Journaling Hints, Tips, Exercises, Prompts, and News

Personal Journaling 06-04-2015, Thursday, 833 p.m.

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING A METHOD OF JOURNALING

The best journaling method takes several factors into consideration:

1 Permanence. Will it last past our lives? Can it be lost or damaged?

2 Security. Not hackable. Cannot be read by anyone unless you allow them to do so.

3 Versatility as far as what you journal and how you journal.

4 Cost.

5 Ease of use.

6 Can be used and synced across several devices.

7 Simplicity.

8 Searchable.

9 Easy to do a Table of Contents and/or index.

10 Easy to cut and paste.

11 Easy to review.

12 Inspirational.

13 Etc.

Goodness. There are many more factors to take into consideration than what I just listed when choosing a way or method to journal.

MY NEW JOURNALING METHOD

I'm using a word processing program and will keep my journaling in a different document each month.

Then, I will save it in a txt file, doc file, and pdf file onto my laptop, on my tablet, in the Cloud, and on my external hard drive. Hence, I can also access it from my cell as well if I want. So, it's all good.

With my new way of journaling, I will carry my journaling and all of my writing with me 24/7.

Wow. What I just wrote made my heart begin to race. What a precious thought.

What a joy it will be to have all of my journaling and writing with me at all times. How amazing. It's a relief.

I will write more about this later. 

~*~

JOURNALING THOUGHTS

Journaling helps us to put things into proper perspective. After all, it helps us to think, review, and analyze.

Journal about the following.

A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

1 What are your strengths?

2 What are your weaknesses?

3 What have you learned this week?

~*~

A LOUD WORLD VS. OUR JOURNALING WORLD

Have you noticed how loud our world is?

Have you noticed how much noise there is in our world today?

When was the last time you went twenty-four hours without watching TV or a movie, played a game, listened to music or the radio? How about forty-eight hours?

And, the busyness of our lives, the hustle and bustle, the rushing... That is noise as well. It's noise of a different kind.

Also, there is noise in our minds. It's when our thoughts don't slow, or when we obsess on something, or worry or fret.

This world is loud and noisy.

Too much so.

And, then we wonder why we aren't peaceful or content.

This is the polar opposite of our journaling world.

Granted, at first, until we can purge on the page, our journals might be an extension of the world's noise. Ugliness is loosed. It's let go. Therefore, once we get it on the page, purge it, and let it go, then we can settle in to the calm, serene, peaceful quiet of our journaling world. It is in our journals we find peace and calm and quiet. And, this is why we should all journal. We let go of the noise and stop doing. In our journals we can just be. This is where we find stillness and tranquility. Our journals are our refuge.

JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS
Journal your thoughts of that last paragraph.

Then, copy and paste that paragraph somewhere so you can read it and re-read it over and over as a reminder of one of the greatest benefits of journaling.

MY RYP JOURNALING BLOG AJD BLOG TO BOOK PLANS

I am changing the titles of the books from "Journaling Stuff" to "A RYP Journaling Guide."
The three blog posts to books will now be called:

1 A RYP Journaling Guide (An introduction to journaling and journaling prompts), Book 1 (which includes some new and old material)

2 A RYP Journaling Guide (More information and journaling prompts), Book 2 (which includes everything I have ever written about journaling through December 31, 2014)

3 A RYP Journaling Guide (More information and journaling prompts), Book 3 (which includes what I have written since about journaling)

I am in the process of writing and editing each of those books. What I write on this blog isn't edited to the point of being one hundred percent error free and I am trying to add additional material than what you read and  learn on the blog. After all, if I am going to charge money for a final published book for the three previously mentioned, you better get your money's worth--and that includes good editing and additional material.

Book 1 will be a combination of mostly new material mixed with some previously shared material.

CAMP NANOWRIMO (BOOK 1 AND EDITING AND PUBLISHING PLAN FOR BOOKS 1-3

In July, I'm going out take part in a write a book in a month challenge. It's called Camp NaNoWriMo. I will write 50,000 words of: "A RYP Journaling Guide, Book 1" which is an introduction to journaling and it has journaling prompts as well. I will share most of the material on the RYP JOURNALING BLOG, but will then add more material as I edit it.

