The Wise Well Woman's Way

The 7 Secrets for Journaling Success

More and more, I find women coming to me for journaling and writing guidance. I’ve found keeping a journal to be the most powerful self-care tool I use for both my personal and professional development.

For me, journaling serves three key purposes: 

  • to stay connected to my Inner Wisdom
  • to capture my ideas for sharing my vision and my gifts with the world
  • to fine tune my communication of that vision, to grow my business to serve the highest good as a creative solopreneur.

Most importantly, I have found my voice.

My creative self is my true self.

On a personal level, journaling helps me to answer tough questions for myself, to clarify my core values, to relieve stress and release negativity. For business, I generate content for my blog, my newsletter, my sales messaging, all in my journal. I explore dialogue with potential clients and strategic partners, and respond to things I see and read and practice engaging in communication with others.

Last year, I began teaching “Creative Expressions” at Lifestyles College for Development, and in the interest of bringing new content to my class each week, I have kept my eyes open for new tools, resources, and concepts to share, and I have been delighted by what I’ve found.

I’m continually inspired.

I find, even as I practice day after day, that I need guidance, too, and occasionally, I get “stuck”, not knowing what to write. Somedays the words just flow to the page, and some days they don’t.

That’s where journal prompts and guided visualizations and topic lists come in to help.

Many women come to me saying “Where do I start?”.  This happens when you’ve come to  know you’ll receive the benefit of a higher level of peace and calm in your every day life, but you’re not sure how to get going.

So here’s one of the classic lists of “What Will I Write About?”, taken from The Longman Writer’s Journal by Mimi Markus (c)2001.

J – Journeys
Vacations, cruises, places you’d like to visit, biking, hiking
O – Opportunities
Questions: What if …?  Life events: birth, death, buying a car, going to college, Business growth
U – Universe
Spirit, Heaven, Stars, Astrology, UFO’s
R – Relationships
People: Friends, Family, co-workers, Concepts: dating, commitment, honesty
N – News
What headlines caught your eye today? What topics are you passionate about? Rockstars, Politics, Weather, Media, Human Rights, Animals
A – Activities
Dining, Cooking, Art and Crafts, Relaxing, Writing, Sports
L – Lessons
Difficult decisions, I know better now…, I’ll never forget…, I’m scared when…

Did you notice, the topics spell out the word JOURNAL?

And, armed with topics, now you’re asking, how do I actually start?
With paper and pencil/pen in hand, (or computer/iPad if you’re so inclined) consider these writing strategies:

Ask yourself a question – Picking a topic above, ask yourself a question or browse your environment for a “clue”. What news headlines caught your eye this morning? Which is your most cherished relationship?
What is your most prized possession? Where would you go on a journey?

Make a list – Life lessons, favorite things, music you love are all great topics.

Have a dialogue – Consider a conversation with your self as an older, wiser woman.

Create an Idea Map – Close your eyes and “see” the vision – Doodle it and write that description as you see it.

Cluster Your Thoughts – Consider the first concept that comes to mind and writes that in the center of your page. Now add other ideas around it, one word at a time. Then expand on that idea, using more detailed words. This becomes your outline.

Pretend You’re Being Interviewed –  If a journalist came to your office, what questions would he/she ask?
Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?

Consider All Your Senses –  Browse your environment. What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you see?

And if all else fails, Just Write! – Whatever comes to mind, write it down.
Set a timer, put the pencil/pen on the page, and keep it moving until the time is up. Don’t overthink it. No rules, just write.

Ready to start?

Ok, so I know you’re still stuck on “but I don’t have time!”
“Doesn’t this take hours?”, you ask.
And the answer is “No”!

Journaling is a personal practice. For me, some days I write for as little as 10 minutes, and yes, sometimes I write for an hour or more. If 10 minutes is all you can spare right now, then begin there.

And don’t worry, if you can’t find your way to journaling every day. Your goal is a regular practice, whatever that looks like for you.
Ideally, I recommend at least three times per week if you find you are gaining comfort and confidence with the process.

It is my hope that you will find increased clarity, calm and conscious awareness in the pages of your journal.

Your journey of self-development will be supported through this exploration.
And the evolution and transformation experienced through your journal is how I define success.

So, what topic will you write about today? Share your favorites with me. Are some easier for you than others? I’d love to know, so I can pass that along, too.

So, go ahead and get started.

And remember, NO RULES! Just WRITE!

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5 thoughts on “The 7 Secrets for Journaling Success”

  1. Joanne,
    Journaling can be so powerful.  As we write, something about connecting our hand and fingers with the paper allows our mind to free associate, flow from one topic to another, and eventually get beneath our surface thoughts.  If I have an issue or a problem and I take the time to write freely about it, I can often find the answer I was looking for because it was stirred up from my unconsious.  I love the suggestions you make here for topics to write about and then more suggestions on how to begin writing.  Really helpful article.
     
    Warmly,
    Dr. Erica
     

    1. Yes, Dr. Erica, I agree… when asked, I always suggest that women start journaling using a pen/pencil and paper, writing “free-hand”, rather than typing, because the connection is one of heart to hand. That is a connection I have not been able to replicate by typing on a computer keyboard. Thank you for sharing your experience with the free association that comes from writing.
      Wishing you well–
      Nanette

  2. Indeed journaling is the best way to know your inner self. For me I'm using devotional verses as basis for my journal. And indeed it helps me a lot not only in spirtual aspects but even in business and in life too.

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