I didn't know journaling could do that!
When I started journaling as an angsty teenager, I knew right away that it made me feel better when I was upset.
And I found out pretty quickly that it was a good way to preserve the memories I wanted to keep.
And it was a good way to think about my life.
But teenage me had NO idea how much journaling would do for her, how many times it would change the trajectory of her life.
That journaling would help her survive and thrive through a divorce she didn’t see coming, help her build beautiful relationships with her children, and truly love herself.
After journaling for the bulk of my life, I can say this:
Journaling is the simplest, most effective and versatile tool in our personal and professional development toolbox.
In any given week, I use my journal to:
Set intentions for what I want to accomplish and how I want to show up
Determine how to take better care of myself
Identify which relationships I want to improve and what steps I’ll take to do it
Celebrate myself for who I am and what I do
Express gratitude for all the good in my life
Record stories and memories I want to keep
Keep track of work I’m accomplishing and how I feel about how it’s going
Track what I eat, how I move, how much I sleep, and any relevant health data
Note the weather and phases of the moon
Get all my loose thoughts out of my head so I can have space to think and be
Work through problems and challenges
Brainstorm ideas
Synthesize what I’m learning and figure out how to integrate it into my life
And so much more!
It’s wild to see how many different uses I can find for journaling, and how many ways it helps me.
I’ve been journaling since I was an angsty teenager, and I STILL keep finding new ways to journal, and to see new benefits from it in my life.
I’m convinced journaling can help me in every area of my life.
When I journal, I am more focused and productive at work.
When I journal, I am more connected to the Universe.
When I journal, I am better able to find balance.
When I journal, I know and like myself better.
When I journal, I have stronger relationships.
When I journal, I am more creative.
When I journal, I am healthier.
When I journal, I am happier.
It’s that simple.
Every day I get a new chance to write my way to the life I want to lead.
Every day I get a new chance to write my way into becoming the person I want to be.
Every day I’m grateful for the opportunity to find magic in writing.
Which area of your life do you want to improve through journaling?
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 is your life going?
What’s working well for you?
What areas of your life feel really solid?
What areas of your life need some attention?
How can you give more energy to the parts of your life that need it?
One Fun Journaling Idea
A Sketch a Day
Like to sketch or draw? Bring it into your journaling!
Create for yourself a sketch a day journal where each day you draw one small picture to sum up what you want to remember about your day. (You can do this in a notebook or if you’re daring, you can try doing this on a single sheet of paper!) At the end of the year, not only will you have 365 pictures, but a work of art!
More Good Stuff
If you’re needing to give yourself a little love, I invite you to join me on Wednesday, September 13 at 8:30 pm Eastern for a journaling mini-retreat. We’ll spend an hour journaling, connecting, and sharing. REGISTER HERE.
I’m getting *SO* close to having my new journaling membership program ready to launch. You’ll soon be getting emails about it. I’m migrating to a different email provider, so please cross your fingers that my emails will get delivered to your inbox, not to your spam folders!
Happy Journaling!