Chile… I’m going to be honest – I’m not a journaler. Yet, here I am. Journaling.
I’ve always been heavily guided by my instincts. So when my journal “called out to me,” I answered. At first, I was like “girl I don’t do this” but I just started writing and quickly realized it was helping. I needed a perspective shift to get into alignment with my goals. For the last several weeks, I have been journaling in three categories:
- Gratitude: I HAVE journaled in the times of my life that called for the practice. I documented some great times when I was striking out on my own for the first time. Gratitude journaling helped me break out of some of the darkest depression of my life. I just wrote down 5 things I was grateful for every day – even if it was just a piece of cake. It really helped break the haze.
This time around, I just write 3 things I’m grateful for. I’m finding that the things are a lot deeper than before, such as things I’m learning, my relationships, and hell – a job. All of those things have gotten me through this pandemic. - Affirmations: Here’s the thing – I believe in the power of affirmations but have never really committed to the practice. I’ve been working on correcting negative self talk. So instead of focusing my fears or stressors, I turn it into an affirmation. For instance, at times I’ve been concerned about “running out of time” so I wrote something about having an infinite well of creativity.
- Concerns: I’ve been careful not to phrase these in a negative light. I just title the entry “3 things” and list conversations I need to have or areas for improvement. As much as possible, I keep the items solutions based. I allow myself to vent at times, but focusing on the “3 things” helps to avoid wallowing and focusing on solutions – even if it is just “discuss with my therapist.”
That’s it… pretty simple. Do you journal? Leave a comment below with some tips for my practice.
P.S. If you want to start journaling but don’t know where to start, check out the 52 List Project. I have all 3 books and its a great way to start.