JOURNALING BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 27, 2014
-------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS BLOG POST
1 UGH! THE PERILS OF DIGITAL JOURNALING: WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG WHEN YOU ARE JOURNALING
2 MORE JOURNALING HOW-TO's
2A INTENTIONAL ORDER
2B HOW SHOULD YOU START YOUR JOURNAL?: PAGE ONE OF YOUR JOURNAL
3 A JOURNAL IS...
4 LIFE IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE SEE ON THE SURFACE
-------------
1 UGH! THE PERILS OF DIGITAL JOURNALING: WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG WHEN YOU ARE JOURNALING
Written December 20, 2014, Saturday, 423 a.m.
Pardon me while I moan and complain for a moment. I just spent an hour writing this blog post. And, in the error of my typing, I somehow deleted it and with the new version of Penzu.com, I could not go back to the previous version. So, I am having to start over and I am not sure where to begin. Should I try something new? Or, should I continue with the original thoughts I had for this post?
I just cocked my head. I am not sure.
I should have written that original post in smaller chunks and copied it and pasted it into the complete version. I have been doing that all along, until now. The writing system worked--and it worked well. Why did I try something new? What's the old saying? Yes. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Whoops.
So, I start over and try again.
I lost that material for a reason. Nothing happens by accident. I refuse to allow this to annoy me any further than it already has. Things happen.
When things happen when you journal, when you spill on your paper journal, when you accidentally lose your typed material, sigh, take it in stride, tell yourself there is a reason, and try again. Don't let that prevent you from journaling. Use it to strengthen your journaling. That is what I intend to do.
------------
2 MORE JOURNALING HOW-TO's
Written December 20, 2014, Saturday, 438 p.m.
---
2A INTENTIONAL ORDER
When you read this part of this blog post, at this point in this Introduction to Journaling book of sorts, you might wonder why I didn't include it earlier. I cannot help but grin as I imagine your creased forehead, which form in a little while, once you start to read what I include in this section of the blog post. I can assure you of one thing, I pray you remember and keep in mind hereafter.
Everything I wrote is intentional. The order in which I write is intention. What I suggest and ask is purposeful. Trust me on this.
I have not included this information because it was far more important for you to get used to journaling, and get to know journaling a little, before we covered this material. So, let's get started in this section with that material.
---
2B HOW SHOULD YOU START YOUR JOURNAL?: PAGE ONE OF YOUR JOURNAL
Written December 20, 2014, Saturday, 453 p.m.
TITLE: The very first thing to write in your journal is a title. Give it a title.
What kind of title?
Of course, you can be as creative as possible. Also, you can name each journal the same title, or you can name each journal a new title.
I've learned for my preference, I choose utility. It helps me organize my journaling. So, the journal I'm writing right now is:
"#14 2014 December"
It's journal #14 in my Penzu.com online journal.
Then, it's the date. It helps me to search and review my journaling using these titles.
You can give a cleverer title than that. For example, "The Journal of Stacy Duplease" or "My Blessings" or "Quiet."
Go ahead and try to figure out what works for you and be willing to change it if you feel so inclined.
NAME: Write your name.
WHERE YOU LIVE: Write city and state.
START DATE
END DATE (Of course, you will not put the actual date until you finish with this journal.)
A QUOTE, A THEME, A FOCAL WORD, ETC.
IF LOST CONTACT INFORMATION: Do this if you keep a paper journal.
That's it.
I recommend doing all of this for each journal.
------------
3 A JOURNAL IS...
Written December 20, 2014, Saturday, 631 p.m.
A JOURNAL IS...
A safe place. A refuge.
A confidant.
A place you can be you.
A healing place.
A collection of your memories.
Where you examine yourself and your life.
A place of and for growth. (A tracker of growth.)
A guide.
A treasure chest.
Where you remember.
A legacy.
A scrapbook of your life.
Pictures of your life expressed in words.
A close friend.
A place of escape.
Where we can think.
A place for contemplation.
Where we explore our inner lives.
------------
4 LIFE IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE SEE ON THE SURFACE
Written December 21, 2014, Sunday, 1100 a.m.
---
Life is much more than what we see on the surface. It is far more than face value.
They say never judge a book by its cover. The same goes with a life.