So, I will write the book between now and the last day in July.

Then, I will edit it from August through October 2015 and will publish it in November 2015.

Book 2 I will edit from November to December 2015 and will publish it in January 2016.

Book 3 I will edit from January to March 2016 and publish it in April 2016.

So, there's the plan. Now, pardon me while I start writing Book 1.

~*~

Journaling Exercises or Prompts

What is the purpose, or are the purposes, of your life? Why are you here and why are you here now and not at another time? What do you bring that others do not?

~*~

OVERLOOKING THE OBVIOUS
There are times I overlook the obvious and I am afraid for years I have accidentally made it a habit. I cannot help but shake my head at myself and my foolishness. When I share with you what I have overlooked, you will undoubtedly chuckle. I have lived unknowingly my old childhood nickname of Spacey Stacy.

What have I overlooked? Let provide a little background first.

I have already written a book on an "Introduction to Journaling." However, in the last couple of days, I have decided a newer one is necessary. (All of the old material will be included in another book, though.) After all, I have a different way to explain journaling, and how to do it, than when I wrote the book back in early 2010. I even started to write this book. Or, that was until a thought came to me earlier.

I firmly believe everyone, without fail, should journal--and do so daily.

And it rather shocks me how few do.

If more people gave journaling a try for forty-five straight days, they would see the advantages and how life transforming it can be. Moreover, they would then have their eyes opened to the mighty and numerous blessings journaling provides. So, why don't more people journal? There is nothing in our lives that can come close to the meaning journaling can bring to our lives, for it forces us to live intentionally. Never mind how much perspective journaling offers us. And, never mind how when we journal we capture our lives on the page.

All of this is great. It sounds good. Right?

But, only people interested in journaling would even be reading this blog post, never mind blog or blog book.

Are you catching why I hit my forehead with my palm and said, "Duh!"?

It is my number one goal to coach people and teach them how to journal. That being said, shouldn't I also focus on reaching people who don't journal now?

Shouldn't I share, and address the questions of: Why journal? Why bother and what's in it for me?

If journaling was so incredible, so life-changing, shouldn't I address the people who do not know the importance of journaling?

Needless to say, I am going to address those questions. How have I missed this for so long now? What a fool I've been. How can people want to journal, never mind do it, unless they know the benefits of it and the answer to the question of: What's in it for me?

So, now that my eyes have been opened, this is the book I'm going to write first:

"Why Journal? (Why bother and what's in it for me?)"

~*~

Since I decided to get even more serious about journaling in May 2015, I have been trying to find balance in my journaling life. I have four facets of journaling that matter a great deal to me:

1 My Bible journaling (Bible reading, studying, pondering, and gratitude)

2 My personal journaling... including nature journaling

3 My professional mainstream journaling

4 My professional Bible Journaling

Therefore, I have come up with a plan to focus on each throughout the day and week. It will require my two journaling blogs:

1 RYP Journaling: http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com/

2 Journal the Word: http://journaltheword.blogspot.com/ (Bible Journaling)

So, if you are Christian, you'll want to look at both blogs. 

Balance is critical in order to get the most out of journaling. 

I cannot wait to find balance and share with you on both blogs. 

IT'S YOUR TURN: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

What matters most to you with your journaling?

How can you find balance in your journaling life? 

Balance and Journaling

Since I decided to get even more serious about journaling in May 2015, I have been trying to find balance in my journaling life. I have four facets of journaling that matter a great deal to me:

1 My Bible journaling (Bible reading, studying, pondering, and gratitude)

2 My personal journaling... including nature journaling

3 My professional mainstream journaling

4 My professional Bible Journaling

Therefore, I have come up with a plan to focus on each throughout the day and week. It will require my two journaling blogs:

1 RYP Journaling: http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com/

2 Journal the Word: http://journaltheword.blogspot.com/ (Bible Journaling)

So, if you are Christian, you'll want to look at both blogs.

