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Many people think that they cannot write a belief which often starts in childhood, where some unthinking person voices an unfounded opinion which goes onto to shape our self-image and belief. Like a tightly wrapped ball of wool, it can take years to unravel the mish mash of patterns imprinted in our subconscious.
The fantastic thing about journaling is that it is private; nobody needs to know what you write or how you write it. Leave the inner critic on the park bench sipping cold tea and eating mouldy sandwiches, it’s the best they deserve.
From me to you I believe you can write and that anything is possible.
There are many reasons for keeping a journal, you may wish to simply record the day’s events and to find an outlet for events and actions which did not make sense at the time but which through writing enabled you to gain some understanding. You may wish to use your journal as a way to record information for a book that you always wanted to write and your journal will enable you to keep an accurate timeline for events. The purpose of this blog is to invite you to start your journal writing so that you can use it as a way to raise your self-awareness and make positive changes in your life.
Where to start?
Step one is too decide how you would like to journal. There is more than one way to keep a journal.
Notebook and pen
There are lots of different kinds of notebooks on the market, some are extremely beautiful, and others you can buy from your local supermarket for a few pounds. Personally I cannot bring myself to write in something that is very beautiful; I always use notebooks I get from the supermarket.
You might even want to use a different notebook for different parts of your life. E.g. Day to day events, people, food and body etc.
Pens, I have a huge collection of pens, pencils and highlighters, and depending on my mood will depend on which I choose to use. I feel a little like Pauline with her pens (League of Gentlemen), one of her sayings that still tickles me is “Everything I know about people I learned from pens. If they don’t work, you shake them. And if they still don’t work, you chuck them away. Bin ‘em.”
Computer and some sort of software and / or blog
I use a piece of software called Journal 5, from David software . You could use Microsoft WORD, or One Note, or you could use some kind of blogging software (Blogger or WordPress). The most important thing is to choose some software that suits you.
Scrapbooking
For scrap booking I use an artist book. I collect pictures and words from magazines and newspapers which resonate for me. Then when I am in a creative frame of mind I simply start to create pictures’ about what I want in my life therefore building up a kind of pictorial action plan.
Video or voice recording. With the advent of digital cameras and digital camcorders there is lots of opportunity to be able to video anything you want to say and capture. This adds an extra dimension to your journaling.
One of the other things that I like to do is to use the Dictaphone and I do this when I’m walking the dog, or driving as this enables me to collect random thoughts and ideas which come to me from my subconscious. When I get home I’m able to listen back and type / write up what I want to keep.
The other thing you could do is use a piece of software like dragon NaturallySpeaking and talk at your computer. Dragon will interpret what you say and type of you as you speak. I love this software!
Whatever you choose make it fit with you, your lifestyle and your way of thinking and working.
Step two is to decide where do you want to write? In bed, the lounge, conservatory, your office, in your favourite comfy chair. It is important that you find a place that you feel at ease, which relaxes you, and enables you the comfort and space to begin to write.
When do you want to write? First thing in the morning? Last thing at night? In the evening after dinner?
What else needs to happen to help you to write?
Step three is to just start.
For example
Ask yourself a question.
Should I stay in this relationship?
What do I really want from this job?
What is bothering me about …….?
Or bring an event to mind and ask yourself:-
What did I see?
What did I feel?
What did I smell / taste?
What did I hear?
I have a standard set of questions in a template that pop up in my journal software as I begin a new day. It just makes it easy for me to record the day’s events. I mix this up with other stuff that I just want to pour out.
Before I start to write I sit in silence, sometimes closing my eyes and focusing on my breath. You will be amazed how once you start how it all flows and the most important thing for me is that even if it is only one sentence, that’s all it needs to be.
When you write about your day make sure it is absolutely true, write what you think, feel, hear and see. This is your truth and not a made up world. You may cringe, laugh or cry when you read it back. That’s the point; it’s how you felt at that time. As you know yourself better, you will see repeated patterns of behaviour in yourself and others and that’s when you can start to make changes.
So begin today
It doesn’t matter that you haven’t recorded the last 20, 30, 40 years, today is the perfect day to start your journal and your journey into yourself.
What is great for me is that my journal is on my computer, encrypted and password protected; nobody will ever know what I have written except me.
writing : change : journal : personal development :
writing : change : journal : personal development :
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