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.
Showing posts with label journaling hints and tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journaling hints and tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
An Open Window Journaling Exercise or Prompt
When was the last time you sat or stood in front of an open window in your house for a minimum of ten minutes and took it all in and observed?
Did you then journal about what you observed?
Why don't you try this with every window in your house? And, when you journal about your observations, make sure to include all of your senses.
These observations may lead you to a spark to journal about now, or later. I guarantee the latter part. What we observe is a springboard to other journaling ideas. Just keep observing and reviewing all of your journaling and you never know what Journaling Gems you might find to mine.
Did you then journal about what you observed?
Why don't you try this with every window in your house? And, when you journal about your observations, make sure to include all of your senses.
These observations may lead you to a spark to journal about now, or later. I guarantee the latter part. What we observe is a springboard to other journaling ideas. Just keep observing and reviewing all of your journaling and you never know what Journaling Gems you might find to mine.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Cold Coffee, Warm Cat: A Journaling Prompt or Exercise
Sinan, my cat, is snuggling with me on the sofa and I have a warm right hip, but cold coffee. Chuckling as I take this in and enjoy all of it, even the cold coffee. This moment is worthwhile. I do not want to skip it or miss it because of wanting a warm-up.
But, isn't this also indicative of life? We could be living in the middle of a blessing, but may miss it because we focus on the cold coffee--or because of busyness. We focus on the cloud and miss the rainbow, never mind the sunshine in the distance. Never mind that silver lining.
How many blessings do we miss because we fail to stop and appreciate every facet of the moment, not just the perceived good stuff?
I can live with a little cold coffee. I don't want to miss the warmth, beauty,and tenderness of this moment since it also comes with the cold coffee.
Journal your thoughts.
How does this speak to you?
Count your blessings.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
This is Your Best Moment: A Journaling Exercise or Prompt
Journal about this as though it was your voice speaking, "my" and "I."
This moment counts and is my best moment. After all, it is the only one I can control. So, what can I do to live it fully and purposefully? What blessings will I find in this moment?
(Note: And, remember how every moment is sacred.)
(Note: And, remember how every moment is sacred.)
Saturday, May 23, 2015
A New Personal Journaling Focus (SOC Journaling) and a Journaling Exercise or Prompt
Please forgive me for being so silent on this blog. We are in the middle of helping my dad with a kitchen renovation project, which has meant some long days. However, when I am able, I've been focusing on a new personal journaling focus. I am doing at least a 30 day focus on SOC Journaling.
SOC is short for, Stream of Consciousness Journaling, why change is writing anything that comes to mind, when it comes to mind, without filtering it.
There is a reason why things pop into our minds and there is a reason as to when. If you get it all capture on the page, and keep reviewing the material, and keep doing SOCs from that material, you will answer those questions and start to see patterns.
With this new SOC Journaling focus, it means I did 152 pages of journaling in seven days (before the kitchen reno). It's 152 pages and over the last two days, I did 10 pages. I will be able to keep reviewing this material doing another SOC from what I wrote. I cannot wait to see what develops.
Already, there have been some very special Journaling Gems that I cannot wait to write more about in time.
A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
So now, why don't you join me for the next thirty days and do much the same?
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
SOC is short for, Stream of Consciousness Journaling, why change is writing anything that comes to mind, when it comes to mind, without filtering it.
There is a reason why things pop into our minds and there is a reason as to when. If you get it all capture on the page, and keep reviewing the material, and keep doing SOCs from that material, you will answer those questions and start to see patterns.
With this new SOC Journaling focus, it means I did 152 pages of journaling in seven days (before the kitchen reno). It's 152 pages and over the last two days, I did 10 pages. I will be able to keep reviewing this material doing another SOC from what I wrote. I cannot wait to see what develops.
Already, there have been some very special Journaling Gems that I cannot wait to write more about in time.
A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
So now, why don't you join me for the next thirty days and do much the same?