Balance is critical in order to get the most out of journaling.

I cannot wait to find balance and share with you on both blogs.

IT'S YOUR TURN: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

What matters most to you with your journaling?

How can you find balance in your journaling life?

Journaling Stories, Exercises, and Prompts

Change It Up in Your Journaling

Written 06-04-2015, Thursday, 545 p.m.

Journaling is not static.

The best journaling can change throughout the day, never mind throughout the week, month, quarter, or even year. We need to go with the flow and see where, and how, our journaling leads. We need to be willing to try something new whenever our journaling leads us. The newness is found in how we journal. This is what should,and does, constantly change ad transform into something better, something deeper, something more meaningful, and these things lead to far more blessings.

This fosters the best environment for our journaling practice. Being rigid and refusing to bend or transform can hold back our journaling and even make us want to take a break from it, give it up, and stop. But, if we are willing to try something new, the rewards we reap make it worthwhile.

Never be afraid to journal in a different way or journal about different things. Experiment and have fun with it. It will bless you far more deeply than you ever might imagine.

So, go ahead. Keep things fresh. Try something new or different than what you are doing now as you journal. It will bless you. I guarantee it.

Try journaling in one word sentences only.

Or try two word sentences only.

At yet another time, try journaling in three word sentences only.

Or, what about doing different journaling prompts?

Have you tried to review your journaling and see if it inspires you in your current journaling?

Have you journaled about each of your photographs? And, what about someone else’s?
Have you journaled about your three memories you made today?

What about going through your journaling and adding to what you already have written?
There are so many things you can try.

Go through this blog or blog book (or any of the other books I write about journaling) and see what other ideas you might glean.You never know where it might lead.

~*~

A Personal Journaling Nightmare

(My Personal Journaling: The Confessions of a 32+ Year Journal Keeper)

Please do not skip this. Read this section in its entirety. There are several lessons to be learned from here.

Three days ago... Or was it four days ago? I’m not sure at this point. It’s been an emotional roller coaster, so the days have blurred together on me. Forgive me, please.

At any rate, three or four days ago, I was on a journaling high and was quite thrilled with everything I have accomplished the last month in my journaling. I have made my personal journaling my priority and have focused on it at the expense of my blogging and writing. My journaling life soared and I was great--until...

I was great until the bottom fell out.

(See. This is what I really enjoy about journaling. There are no grammar rules. I personally find cliches useful--when they are done right and aren’t overused. A cliche conveys more meaning than other words or phrases.)

So, I had a mild panic attack for a couple of days as I dealt with an issue in my favorite online journaling program (which also has an app). I pay for an upgraded version of this journaling program, let me add. I pay the upgrade because I can email journaling entries to myself. This for me is a non-negotiable.

Well... I sent myself several emails of things I journaled and figured out none of them made it through. Days--of--journaling--vanished in my online journal. I was able to gather all of it in my emaila nd copied and pasted that into a document. But, I shouldn’t have to do that. I paid for that service.

I contacted the company two days ago via email.

Nothing.

I contacted them again via email yesterday morning, bright and early.

Well, I still haven’t received a response.

Let me had how it’s rather ironic. My yearly fee is due in July. Consequently, I’ve realized I need to make a decision as to what I’m going to do. Time is of the essence.

Needless to say, yesterday I started to think things through and try to come up with a workaround. After all, I believe there is always a workaround. How could I do my journaling differently--and in a way that works for me?

My poor hamster of my mind worked so hard she did a marathon on her hamster wheel.
There are several journaling apps and online programs out there. Each of them have faults. Therefore, I did some research and figured I, frankly, didn’t know if I wanted to invest in any of them, only to have them fail me, like my online journaling program did.

So, now what?

Long pause.

Followed by much silence.

This has been painful for me.

Another pregnant pause.

