside your window or at a painting on the wall. Write a description of what you see.

• Listen. Write what you hear.

• Write about your cup of coffee.

• Describe your pet.

• Write a report on the pecking order in your office.

• Give a play by play of your last day off.

• Detail how to cook spaghetti.

By using your senses and writing these descriptive words, you'll slowly but surely massage your heart back to health. By focusing externally and writing about it, you bring compassion back to your self.

What tips, treats or tricks do you use to take a break from and get a new perspective on You, You, You? Please comment below.

Pick up some more journal writing ideas here.

image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tillwe/60826069/

Ben Franklin Says A Journal In Time Saves Lives

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:04:00 GMT

Guest Blog Post by Father Time

As a self-help writer and speaker, I am a huge believer in the fact that YOU can do anything that you make up your mind to do! I believe that people are where they want to be, and if they really did not want to be there, then they would not be...they would do something, and make some changes in their life!

Benjamin Franklin taught us that when we had a decision to make, to take a sheet of paper, and make a line down the middle, and then write the "pros" and the "cons" of the situation...he knew that there was something about seeing it on paper, with your own two eyes...that would help you figure it out!

Most great inventors, just like Ben, kept a journal of their various day to day activities, experiments, and everything else. In the past two hundred years, at some point, someone took many of Benjamin Franklin's writings and compiled them into an autobiography, even though he never really sat down and wrote one as such. We have enough material about Mr. Franklin, to put this type of manuscript together, and thank goodness that someone did do it, because it is awesome reading!

Leonardo da Vinci kept journals, as did many other famous people throughout history. These people somehow knew that it would help them with their work, and even in their personal lives.

Most of us have things that we would like to correct about ourselves and our lives, and we also have things that we would like to overcome, and we all have some things that we would like to accomplish, and a journal would be so beneficial for all of these endeavors. When you join certain weight-loss programs, they urge you to write down every morsel of food you eat, so that you can go back and review what you've done.

There are therapists, psychologists, and such, who urge their patients or clients...to keep a journal about whatever it is they are discussing and working on. It is helpful to write things out, type them out, or even scribble them with a crayon in the middle of the night. There are writers, musicians, and song-writers who keep a pen and paper near the bed, so that if they wake up in the middle of the night, with an idea, they can jot a few words down to remind themselves of the idea when they awaken in the morning.

No matter your age, where you live, or what you do, it would be good for you to start keeping a journal, and it is never too late! I have a friend who is a doctor, and a professor at Harvard, and although he is fifty-something, he began keeping a journal ten years ago, and recently told me he wishes he would have started one at age 18. He writes a few things in there on a daily basis, and every December, he goes back and reads the entire volume to see what progress he has made for the year.

Here are some tips on How to Keep a Journal when you have no time at all. Ever.

About the Author

Father Time is a Self-Help writer and speaker, and also has a Daily Motivational e-mail Message Service. You can get a Free Subscription, and details are found on his website at www.FatherTimePublishing.com He and his assistant, Jennifer, are also purveyors of powerful and effective good luck charms and amulets. They also write a blog about having a better and happier life at http://fathertimespeaks.blogspot.com/ and as Greeting Card Verse writers, they give away Free Greeting Card Verses that YOU can use, without obligation at http://freegreetingcardverses.blogspot.com/

5 Favorite Tips for Journaling for Self-Discovery

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:58:00 GMT

Your personal journal is an excellent medium for learning more about who you are and what you want out of life. These five simple tips will help you as you write your way to personal growth.

1. Ask the tough questions.

If you are journaling for self-discovery, you are hoping to get to know yourself in a deeper and more sincere way. This means you can’t be afraid to ask yourself questions that frighten or challenge you. Seek out questions that help you define your values, your goals or your true self.

2. Be honest with yourself.

When you do broach difficult or serious topics in your personal journal, it is important to let down your guard and write honestly and from the heart. Your journal is just for you, so try to set aside what you think you should do and what other people may expect of you and listen to what you feel.