---
LIFE IS MORE THAN FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS
But, isn't this precisely what we do with each other and with our own lives? We think the emotions we see or feel are what is truth and we think it is the only truth. We live by how we feel. And, we shouldn't.
I cannot tell you how many times I hear people say, "But, I'm not happy."
I want to tell them, "Congratulations. Who is? And, if you are basing your life off of mere happiness, then it is quite a shallow life you live." But, I dare not. They wouldn't hear me out. However, you will hear me out. (Right? Right.) After all, I've said time and time again in these blog posts that everything I say is intentional. Let me add, to hear me out. I know you will.
Journaling proves there is far more to life than what we see and what we feel.
What we see and feel is, frankly, only a very small percentage of our lives. There is so much more! As a matter of fact, what we see and feel are shallow and don't really matter much.
Hang in here with me. Let me explain. And, when I do, and you put it into practice, you will learn how life has more meaning and depth. It is so much more. Journaling will help you see this. But, now, let me explain.
HAPPINESS
Happiness is a choice. We choose to be happy, just like we actively and intentionally choose to experience any emotion we feel. Emotions are not something that just happen. We allow them and choose them. Happiness is a emotion and emotions are fleeting and do not last. They change with the wind. Emotions are short-lived.
We should never be ruled by our emotions. But, we tend to be. Journaling helps us to move beyond our emotions, for we get the emotions out on the page--and never act on our emotions. When we act on our emotions, we make ourselves, and everyone around us miserable, after all. Journaling helps us move beyond them.
Our emotions are not thinking, reasoning, living, beings with souls.
Soul means mind and heart, by the way, not emotions. Soul is from the Greek, "psuche." It means breath as well. Life is formed through breath and has mind and heart.
Psuche is where we get psyche and psychology, by the way. Psychology = "The study of the soul."
So, we are beings of soul. We are far more than emotions... the fleeting, blowing with the wind emotions.
The question we need to ask is: What is lasting? What lasts? Since emotions do not.
A reminder: Life is so much more than what we see on the surface and is more than feelings or emotions.
So... What lasts?
What is more than the surface? What is more than feelings or emotions? What is deeper and beyond the surface? What is deeper and beyond the surface is that which lasts. What is this? What lasts?
The answer as to what lasts is soul.
---
SOUL IS WHAT LASTS
The Ancient Greeks did not distinguish between the mind and heart. They were the same. The soul was heart and mind--and breath.
Today we make the distinction between heart and mind. We say this:
Heart = emotions
Mind = thoughts
We say they are two different things today. But, that is not what the Ancient Greeks said. So, I need to address what we say, think, and believe today--with the original Greek in mind.
So, what lasts, according to our thoughts and beliefs today are: The mind is what lasts.
We are what we think. Hence, our thoughts are the most influential things in our lives.
What is deeper than the surface? It's our thoughts and memories. It's our inner life (our soul).
Introspection is what we need to focus on in order to go deeper and live deeper lives.
Journaling is the best tool for introspection and living the deepest, most meaningful inner life we can. This is where we get significance. This is where we get life (from God the Creator).
Journaling helps us to move past the surface stuff and get to the heart and mind of the matter, the soul, the inner life of meaning. Journaling is our introspection. Journaling brings us deeper.
---
A JOURNALING PROMPT
Journal your thoughts.
-------------
ANTI NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS AND ONE WORD FOR 2015
Written December 26, 2014, Friday, 106 p.m.
ANTI NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
I am against New Year Resolutions. Most of the time, we do not continue them into February, never mind for the entire year. The pressure we put on ourselves can be a little much. Or, the lack of commitment we give them are not very beneficial.
So, what should we do instead?
ONE WORD FOR 2015
Focus on a theme we want to focus on for the New Year. This is also known as 1 Word or One Word.
This is what we can do and grow in leaps and bounds. But, it also helps us when we backslide. The one word is a focus, a mindset, a perspective. It isn't something to do or not do. It's a way of life.
So, choose one word for your life for 2015 and be quite choosy. Take the next few days and explore what your one word could be.
Also, it's okay to change your One Word if you are led in another direction. But, focus on only one word per month. If you feel led to one word, make sure you stick with it, no matter what, for one month. Then, change it if you so desire.