It’s been far more painful than words could ever convey. After all, four years ago, our movers lost roughly ten years of my journaling (never to be returned, let me add--and I put my name, address, phone, and email in all of my journals). Therefore, this is all the more painful for me.

I determined one thing for sure yesterday. I had to save all of my journaling from my online journals into my laptop and my tablet, on the Cloud, and on my eternal hard drive. As of this morning, I determined to save them all in a txt file, a doc file, and in a pdf file--on my laptop, on my tablet, on the Cloud in two different places, and will save them on my external hard drive at a later date.

I took a few hours today and got that accomplished. (Check.)

How was I going to journal for now on? This was the question tat kept running through my mind off and on for three or four days, but particularly yesterday and today.

I know paper journaling was out. For, movers can lose them. Acts of God, and weather, can destroy them. So, paper journaling was a no.

Online journals and apps are another no for me.
So, what then?

Huh. More hamster on the wheel thinking.

Yesterday, I decided to try journaling in a new way and see what I thought of it. It was old school, but with a new twist. Today, I tried more of it--and determined it is the only way to journal. It guarantees privacy, that acts of God or man or computer can destroy. Yes. It’s the only way.

The last couple of hours, I have decided it’s how I should have been journaling all along. It’s already made a difference and has turned into something special and to cherish. It's taken me deeper already and has given me a dream for the future and I’ve set up goals in my head to fulfill the dream.

The truth is I never would have tried this if my once cherished online journaling program hadn’t started to give me problems. And, since it had, I have come up with a far better, far cheaper, easier, more private and secure, productive, and long-term of a system I will use in and for my journaling.

Something challenging and frustrating... Yes. But, it’s more so than that. It’s something bad... No. Worse than bad. It’s something terrible... something heartbreaking... This is something nightmares are made of. That’s what this online journal has brought me.

Am I overreacting? Hardly. It’s my journaling, my innermost thoughts, feelings, experiences, goals, dreams we’re talking about here.

Never mind how this also means change is required. I need to look into journaling in a different way. Will I find a way that stifles me or will I flourish? Fears bubble up, as does irrational thinking.

A journal is a sacred space.

Whenever a journal is violated, the individual is violated.

Okay. I'm going to stop there. I'm sure you're wondering if I am blowing this out of proportion?

No. Again. A journal is a sacred space. It's a set apart and sanctified place. A journal is far deeper and had far more meaningful than anything else in this world.

Period.

End of story.

It's our innermost depths.

Do you see how serious this is? I cannot possibly understate the seriousness of this. My journal and I have been disregarded, ignored, and stymied. It's forced me to utterly change the way I journal. The situation has brought a wedge, boundary, block to my journaling.
So, what now and how can this be avoided in the future?

I will address each in future blog posts this week and I will teach a great deal more about how to journal in the process.

Through this... yuck... Yes. That's the best description. Through the yuck, I faced change and transformation. I worked through my fears and I have figured out a new way to journal. This new way is now a major blessing.

Something bad and evil has turned out--not just for the good, but for the best.

I have figured out a way to journal that is far better than what I have been doing. It's going to be far more of a blessing.

I cannot wait to share with you the rest of my journey and a new way to journal.

Stay tuned this next week or so. I will share. I think this will bless your socks off, too.

~*~

CAPTURE THREE MOMENTS: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

Capture at least three moments of your day on the page each and every day.

~**~**~**~

JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS

JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS

Do a SOC (Stream of Consciousness) Journaling for at least ten minutes for each word listed below:

1 Cat

2 Coffee

3 Stars

4 Tacos

5 Dog

6 Blue

7 Years 2000-2015

8 Books

9 Music

10 Morning

11 Friday

*~*~*

Journaling Hints, Tips, Exercises, and Prompts

THE GOAL OF THE RYP JOURNALING BLOG

Written: 2015-06-02 20:01:21, Tuesday

It is goal over time to create the largest journaling resource or guide on the web and in a published book (and book series) form. It's the everything you ever needed to know about journaling resource. 

The truth of the matter is I have a great deal more information that I've written about journaling than what is on this blog. That being said, I hope to change this over time as I keep adding material to this blog. 

