Little Journal Pages

Your Journal doesn't have to be big or take a long time

When I'm out and about (or short on time) I often use the little "back-up" journals I keep in my purse and in my car. An Inner Critic--the self-proclaimed journal police-- might claim that little pages don't count, but it's not true. What "counts" is up to you!

The other day I had just fifteen minutes before volunteering at my children's school, and I wanted my pages done so I could jump right into other writing later. I did three or four "little pages", and voila'! 

I usually  paste them into my "big" journal later, because I like to have all my pages in chronological order. But even when I don't, just the act of stopping to do them changes my whole day.


Where and when do you do "little pages"? Post your comments here:

Mindful Minute

Mindful Minute: Take 10 minutes to answer these 6 self-coaching prompts to ground and center yourself, so you can launch your day with mindfulness, purpose and gratitude.

Gratitude: List one thing you're grateful for

Intention: How do you want to be today? Focused? Spontaneous? Light?

 Priorities: What are the 3 most important things your want to do today?

 Progress: What progress, however small, have you already made towards your goals?

 Opportunity: Every day can be an opportunity: What's yours today?

 Request: Ask for what you need--from yourself, your family and the universe!

Let me know how your days are when you take a minute to get mindful! Post your stories as a comment below:

Go Write Past It!: The Power of Journaling

Go Write Past it! : The Power of Journaling  

"Keeping your Inner Critic under wraps

does not keep him under control,

it keeps him in control!"---Captain Creative

 

Your Inner Critic loves nothing more than to keep your fears larger than life and stuck in your head. That's because keeping you ignorant of your dreams, desires, and inner power keeps him comfortably in control of your life.

Go Write Past it! is the Kryptonite that ousts your Inner Critic and restores sovereignty to your Inner Hero--first and foremost by getting to know that amazing person--the one you've forgotten you are!

Not every day of your journaling practice will be earth-shattering or even memorable. In fact, most of them won't be. However, simply by stopping to do your pages each day, you create space for that possibility. I'm talking about the possibility of passion, joy, forgiveness, creativity, laughter and all the other fruits of a deeply loving and authentic relationship--the one you have with yourself!

It's no accident that the people who know you the best and love you the most are the ones that you see everyday. Simply put, if you want to have more than just a long-distance relationship with yourself, you've got to start showing up regularly. A daily journaling practice is one of the easiest and most effective ways to simultaneously spark your creativity, put you back into your life, and kick your Inner Critic out!

  



Collage your life's memorabilia into your journal

 Don't Repress, Express!

Like a child wanting the attention of his mother, your thoughts and emotions won't stop tugging at you until they are heard. Ignore them at your peril!

Repressed inner voices don't disappear--oh no! Instead, they throw tantrums and, if regularly shunned, turn into self-sabotaging Inner Critics!

Writing down your wants, needs and doubts--whatever is demanding your attention--simultaneously does two critical things: it acknowledges them and relives them of the burden of trying to get your attention.

So quit berating yourself for eating ice cream in front of the TV rather than painting--instead pull out your journal and write down the voices you've been ignoring. Simply validating the committee in your head is often all it takes to get them shut up long enough for you to set down the spoon, get off the couch, and get back to your easel!

 

Objectify Your Fears

Getting what's in your head down on paper objectifies it--literally pulling  it out of the ether and into an object you can look at--more, well, objectively! Writing down your fears, no matter how terrifying they feel, inevitably makes them smaller. Whatever you're afraid to feel, express or do, write it down, let it out, and you can begin to let it go--along with of the vice-grip your Inner Critic holds on your heart!

Don't limit yourself! Think (and doodle) outside the box!

  

Expanding your journaling practice beyond just writing opens up incredible avenues for fun, expression, and self discovery.

Inner Critic Alert: you'll need to give yourself permission to play! Without your snooty Inner Art Critic peering over your shoulder, you can doodle, color, finger-paint, or do whatever strikes your inner hero's fancy.

Unlock the Playroom



Give yourself a little kindergarten every day and your creativity will get stronger, braver, and more present in your life. Visual journaling gives you back what we usually only afford young children: an unconditionally loving playroom for your creativity to emerge.



Who says you have to write in a journal?



Come as You Are

There is huge value in just doing "your pages" even when you think you don't have time, don't feel inspired, and think you have nothing to say.

Resist the urge to make your journaling a big deal. Ask yourself instead "What you can I do in five or ten minutes that's meaningful to me?"

If nothing else, you can brainstorm ways to give yourself more time tomorrow. Or you can take 10 minutes to do the Mindfulness Journal exercise below. It's short, sweet, and has the power to change your whole day! 

Just Do It!

Get yourself a blank book today (or dust one off from the shelf) and fill three pages--in any way you want. Come back tomorrow and do it again. Rinse and Repeat!

For journaling inspiration check out Journal Juice on my blog

How has journaling helped you outwit your Inner Critc? share your succees stories by commenting below.