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
A Journaling Prompt or Exercise 05-19-2015
1 Sit in front of a window. Journal what you observe, using as many senses as possible, for at least ten minutes.
2 Then, when finished, journal any extra thoughts or observations as you read it through.
3 For the next week, every single day, keep reading everything you journal in this exercise and journaling #2.
2 Then, when finished, journal any extra thoughts or observations as you read it through.
3 For the next week, every single day, keep reading everything you journal in this exercise and journaling #2.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Journaling Exercises or Prompts 05-18-2015
Journal about the following:
What do you expect from this week?
What do you want from this week?
What do you hope to accomplish this week?
What do you hope to journal this week?
What do you want from your journaling this week?
Sit where you are and journal about all of your senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste.
Count 20 blessings.
What do you expect from this week?
What do you want from this week?
What do you hope to accomplish this week?
What do you hope to journal this week?
What do you want from your journaling this week?
Sit where you are and journal about all of your senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste.
Count 20 blessings.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Journaling Stuff to RYP Journaling to Journaling Gems
A RYP Journaling Blog Post
~*~
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
Have you ever noticed how quickly things change? Well, this blog and blog post are proofs of this phenomenon. (Never mind my life in the present.)
I have decided to keep things uniform and consistent and move back to this blog. This is a change.
I had moved from this blog to RYP Stories to here to Journaling Stuff. Now, I have decided to KISS it--and Keep It Simple, Stupid. (Stupid refers to me, by the way.)
So, what can you expect from this blog?
I will include several components each day in the blog posts. They will all have the title of: RYP Journaling Gems, plus the day's date. However, most of what I will share is timeless.
I will have a Journaling Prompt or Exercise as the very first part of the blog post, then a Prayer Journaling Exercise or Prompt, then a journaling how-to, some News Journaling links, and followed by some personal journaling.
Stay tuned.
~*~
A JOURNALING PROMPT OR EXERCISE
Where are you in life right now?
How did you get here?
Where did you come from?
Where do you want to go?
~*~
A PRAYER JOURNALING PROMPT OR EXERCISE
Do the previous prompt or exercise again, but now do it regarding your faith.
*~**~**~**~*
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
~*~
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
Have you ever noticed how quickly things change? Well, this blog and blog post are proofs of this phenomenon. (Never mind my life in the present.)
I have decided to keep things uniform and consistent and move back to this blog. This is a change.
I had moved from this blog to RYP Stories to here to Journaling Stuff. Now, I have decided to KISS it--and Keep It Simple, Stupid. (Stupid refers to me, by the way.)
So, what can you expect from this blog?
I will include several components each day in the blog posts. They will all have the title of: RYP Journaling Gems, plus the day's date. However, most of what I will share is timeless.
I will have a Journaling Prompt or Exercise as the very first part of the blog post, then a Prayer Journaling Exercise or Prompt, then a journaling how-to, some News Journaling links, and followed by some personal journaling.
Stay tuned.
~*~
A JOURNALING PROMPT OR EXERCISE
Where are you in life right now?
How did you get here?
Where did you come from?
Where do you want to go?
~*~
A PRAYER JOURNALING PROMPT OR EXERCISE
Do the previous prompt or exercise again, but now do it regarding your faith.
*~**~**~**~*
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
Friday, May 15, 2015
Theme: A Journaling Prompt or Exercise
Come up with a word theme to focus on:
-- This week
-- This month
-- This quarter
-- This year
-- This decade
And, journal about it every day and at several points throughout your day.
-- This week
-- This month
-- This quarter
-- This year
-- This decade
And, journal about it every day and at several points throughout your day.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Count Your Blessings: A Journaling Prompt and Exercise
Count at least 25 blessings of your past.
Count at least 25 blessings of your future.
Then, make a list of the memories they reminded you of. Then, you will have more memories captured on the page you can turn back to later and journal about.
Count at least 25 blessings of your future.
Then, make a list of the memories they reminded you of. Then, you will have more memories captured on the page you can turn back to later and journal about.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Five Senses: A Journaling Prompt or Exercise
Stop.