3. Get playful.

Journaling for self-discovery doesn’t have to be all hard work! Infuse your journal entries with fun and play when you can, and get in touch with your silly, creative inner kid . It is cathartic to laugh and be light.

4. Add variety.

Keep your relationship with your personal journal fresh and exciting by incorporating new ideas, prompts and activities into your writing. For inspiration, check out Create Write Now’s ever-growing list of journaling ideas.

5. Journal consistently.

Writing frequently is the key to build a fulfilling journaling practice. The more often you write, the more comfortable you become with sharing your thoughts and exploring your ideas. Practice writing a little bit every day – even just a few minutes at a time will help you grow as a journaler.

What personal tips do you use while journaling for self-discovery? Share them in the comments.

Learn more about the journal writing for self-discovery world write here and now.

How to Use Therapeutic Journaling to Erase A Bad Mood

Mari L. McCarthy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:12:00 GMT

A bad mood can be tough to shake. Maybe you woke up with a headache or had an unpleasant conversation with your boss, and you haven’t quite been able to regain your positive, cheerful disposition. Maybe you are simply cranky for no real reason.

Don’t worry; your journal is here to help. Take a breather, find a quiet spot away from the madness and make time for a little therapeutic journaling. Even 10 minutes can rejuvenate you and help you transform a bad day.

Therapeutic Journaling to Snap Out of a Funk

1. Spend a few moments reflecting on how you are feeling right now. What adjectives would you use to describe your mood? Irritable, frustrated, tired, angry? Are there circumstances or events that caused your bad mood? What people are involved?

Write a paragraph in your journal that sums up your mental state. Be as raw and honest as you want – no one is going to see this but you, so let it all out! (If that means you rant and swear for half a page, that’s perfectly fine.) For example:

I am exhausted and annoyed and generally ticked off at everyone and everything. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and it seems that every little thing that has happened today has made my bad mood worse. It doesn’t help that I got into an argument with my mom on the phone last night before I went to bed and keep thinking about it today.

2. Read what you wrote, and ask yourself, “Do I have control over any of these factors? If yes, which?” Tell your journal what circumstances you can realistically have an effect on, and which are out of your control. Actively try to accept that you won’t be able to change everything you want. For example:

I can’t control the way my mom sometimes criticizes me and interferes with certain aspects of my life, but I can control how I react to her behavior. I tend to get really defensive and upset as a knee-jerk reaction.

3. Think about what you would say to a friend or partner who was having a bad day. What words of encouragement, support or humor would you share with him or her? What do you most want to hear when you are in a cranky mood? Channel your inner coach and write those words down in your journal. For example:

I’m sorry you’re having a tough time right now. That’s no fun, and you deserve much better. Don’t let the little things get to you. You can smooth things over with your mom tomorrow, and it will all be fine. Read a good book, watch a funny TV show and go to bed early. A good night’s sleep will do wonders.

4. Follow your own advice, and remember that tomorrow is another day! Also remember that everything gets renewed and refreshed with a good night’s post therapeutic journaling sleep.

What therapeutic journaling strategies do you use to turn your bad moods into glad moods? Leave us your suggestions (Please!) in the comments section.

Need more inspiration? Find Journaling tips here!

Journaling for Self-Discovery - No Age Restrictions!

Mari L. McCarthy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:05:00 GMT

Back when I was twelve, I looked forward to growing up. I assumed that grown-up status meant many privileges, and it never occurred to me to think of the costs.

Now it is many (many) decades later, and I still have not grown up. At least, I've not arrived at some hardened place where things are predictable, and affordable, and authority is assured. Instead, all things seem to be perpetually in flux, as usual.

Sometimes, even in my – how shall we call it? – late middle age, I wonder who I am.

Somewhere recently I read that in the end we will not be asked what did we accomplish, but rather did we become ourselves?

Challenges, trials, experiences shape us, but we still may turn after many years and ask, Who demands this? Who exactly creates this particular world I call "me?"

