January 15th, 2007
Journaling Writing Activities
This time of year I like to do a journal exercise that is so in sync with the coming of January and the New Year. Instead of writing new years resolutions, I can journal about all that went well for me over the year, and also what I would like to improve and accomplish over the next twelve months. I do this in the format of a list, or the “top twenty five,” or whatever I decide the number should be. This technique for journal writing can be a great way to really pull information from my subconscious mind.
In order to pull out ideas and thoughts from my subconscious, I will write fast and furiously by setting a timer for fifteen to thirty minutes. The faster I write, the more clearly I develop a list of the items that I may not have given conscious thought to. Quite often I may find that I have so many blessings or so many things that I did do well; this can be inspiring to develop my plan for the next twelve months. An activity such as this can be repeated each day until it feels good to me that I have completed the thoughts around this topic. Topics for a list can range from “great habits to develop,” “fun projects to begin,” and “blessings to count.” Counting blessings is a beautiful way to experience the emotion of gratitude.
Another interesting journal writing activity that is fitting for this time of year is to write about your life as you would like it to be a year from now. Without censoring yourself, try to imagine what your life would look like when all your dreams came true, one year from today. To begin you would just date your paper with a date that is one year into the future. This can be done in a narrative format, and there are no rules. For structure, utilize a timer again, for at least thirty minutes. Remembering to touch on all aspects of your life as it could be one year from now; you can include, your relationships, your career, your dreams and desires, and describe in colorful sensory detail the way you can imagine your life one year from now.
Would you like to explore some big changes in your life, or look for solutions to some challenges? This exercise can be written in several parts, as a few different perspectives on the same situation; you would write the ways you could make your choices in each scenario. There is no limit to your ability to come up with a story. When you finish, place it somewhere safe or in your journal if you are keeping one; you may want to read it again at year’s end. You may want to write how you would like your life to be, and see how close it comes to what really shows up in your life.
Futuristically yours,
Lorraine