Take it all in, whatever is around you. Catch every facet, big and small.
Write it in your journal.
Catch the five senses:
I see...
I hear...
I touch and feel...
I taste...
I smell...
Then, do this with several moments the last day or two.
Life is built on moments. Don't allow them to pass you by and fail to take them all in.
Take it all in, whatever is around you. Catch every facet, big and small.
Write it in your journal.
Catch the five senses:
I see...
I hear...
I touch and feel...
I taste...
I smell...
Then, do this with several moments the last day or two.
Life is built on moments. Don't allow them to pass you by and fail to take them all in.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Thinking and Journaling
OUR THOUGHTS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL WE HAVE AND ARE THE MOST NEGLECTED
Our lives are so full, so busy, we barely have time to breathe, let alone think. Who has time to think something all the way through? Isn't this where most of our challenges start is in our thought life or the lack thereof?
Our thoughts are the most powerful tool we have in our arsenal for this thing called daily look vintage life. Our thoughts are the very thing that can make us or break us. They are what can help us life a thoroughly enjoyed and blessed life--or a tormented one. And it is our thought life we tend to take for granted the most.
We neglect our thought life, after all. We might become obsessed with a particular thought or line of thinking that we forsake all others. Or, we fail to think at all, never mind think something all the way through.
Our thoughts can stress us out or uplift us. They can strengthen us or weaken us. Our thoughts can help us live the best life possible, or the worst. If we want world peace, it begins in our thoughts and nowhere else.
Want to change the world, change your thoughts. Want to live the best life possible, change your thoughts. Want to distress, change your thoughts. Want to properly grieve, think. Want to make the best decision, think it all the way through from every angle.
Our thoughts are the most powerful tools we have to live, but are the very things we neglect the most and take for granted the most.
THINKING INTENTIONALLY
Since our thoughts are so powerful, we need to control them, rather than allow our thoughts to control us or allow our thoughts to act like popcorn popping in our head. We need to think intentionally and on purpose. However, we need to do more than just that. We need to think things through all the way through to the conclusion and then keep thinking it to remind us of the conclusion and what we are supposed to do because of the conclusion. This is how we live the most blessed, purposeful, content, and productive life possible.
Journaling helps us do this and more.
JOURNALING AND A THINKING LIFE
Thinking something all the way through and to completion, by arriving at a conclusion and a plan for action or inaction, is what separates us from an insect or an animal.
However, how often do we really do that? How often do we control our thoughts, rather than allow them to control us, think through all of the angles, think it all the way through to completion, and arrive at a conclusion we can then put into action or inaction--and keep bringing it to remembrance so we stay on track? How often?
Not very often.
As a matter of fact, our thoughts normally go in one of two ways: We obsess about the unimportant--or our thoughts are like popcorn popping, bouncing in every direction but do not lead to anything fulfilling and often lead us astray.
If we were to think a great deal more, we would not say or do something stupid, and we sure wouldn't reach false conclusions and act on them.
And, how often do we allow someone else to do the thinking for us?
Then, there are times we are lazy in our thinking and don't want to bother with it or just don't care.
None of that is good or helpful, and sure isn't productive and often leads to poor outcomes and mistakes.
Journaling helps us to think.
And not only that, journaling helps us to really think.
And journaling helps ensure we think correctly and think things all the way through.
THE BEST LIFE WE CAN LIVE IS A THINKING LIFE
For all of the previous reasons, journaling helps us live the best life possible: a thinking life in which we make sure to take nothing for granted and count our blessings, as we think something all the way through from every angle until we reach a conclusion or action or inaction.
Thinking makes us live deliberately and journaling forces us to deliberately think.