What does it mean to become myself? After an already long life, shouldn't I know exactly Who I Am?

But then, I don't, of course. I may have known better at 25, but now I know less certainly than ever exactly Who I Am. Though it must also be admitted that the uncertainty is far less alarming than it used to be.

I used to crave the answers in black and white, but lately I don't mind the answers being in many shades of the spectrum. I am this, today; and that tomorrow. As my friend says, "You do your best every day, but your best isn't the same every day!" Consider that. Isn't it true?

Your journaling brings it all together. Yesterday becomes today and leads to tomorrow.

People have told me that they remember things better if they write them down. They never have to look at the writing again; just the fact of writing it once causes them to keep the item in mind.

Your journal is where your sense of You solidifies through the writing, just as memory solidifies through writing.

The hand, and the eye, and the mind co-ordinate to produce a perspective that is otherwise unattainable. You can't follow this process and reap its benefits just by thinking or watching. Combining handwriting with observation in your journal results in a fortified sense of self, a renewed strength as you carry on into the future.

CreateWriteNow is sponsoring the Who Are You? 7 Day Self Discovery Journaling Challenge, February 20-26, 2012. Look for the sign-up instructions coming soon!

If you are 50+ and feel like you're in control of your game, please talk to me. Also, if you're 50+ and feel like you're totally NOT in control of your game, please talk to me. Comment or send an email, whatever suits.

How do you use your journal for self-discovery, despite being already mature and well experienced?

Image from - http://www.flickr.com/photos/puuikibeach/5969367418/

How Journaling Helped Me Write A Memoir

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Guest Post by Jane Rowan

I’d already been a passionate journal writer for twenty years when I first got an inkling that I might have been sexually abused as a child. It turned my world upside down. I had a wonderful therapist, but I needed an everyday friend to hear my ramblings. I’d sit at my kitchen table and scrawl, no structure, no cohesion, just the outpouring of doubt and pain.

I followed Peter Elbow’s advice of “freewriting,” letting it come uncensored, pen flying, words repeating. Over and over I told myself, “It’s just for me. No one will ever read it.” I’d been censored for fifty years, repressed memories kept under the lid, so I needed to pour out unrestrained the pain, shame, and incoherence that had belonged to the little girl of long ago.

At times the journaling would soar into poetry, either the poetry of desperation or of joy, but I had to keep the clear intention that it was just for me, to allow the purity of expression. Through the act of writing I learned a lot about self-expression.

After six years of this inner work I got the inspiration to write a memoir, the idea arising from gratitude for the process and joy at my new freedom. The new writing was clearly, startlingly, different. Having an audience in mind gave me responsibility for making a narrative thread, finding a clear voice to address the reader, and honing the craft to carry the story forward. It was hard, often frightening, work to bring the innermost feelings to the surface in this new way and articulate them for unseen others. It was delightful work to find dialogue, and difficult to pare and cut my burgeoning prose to shape the book with the help of editorial readers.

The result is my memoir The River of Forgetting: A Memoir of Healing from Sexual Abuse. I drew on my journals all through the writing process to refresh my memory and find vivid scenes and pieces of dialogue. I also incorporated pieces of my journals into the book as quotations to give a sense of the inner turmoil, but I embedded them in narrative to give the reader the security of a story with beginning, middle, and end.

Now that the book is published I can see how writing it also served a therapeutic purpose, even though that was not my aim. Through the crafting process, I had to clarify, condense, and name the main themes of self-doubt, grief, mistrust, anger, and then trust, love, and letting go. Paradoxically, delineating and describing my intense confusion for others gave me confidence in myself and belief in my story.

To me the difference between journaling and writing for others is sometimes clear and sometimes blurry. However, I have tried to read some memoirs of trauma that are formed entirely of journal entries, and they felt frightening, swirling, dense, and unreadable. I believe that when writing for others about difficult material, the writer has a responsibility to create a structure, a boat, that will hold the reader and bring her safely across the choppy seas. You could call it the ark of the story.