It's my goal to covert this blog into book material every year, along with some other mini books on different types of journaling. 

Right now I have three books I am editing:

1 Journaling Stuff: An Introduction to Journaling

2 Journaling Stuff 2014 (about 500 pages before editing)

3 Journaling Stuff 2015 (about 218 pages so far before editing)

*~*~*

THE TRUE PLEASURE OF JOURNALING

Journaling is not like any other component in our lives. It is very unique in that our journals and journaling never have to be static, dull, boring, unimaginative, etc. We never have to get stuck or blocked with our journaling. Our journals and journaling can constantly change, transform, and grow. 

After all, the true pleasure of journaling is we can do whatever we want. We can make our journal and journaling be anything we choose to make it. What can journal what we want, when we want, and how we want. 

We can explore as we journal. We can be as creative as we want, or not be creative at all. Our journaling is whatever works. This is what makes journaling so pleasurable. 

*~*~*

WHAT I ENJOY ABOUT JOURNALING

Of course, the answer to the question of what I enjoy about journaling is simple and multifaceted. There are hundreds of things I enjoy about journaling in all honesty. However, I will try to boil it down to the simplest answer. 

What I enjoy the most about journaling is how I can journal anything I want, when I want, and how I want. 

It is the most welcoming activity we can do. After all, we can journal a million different things in a million different ways. This is what makes journaling so enjoyable and pleasurable.

Journaling is whatever we choose. 

Journaling is also whatever we decide to make of it. 

*~*~*

JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS

Answer any or all of the following. Be thorough in your response. 
1 Who are you?

2 What makes you tick?

3 Who would your best friend say you are?

4 Who would your family day you are?

5 Who were you in the past?

6 Who do you want to be?

7 What makes you--you? 

~**~**~**~

What are you afraid of losing?: A journaling exercise or prompt

If you could foresee these tragedies somehow... And if you were to be hit in the head and were to suffer from amnesia, or if you suffered from dementia or Alzheimer's... What are the things you would want in your journal so that they were not lost forever?

These might seem off the wall. But, thousands experience these things each day.

My Personal Journaling Story 05-29-2015

2015-05-29 09:10:40 and 2015-05-29 09:24:29

Greetings.

I hope you and your journaling are well. (I would love to hear from you about both.)

This blog post will share the direction I am moving personally and with this blog. My main objective with this blog is to help us (you and me) capture our lives on the page. It's a how-to journal blog, as well as it is my goal to provide inspiration with our journaling, through prompts or exercises, hints and tips, and stories.

I have been trying to find a place to hang my journaling hat (a focus) for a main focus for personal SOC Journaling and my journaling in general. But, I just haven't found it until now.

Nature and Observation Journaling are a must and I will do some of that. Undoubtedly.

It's me and is who I am.

But, there is another part of who I am.

So, who am I?

I need to provide some background in order for me to answer that question. This will also help explain where I will focus this blog for a while.

My husband ('B') and I moved to Virginia four years ago. About seven months or so after that, my Granny called me and shared how her niece was doing some genealogy on the family. She shared some information we had no idea about. We thought her family came to the U.S. five generations ago or so.

Wrong.

She said D (her niece) had traced our family back to 1670 or so to a Bryan Penny.

The 1670 part caught my attention.

"Do you know where Elizabeth City, Virginia is? That's where he lived."

As we talked, I did a quick search on the internet and found it was present day Hampton, Virginia, which we lived nearby. I told her that.

I wondered, then, if the family could be traced to Yorktown or Jamestown. I told her in would do some searching myself and let her know.

Little did we know where it would lead.

I have an uncanny ability to find information others cannot. Somehow I stumble upon the answers accidentally. This includes my family tree.

With my family tree, there have been gaps people have not been able to find the answers to and fill. In fact, several hired professional genealogists to find the answers. I learned within a couple of days about some of the gaps and learned how several professional genealogists looked for answers, but found none.

Well, I found them within a week. I got the answers, which opened our tree wide open.

