Do future you a favor
Growth is hard to notice.
At least when it comes a bit at a time.
Think of a baby -
How small and tiny they are.
And even though you know they're growing every day,
It's not until you come home from a solo trip to the grocery store
That you realize how much the baby seemed to have grown in your absence.
Or of a garden -
You see the seedlings pop up from the earth in the spring
And sometimes you can tell they've gotten bigger.
But before you know it, you go out into the backyard
And are astonished at how many blooms there are,
As if they appeared by magic!
Or us -
We set goals, and we work on them,
But it's hard sometimes to see the progress we're making.
This is why journaling is so important!
Journaling helps us take stock of where we are at the moment.
To both look back at where we've been and notice how far we've come
In ways we can't do when we have both eyes trained on the goal itself.
Journaling helps us recognize our progress.
To celebrate how much we've grown and accomplished.
Journaling helps us measure our growth.
It helps give us the distance we need to recognize what we've achieved.
There are all kinds of ways we can do this.
Here’s one of my favorites:
The Weekly Accountability Session
Each week sit down with your journal and check in with yourself about each goal you set for yourself this year. Take the time to note every bit of progress, no matter how small. Reflect on what helped you be successful that week.
If you didn’t make any forward motion, check in with yourself about why. Reflect on what was happening that kept you from making progress. Create a plan to move forward this next week.
Not only will you be able to identify patterns -
What helps you be successful?
What hinders you?
But you’ll have a plan to move forward.
And you’ll keep a record you go
Of all your baby steps,
A running list of actions you’ve taken
So you always know what you’ve done in pursuit of your goals.
(Super handy when it comes time for an end of year reflection
And January feels like a hundred years ago!)
Do future you a favor -
Put it in your journal!
How could this practice be helpful to you?
Journal Prompts
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!
How has journaling helped you grow?
If you have access to old journals, revisit some of them to see how much you’ve grown. What do you notice about yourself? Where have you grown? How have you grown?
How could a weekly goal reflection practice help you?
What goals will you track?
Journaling Fun and Support
My weekly livestream is back! Join me on Tuesdays at 8pm Eastern as I welcome a series of guests who do interesting, fun things that tie into journaling! This week, I welcome my friend Lauren Lefkowitz for some fun Laughter Yoga! Tune in to laugh with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook (if you’re my mom!). No yoga mat required! Missed last week’s session on EFT Tapping? Catch it HERE.
Been thinking about joining my Journaling Membership Program? Now’s the perfect time to join in! In February we’re focusing on relationships and connection. Using a blend of self-reflection and group journaling sessions, we’ll come to know ourselves and improve our relationships - with ourselves and others - a little more every day! Get the details HERE.
Have questions about journaling? Need some support, encouragement, or accountability? Email me!
Happy Journaling!