About the Author
Jane Rowan taught science for three decades in a private college, then retired to pursue the creative life. Her memoir, The River of Forgetting: A Memoir of Healing from Sexual Abuse (Booksmyth Press 2010) was called “brave and inspirational” by Ellen Bass, co-author of The Courage to Heal. An excerpt appeared in Women Reinvented: True Stories of Empowerment and Change. Jane has published numerous articles and the self-help booklet Caring for the Child Within—A Manual for Grownups, available through her website (www.janerowan.com).

Visit Jane at www.janerowan.com or find her on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/riverforgetting . The River of Forgetting can be purchased at www.riverofforgetting.com or at Amazon

Journaling Prompts to Celebrate National Mentoring Month Write Now

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:16:00 GMT

Happy National Mentoring Month! The month of January is dedicated to honoring and thanking mentors who have taken the time to share their knowledge, experience and understanding with others.

This is an overview from the National Mentoring Month website:

Created in 2002 by the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us—individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors to assure brighter futures for our young people.

Which individuals have acted as your mentors over the years? Who has influenced you professionally or personally? How have they changed your life in a positive way? Use one or more of these journaling prompts to pay tribute your personal mentors.

4 Journaling Prompts for National Mentoring Month

1. Think back to the people who were most influential in your early life – teachers, coaches, family members, family friends. Who had the biggest impact on your development as a child? Was it the tutor who helped you overcome challenges learning how to read? Was it the aunt who encouraged you to nurture your love of painting and drawing? Write this mentor a letter in your journal, thanking him or her for making a difference in your life.

2. Maya Angelou, who is a strong supporter of National Mentoring Month, once said:

In order to be a mentor, and an effective one, one must care. You must care. You don't have to know how many square miles are in Idaho, you don't need to know what is the chemical makeup of chemistry, or of blood or water. Know what you know and care about the person, care about what you know and care about the person you're sharing with.

What is your reaction to these words? Write a response in your journal.

3. What is your definition of a mentor? What qualities does a good mentor possess? Patience, humor, generosity? Write your own description of the ideal mentor.

4. Have you ever been a mentor to someone else? Who was it, and how did you meet? What did each of you gain from your relationship? How did mentoring make you feel? Write about your experience in your journal.

If you need some other journaling ideas for this exercise, maybe one of our 144 journaling prompts will tickle your fancy.

What are your personal mentoring experiences? Share them in the comments!

Taking Your Personal Journal Digital

Mari L. McCarthy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:03:00 GMT

Sharing your daily musings by turning them inside out
Guest Post by Kim White

I've been journaling since I was eight years old. Right from the start I was so excited about the things I wrote down that I didn't want to hide my journal or put a silly little lock on it. I wanted everyone to read it! By junior high I was passing out my completed journals to friends who would mark them up with comments and put a review at the end! I didn't realize it then, but I was on to something. I was turning my journals inside out.

When we sit quietly and pour our hearts out to our journals, we're digging into the very core of ourselves; what moves us and rattles us. After so many years of putting it all down on paper you may wonder what the point is. Aren't you just chewing old dirt, after all? For example, I've been journaling about the need to eat better and get more exercise since I was 11 years old! How funny is that? Perhaps you are chewing old dirt, but before you dismiss that as a useless waste of time I'm suggesting that old dirt may have gold in it! Chances are, whatever is stuck in your crawl - and finding itself covering the pages of your journal - is bothering other people, too. Switch the focus from yourself to others, and you just may have some thoughts worth sharing; thoughts that may bring comfort or clarity to other people who feel like you do.

When I find myself writing furiously or filling multiple pages, multiple days on a particular topic I know I've found that 'gold in the dirt'. So I switch my focus from my personal journaling and start thinking how to get those words out into the world, where they clearly yearn to be.

