Another Gratitude List

This entry was written on Feb 27, 2009 by our Journal Guru Lael Johnson

I've had a long week this week. I've been looking over paperwork which required making for both the short and long-term, so I'm a bit tired today. I want to keep my gratitude list very simple, so here goes:

Today I am grateful for:



Sunshine

Daily provision

Peace and quiet

Closure

Friends

Progress

Change

End of the week

What's on your list today?

Journaling about success

Many people in this world equate success with money. The more you have the more successful you are. Spend some time reflecting upon this idea in your journal. Do you agree with this statement? If so, write down the reasons why. If not, how would you define success?

Sharing Emotions

This entry was written on Feb 20, 2009 by our Journal Guru Lael Johnson

Sometimes when I'm going through a difficult situation, I, of course, feel a variety of emotions, as well as intellectually going through the facts of the situation.

I find that doodling or doing something called an anger scribble helps me. I don't always want to talk about what I'm feeling, but I do want to express it. One of the ways that I can do that is by scribbling out those feelings. I call it an anger scribble, because that is the first emotion I usually am aware of, after that comes fear or sadness and later on excitement, when it is a good situation.

So, I'm going to suggest to you, that when you are going through a difficult situation, try drawing in your journal. You may want to just doodle or scribble or you may want to draw a full image about the situation. I have yet to draw images but usually do scribble quite a bit.

Some day I will try drawing some images too.

Journaling to set personal goals

The world is filled with possibilities for each of us. We can choose where to live, what job to take, what hobby to partake in and much more. However, sometimes we start a project and lose interest quickly because we find another project that excites us. In the end, we find we have no time to set goals and even if we do, they are not accomplished. Pick up the pen and begin to write down everything that interests you. Then take a look at all of the things you want to do. Pick two items and make them your goals. In your personal journal, write down the steps you will take to accomplish those goals and then sign the bottom. Imagine that this is your own written contract and commit to work on those two things until they are complete.

More Quotes

This entry was written on Jan 16, 2009 by our Journal Guru Lael Johnson

I'm going to list some quotations that I think might be of interest to you. I hope that they will prompt you to think as well as to write in your journal. I won't be commenting on any of them, I'm just going to list them for you to use as you see fit.

Success is dependent on effort. - Sophocles

It is only liquid currents of thought that move men and the world. - Wendell Phillips

Read the best books first, or you may not have time to read them at all. - Thoreau

Desire and determination must overcome disappointment. - Walter Alston

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. - Frances Bacon

Journaling for answers

It has been said that when we are confused about a situation we shouldn't be, because all of the answers lie within ourselves. Do you believe this to be true? Have you ever been truly puzzled about something in your life? Once it was resolved did you feel that you knew the answers all along? Or did the answers lie elsewhere? Write in your personal journal. If you are in the middle of a difficult time right now, try to work through it in your journal. If not, spend some time reflecting to see how you discovered the answers.

Progress

This entry was written on Jan 09, 2009 by our Journal Guru Lael Johnson

How's the first full week of the new year gone for you?

Mine's been a bit busy...



Some writing, some blogging, lots of decisions to make, some waiting on information from other people and some wondering and planning for the future.

Also lots of paperwork, because of my businesses and taxes coming up in April.



Some sunny days, other gray days or something inbetween.

All in all, it's been a week full of learning, growing and some laughter which makes the more difficult days a bit easier.

Write a journal entry about your first full week and reflect back on how your week has been.

Journaling about the journey

Too often, as we work toward a goal we have set for ourselves, we wind up either fixating upon the obstacles along the road or we focus too hard on the goal itself. When we do this, we miss magic and beauty of the journey. Do you agree or disagree? Do you have a goal in your life? Are you missing all of the wonderful things you have the ability to gain along way including meeting new people and learning new things about yourself and others? Or do you feel that it will be good to accomplish the goal but it is the journey that has brought the most rewards?

The Power of Lists

This entry was written on Nov 24, 2008 by our Journal Guru Lael Johnson

Writing lists in my journal can be very powerful. It's very powerful to have a place where I can put all of the information I need to remember on a topic. It's very powerful to write gratitude lists and other prayers to God. It's very powerful powerful to read what I have written. In general, it's very powerful to express myself in my journal. I give myself time, space and emotional room when I am able to write a list in my journal. Sometimes a list is just a list, like my to-do lists, grocery lists or other shopping lists. But, sometimes, writing a simple list can really help me become clear about solving a problem. So, what are you going to write a list about today?

Self-reflective journaling

Have you ever been in an argument with someone and heard them say, “Stop thinking for me!” If you think someone is angry or upset with you, do you ask them or do you just presume that they are? Do you find that you often let things build inside your head instead of talking to the person? Do you base your reactions to people on assumptions or fact? Spend some time writing in your personal journal about how you relate to people. Think about how you approach situations and whether or not you are upfront and honest about your feelings and concerns.

Favorite Quotations

This entry was written on Nov 10, 2008 by our Journal Guru Lael Johnson

I like quotations. I have several books of them on my bookshelf. I like them because they stimulate my thinking, in a variety of ways. I've used quotes to help me write newsletters, write journal prompts and write journal entries. I've also used them to inspire me, in terms of increasing my creativity or inspiring other positive work in my life.

I choose a quote and write it in my journal. I reflect on it for a few moments, and then write my thoughts about the quote in my journal entry. I let myself write as long as I want to, and then reread what I've written. I let the truth of the quote settle in my mind and often I will think about it later, on the subsconscious level.

As a writer, a person who uses words, I really appreciate good quotes. So, this is a wonderful exercise for me to use.

I will end this tip with a quotation for you to use:

"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand...and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."



Marie Beynon Ray

Journaling about procrastination

The project that you found out about weeks ago is due tomorrow and you have done little to no work on it. Does this sound like a familiar situation? Do you continually leave things till the last possible moment? Does this frustrate you? Is this a behavior that you would like to change? Or do you find that this is the best way for you to work? Try writing in your personal journal about procrastination. If this is pattern you would like to break, write about the steps you might take to change it. If, on the other hand, this is a good way for you to work, spend time writing about why it works for you.

Journaling about love

"He who loves the more is the inferior and so must suffer..." -Thomas Mann from his book, Death in Venice. Spend time thinking about this statement. Do you believe this is true? How do you feel about it? Does it apply to any portion of your life?

Journaling about fear

Every person suffers from one type of fear or another in their lifetime. In order to feel truly alive, we need to face down our fears. Once we do this, we step out of our inner prisons, sprout wings and fly. Do you think this statement is true? Spend some time journaling on the idea of fear. What is your biggest fear? Do you think its holding you back from accomplishing all you could in your life? Do you feel you are ready to begin to overcome it? How will you begin?

Positive Journaling

Those who keep a positive attitude will be able to achieve anything. If they reach for the stars, they will touch them. If they want the moon, it belongs to them. Do you believe that maintaining a positive attitude is the key to success? Or do you think that hard work and determination are the only keys? Think about times when you were feeling positive about something as opposed to negative – what happened? Spend some time writing about this in your personal journal. If you find areas in your life where your thoughts take a negative turn, stay with that and try to explore the reasons why. If you want to challenge yourself, think of ways in which you can change your negative thinking into something more positive.