I started journaling again, and it’s really making a difference. I’ve been on-again, off-again with it over the years. When I journal regularly, it helps me get clear on what I want and the next steps to take. That’s why I made you some downloadable journaling prompts for self-discovery.
Journaling gives me time to be alone with my thoughts with no distractions, and really think about where I want to go and what I want out of life. Then I can go after my dreams one day at a time. It also helps me make sense of things that have already happened.
Journaling to me is like the adult version of a diary. When I was 12 years old my entries might be like, “Dear Diary, I really think Mike is cute. I hope he likes me too.” Tee hee.
Now it’s more like, “I am a competent person. I can do these difficult things for my business. If I can’t figure it out, I will learn, and then I will be the person who can do these things. I’ve got this!”
I’m retaking a course — a coaching course I had taken years ago, and have lifetime access to — and part of the program is to promise yourself you will fill out the journal pages.
You start the day by making promises to yourself. When you write them out by hand, something magical happens. It’s like you are signing a contract with yourself.
I like to fill out my morning pages the night before, so I wake up with a plan. Last night I wrote down that I would do a stretching routine and an aerobic workout. I also wrote down some business tasks I wanted to accomplish.
This morning before I did anything I went through my stretching routine. And then I was going to stop and make coffee. But I told myself that I wrote down an aerobic routine too. So I kept that promise to myself.
Now, I feel great, and have already accomplished half of my goals for the day.
I used to keep a journal on my computer, but there is nothing like writing it out by hand. It makes it sink in deeper.
Have you ever tried journaling? To make it easy for you to get started, I’ve created four journaling prompt pages that you can download and print for free. Or you can copy the prompts into your own journal.
I think journaling is a great way to get to know yourself better. It can help you connect with yourself in deeper ways.
The pages I created are fairly lighthearted and fun on the surface. But you can dig deep and make discoveries about your wants, needs, and values. You can use them to make sense of your past and to plan your future.
The best part about journaling for self-discovery is that the act is just for you. Don’t hold back. No one will see your responses. They are private. If you can, write your responses by hand. There is something about the connection of putting pen to paper that makes all the difference.
Click on the links below to download each journal page. I hope you like them.
I won’t be able to join the conversation today on Facebook. Because I won’t give them more information about myself they have suspended my account and will terminate it if I don’t comply within 30 days. No thank you Mark. I will continue to enjoy your blog and articles from afar.
I perfectly understand, Wendy. You’re not the only person who had told me this. I’m going to reschedule the live call for another time on a different platform, probably Zoom. I’ll let you know the specifics in the next newsletter. Thanks for letting me know and for your enthusiasm for my program.