Such journal musings are a great fit for a blog if you write one. If you don't, guest blog*** on someone else's site that fits well with your topic. This is a great, easy way to share with others without the hassle of maintaining your own blog. Or share your thoughts in an email to a friend or family member.

You can also use something you've been pondering to post a question or a poll on Facebook. For example, while journaling about the holidays this year I realized how guilty bell ringers make me feel and I dread running into them in front of stores while I do holiday shopping. After sharing that feeling on a forum I was pleasantly surprised to find that others felt the same way. There was no reason for me to feel bad about it anymore! Or for anyone else to feel guilty.

I used to love to observe my cats and then write little essays about their behavior and personality quirks. Realizing I had filled page after page of a notebook with these stories, I turned them into My Blog at www.mausinthehouse.com.

So, if you journal a lot but wonder what good it's doing anyone, turn the story around. I'm not saying expose you're entire journal, just those nuggets of gold. Lift them out of the pages and let them meet the world. You never know who you might touch. And wouldn't that be worth it?

*** We'd love to publish your journal nuggets of gold as a Guest Blog here. Please Contact Mari and we'll make it happen!

About the Author

Kim White lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida, where she enjoys the outdoors, drawing, and reading. She is the owner of Web Design for Writers. You can enjoy Kim's other articles here: If You Read Between My Lines and Journaling Night Notes: In Praise of Evening (Not Morning) Pages

Know What Journaling's Best Kept Secret Is?

Mari L. McCarthy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:35:00 GMT

The best kept secret of modern times is a tool that can absolutely turn your life around. And that tool is good old fashioned handwritten journaling. Journal writing, in its broad definition, provides all we need to solve problems, soothe emotions, and regain control of rocky situations. How does this happen? By using journaling to ask questions.

And what's an even deeper secret than that? Despite all efforts by the world to convince you of your helplessness, you possess the answers to your questions within your own self.

But the secret of all secrets is the fact that we are simply not skilled in asking questions. This is not something that's discussed a lot; it seems academic, perhaps. But imagine for a moment the difference between being trained to have the answers and being trained to ask questions. It's a world of difference, wouldn't you say? And which mode is the favorite in most school systems today?

We're supposed to know the answers, and the ones who question are suspect; they are the troublemakers. Isn't it true? I rest my case.

Here's the amazing thing: if you ask yourself a question, clearly articulating it, and then concentrate cleanly, fiercely on discovering the answer, you will find it within the next few minutes.

If that's true, why don't we do this? Well,
1) We don’t ask questions, and
2) We can't concentrate for ten minutes without getting distracted.

Regarding 1) How often, when you are chatting with someone, does that person ask you a series of questions? It's far more likely that each party makes statements during the conversation, but questions concerning the other person are reserved for the beginning or end of the talk, and then they are mostly obligatory. "How are you?" is meant to get a response only a small portion of the time. So for the most part, dialog is a series of statements.

We relate to one another as people with answers, and avoid asking many questions. Do we so badly need to express ourselves, or are we so full of hubris that we must appear to be endlessly knowledgeable? Are we conditioned to think that making statements is more attractive / powerful than asking questions?

Regarding 2) the reality is that our minds are busy squirrels, always racing here and there. To keep an intention firmly in mind for 10 or 20 solid minutes as you go about your normal business is beyond the skill of many if not most.

If you write your question and continue writing about it, earnestly and repeatedly seeking an answer, your writing will unearth a response. The trick is to relax and let the revelations roll.

Why not try it write now? Surely there's a piece of paper and pen nearby. Now, what's a question on your mind? Write it and then keep writing.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Oh, hi again! How did the journaling go? What did you find out about the question that you asked?

By writing down your question, your concentration is improved and you're able to focus far more intently on finding answers. Even if you don't uncover the ultimate solution, the process is likely to bring you new ideas and a sense of progress towards results. As you repeat the exercise, you come increasingly closer to final resolution.

So start asking questions and see what your journal has to say. Let us know in the comments (or on the Journal Writing Therapy Facebook page) if you surprise yourself!