My family has been in the United States of America since 1607. I had three go to Jamestown in 1607 and by 1635, I had over thirty or so at or near Jamestown in Virginia, and a few miles from where I lived.

Then, my tree opened up even more. About eight months ago or so, I found out I was a direct descendant of Joseph of Arimathea! And I learned earlier how I am also a direct descendant of Nero and Charlemagne Carolus Magnus Carolingian, 1st Emperor of Holy Roman Empire.

Oh, dear. I just did a search on my family tree and discovered more direct and distant emperors. I had no idea. They are:

-- Emperor Augustus
-- Emperor Claudius Caesar Rome
-- Emperor Heinrich V Dethe Salian Germany
-- Claudius I Tiberius Roman Emperor (is this the same as previous mentioned???)
-- HRE. Hugo "L'Abbé" Emperor Of The Holy Roman Empire
-- Louis "Le Pieux The Pious Le Debonnaire The Fair" Carolingian I Emperor HRE
-- Pierre Capet I Emperor Constaninople (a direct ancestor)
-- Pontiff Tiberius Claudius Nero Emperor Rome

Huh. Who knew?

I hadn't put it together until now.

I have been a research-oriented crazy woman trying to fill in all the branches and leaves, and finding so many, I thought I would come to an end one day and would then be able to research more fully each individual.

But, with over 17,000 individuals so far, three plus years later, I see how many gaps I still need to fill in. I am trying to focus first on my direct ancestors. However, that number is massive and grows by the day.

About a month ago, I was able to, by accident again, trace from one of my direct branches to Abraham of the Bible, then to Adam.

I needed a few weeks for that information to roll around in my brain and am still bewildered.
I also traced another part to King David.

So, letting that simmer... and with doing my own personal journaling..m and with reading my favorite book on journaling, "Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal" by Alexandra Johnson (see this link: http://smile.amazon.com/Leaving-Trace-Keeping-Alexandra-Johnson-ebook/dp/B002OFVNIC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1432916448&sr=1-1&keywords=on+leaving+a+trace+johnson), I read about journaling a family chronicle.

I also read in the book about how there are some family members we wished kept a journal, but didn't. And later, why not write one for them, whether a journaling entry or a journal.

The lightbulb went off two days ago and I decided that was what I would do for my family.

I have several famous, notorious, and fascinating family members, and the everyday variety I cannot wait to explore and learn more about myself, my family, history, and the world. Kings, Emperors, biblical people, and those who are what some would call ordinary fill the leaves and branches of my family tree. I cannot wait to learn about all of my direct leaves and branches first.

Today, I just realized that the journaling I want to do is for the world, about nature, and history, and is not about me at all, other than what I can learn about them and enjoy from learning about them. Not me. Them.

I want to write the journals of all of them. I will write it first as nonfiction, then as historical or contemporary fiction.

And I will journal about what unlearn and how I am.changed from them.

The truth is from this family tree, we can gain an unique perspective of the history of the world,for my family comes from all over.

I am starting with one individual, which I will tell you more about in a moment.

I am starting a journaling series:

"From Adam to Me Family Tree" Journaling Series

I have a family tree of over 17,526 people and I still have a lot of missing branches and leaves. Once I am in our house, and we are settled from our move, and I play a week or two of catch-up... Then, I will spend a month working all day and night (but with 8 hours sleep) to fill in more, and to get more information on the people I have. But, until then, I have what I have.

So, yep. Gulp.

I would not have so many if it wasn't for the fact I have some well documented people in my family tree. So, that sure helps.

I look forward to this journey.

I hope to inspire you with your journaling as well. I will still include journaling how-to pieces and prompts and exercises.

My first relative I will study and journal for is:

ANCESTOR #14 THOMAS CORNELL.

I am generation #1. He is the 14th. Adam is the 154th.

It is with this branch and leaves I begin.

A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

Who do you wish kept a journal, but didn't?

List all of them.

Then, pick one. Who would you want to write a journal for?

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
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