Of course, we will get far more out of our One Word if we stick with it for all 12 months, but let's cut ourselves a little grace and be willing to change if something is not working and has us stuck.
MY ONE WORD
My One Word for 2015 was going to be QUIET. However, things have changed in my life since I picked that about a month ago. There is something far more prevalent now.
FOCUS is my new one word for 2015.
I want to focus on ONE thing and not on a million things. I want to start one project and finish it. I want to focus my thoughts. I want to make journaling my focus. I want to make counting my blessings my focus. I want to make daily Bible reading my focus. Hence, FOCUS applies greatly in my life and I want to live it.
I want to publish two "JOURNALING STUFF" Resource books in 2015. This is also a focus.
I want to make RYP Journaling blog a focus.
I want to make RYP Journaling communities a focus in my life in 2015.
And, I want to focus on closing the Virginia chapter and focus on starting the Wyoming chapter in my life.
I want to focus on God, on prayer, on faith, and the Bible.
I want to focus on blessings.
I want to focus--period in 2015.
--------
FOCUS BIBLE VERSE FOR 2015
Written December 26, 2014, Friday, 152 p.m.
Fellow Christ Followers, as we pick our One Word for 2015, we should also pick a focus Bible verse for 2015. Our focus Bible verse for 2015 should be one we memorize, pray, contemplate, and try to live and apply each and every day in 2015.
JOURNALING PROMPT
Journal your thoughts.
FIND A FOCUS BIBLE VERSE FOR 2015
So, go ahead and search the Word and see what verse God presents you to live in 2015.
JOURNALING PROMPT
Find a focus Bible verse for 2015. What is it? Why?
Find a life Bible verse. What is it? Why?
Journal your thoughts about each verse.
Journal what you want to apply to your life for each verse.
Journal what you say to God about each verse.
Journal what God says to you about each verse.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
FOCUS QUOTATION TO LIVE FOR 2015
If you are not a Christian, or even are one, find a quotation that you want to focus on living for 2015.
JOURNALING PROMPT
Pick one and start to meditate in it and think on it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
FOCUS BIBLE VERSE FOR 2015: PART 2
Written December 26, 2014, Friday, 214 p.m.
CHOSEN FOR YOU
I think you will find in this next several days God will chose a focus Bible verse for you in 2015 and will have you stumble across it some time in the next five days. So, be prayerful and keep listening. Be in the Word each day and God will reveal the verse to you.
JOURNALING PROMPT: Journal your thoughts.
HOW GOD SHOWED ME MY VERSE
I am reading the Bible through in a year and am doing the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm, and Proverb reading plan. Today's reading presented this verse to me.
God showed me earlier how my One Word for 2015 is 'FOCUS.' Then, He showed me what to focus on through this verse in today's Bible in a year reading.
So, now I am going to start to meditate on the verse, pray on it, and memorize it. I am going to try to read it every hour for the next week or so, maybe longer--who knows, and even when I have it memorized, I want to look at it, write it, and focus on it, word by word and the verse as a whole. I want it to grow deep within me and make it a way of life.
PSALM 145:5 TLB S MY PERSONAL FOCUS VERSE FOR 2015
Psalm 145:5 Living Bible (TLB)
5 I will meditate about your glory, splendor, majesty, and miracles.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
JOURNALING PROMPT
What verse did God show you for 2015?
Why?
What does the verse mean to you?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
CHRISTIAN JOURNALING IN 2015: ADDITIONAL BLOG TO BOOK MATERIAL
I will include at least one section per day in the RYP Journaling blog posts to Christian Journaling (also known as Bible Journaling, Biblical Journaling, and/or Prayer Journaling). So, stay tuned.
I will also write a separate or additional "JOURNALING STUFF FOR CHRISTIANS" blog book every six months as well. So, stay tuned for this new addition.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
JOURNALING PROMPT
Do a Word List Journaling entry of "2014."
List any word that comes to mind regarding 2014 over the next 10 minutes. Set a timer. Make sure to write as fast as you can and do not pause or stop. Repeat words if necessary or write, "Blank" if you don't know what to write.
Tag. You're it. Go ahead and do this now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