Image source -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3377332163/

Creative Journaling Inspiration: Make a 'Day in the Life' Collage

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:25:00 GMT

You probably see little bits of visual inspiration every day – in the natural world, in the personal style of the people around you, in the media you consume – but you may not always give yourself the time to appreciate or process these pieces.

Incorporating art and visual elements into your journal can bring a whole new dimension to your creative journaling and spark fresh ideas for your writing. Even better, you don’t have to look any further than your house, office or local coffee shop for the artistic inspiration you need to get started.

Mixed Media Creative Journaling

1. Throughout the course of one day this week, make it a point to notice different forms of media that you find appealing. Tear out the best photos, quotes or headlines from the daily newspaper. Bookmark the magazine, trade journal or website images or layouts that jump out at you. Set aside the notes, postcards, business cards or advertisements that catch your eye. Think of it as a scavenger hunt where you are making all the rules!

2. At the end of the day, compile everything that has caught your attention. Go through the computer printouts, the magazine pages, the newspaper clippings and anything else you have accumulated. These are the raw materials for your “day in the life” creative journaling activity.

3. Using your favorite art or craft supplies – scissors, markers, fabric, glue, paint, etc. – put together a collage of everything that visually inspired you today. Take up as many journal pages as you need, and don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty.

4. When you have finished your collage, admire your artwork. What do you think it says about your day or your lifestyle or your work? What is your favorite part of it? How does it make you feel? In your journal, briefly write about your impressions or experiences creating the collage. This can be anything from a short list of words to a page dedicated to your thoughts.

What inspiration did you come across during your day? Were you surprised by anything? Leave a comment or email a picture of your collage to mari@createwritenow.com and we'll feature it on our blog!

You can find some other creative journaling ideas write here.

How to Use Journaling to Save You Money

Mari L. McCarthy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:03:00 GMT

Guest Blog Post by Elise Brown

Writing in a journal can help you in many different situations. Maybe you are going through a tough time in your life or are trying to lose weight. Some people journal about the recipes they come up with, while others do it so their family will know more about them some day. It doesn’t matter why you start, but as your writing evolves, you can start to use this habit to help you in your daily life as well. I started journaling when I was very young because I wanted to put down on paper what I couldn’t say in life, but now that I have grown, I have used this daily ritual to help me with my finances. The following tips helped me out of a tough financial situation, and I hope that they can help you do the same.

1. Keep Track of Your Spending

Start your journey by keeping track of your spending for a month or two. Write down exactly how much you spend and exactly what you buy. Like the other important things you write down to remember, actually seeing where your money goes will help you realize which purchases are important and which ones could have been unnecessary. From there, you can decide which expenses to cut, where to save, and start making a plan to improve your financial decisions.

2. Create a Budget

The first thing you should do when creating a budget is decide on how much you want to save from your income each month. When you save first and budget the rest of the money left over, it will be a lot easier for you to save money for an emergency fund, a retirement fund, or even for something you’ve wanted to buy for a while.

When you have put your savings away, you can start listing all of your fixed monthly expenses. This would include your rent or mortgage payment, your cell phone bill, or any other expenses that are the same each month. Next, take a guess at how much you will have to use monthly for variable expenses, including utilities, water, and groceries. This does not, however, include those unnecessary expenses I discussed earlier. If you want to save more money, you will have to budget very tightly on some of these variable expenses and find ways to save, like using coupons or saving energy.

3. Use Your Journal

A budget doesn’t work unless you are disciplined enough to stick to it. Continue to write down what and where you spend money so that you take responsibility for your actions. You will be much more determined to save when you know you will have to look at your spending habits later.

Also, write down when all of your payments are due so that you never forget to make one. Paying all of your bills on time is very important to your financial future. It will help you maintain a good credit score or fix a poor credit score, and you will feel much happier when you can finally say you are debt free.

Elise Brown is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about Payday Loans.

This Journaling Workbook helps you back to financial fitness. Download a free chapter write here.