HOW TO THINK IN OUR JOURNALING: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
The best help our journaling offers us in living a thinking life is we can write all of our thoughts in our journals, to let some go and to realize we need to think some other thoughts through. It's important for us to do this every day and first thing in our journals. We need to sort through our thoughts from the previous day, from the night, and what popped into our minds when we woke up this morning. But, get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
What thoughts are obsessive thoughts that keep coming to mind for some reason? Are they thoughts we need to work through, are silly and nonsensical and need to let go, or a combination of each? Then, do it in your journal: think it through or let it go. But, get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
Our thoughts can also be our to do list kind of thoughts. Get them down in your journal so you can think of something more productive. But, get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
If you think of any memories, capture them on the page. Is there something you feel compelled to think about and think through? Then, do so in your journal. Also, something to keep in mind is how you need to get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
Our thoughts can appear random and not make sense at the time, let me repeat, but get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
Every day, journal and think about the following:
So, go for it, write all your obsessive and popcorn thoughts down on the page, along with the things you were already thinking through in order to reach a conclusion.
What thoughts do you need to let go and move on?
What thoughts do you need to think all the way through, from all angles, to a conclusion and then act on the conclusion or do not act on the conclusion?
Our lives are so full, so busy, we barely have time to breathe, let alone think. Who has time to think something all the way through? Isn't this where most of our challenges start is in our thought life or the lack thereof?
Our thoughts are the most powerful tool we have in our arsenal for this thing called daily look vintage life. Our thoughts are the very thing that can make us or break us. They are what can help us life a thoroughly enjoyed and blessed life--or a tormented one. And it is our thought life we tend to take for granted the most.
We neglect our thought life, after all. We might become obsessed with a particular thought or line of thinking that we forsake all others. Or, we fail to think at all, never mind think something all the way through.
Our thoughts can stress us out or uplift us. They can strengthen us or weaken us. Our thoughts can help us live the best life possible, or the worst. If we want world peace, it begins in our thoughts and nowhere else.
Want to change the world, change your thoughts. Want to live the best life possible, change your thoughts. Want to distress, change your thoughts. Want to properly grieve, think. Want to make the best decision, think it all the way through from every angle.
Our thoughts are the most powerful tools we have to live, but are the very things we neglect the most and take for granted the most.
THINKING INTENTIONALLY
Since our thoughts are so powerful, we need to control them, rather than allow our thoughts to control us or allow our thoughts to act like popcorn popping in our head. We need to think intentionally and on purpose. However, we need to do more than just that. We need to think things through all the way through to the conclusion and then keep thinking it to remind us of the conclusion and what we are supposed to do because of the conclusion. This is how we live the most blessed, purposeful, content, and productive life possible.
Journaling helps us do this and more.
JOURNALING AND A THINKING LIFE
Thinking something all the way through and to completion, by arriving at a conclusion and a plan for action or inaction, is what separates us from an insect or an animal.
However, how often do we really do that? How often do we control our thoughts, rather than allow them to control us, think through all of the angles, think it all the way through to completion, and arrive at a conclusion we can then put into action or inaction--and keep bringing it to remembrance so we stay on track? How often?
Not very often.
As a matter of fact, our thoughts normally go in one of two ways: We obsess about the unimportant--or our thoughts are like popcorn popping, bouncing in every direction but do not lead to anything fulfilling and often lead us astray.
If we were to think a great deal more, we would not say or do something stupid, and we sure wouldn't reach false conclusions and act on them.
And, how often do we allow someone else to do the thinking for us?
Then, there are times we are lazy in our thinking and don't want to bother with it or just don't care.
None of that is good or helpful, and sure isn't productive and often leads to poor outcomes and mistakes.
Journaling helps us to think.
And not only that, journaling helps us to really think.
And journaling helps ensure we think correctly and think things all the way through.
THE BEST LIFE WE CAN LIVE IS A THINKING LIFE
For all of the previous reasons, journaling helps us live the best life possible: a thinking life in which we make sure to take nothing for granted and count our blessings, as we think something all the way through from every angle until we reach a conclusion or action or inaction.
Thinking makes us live deliberately and journaling forces us to deliberately think.
HOW TO THINK IN OUR JOURNALING: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
The best help our journaling offers us in living a thinking life is we can write all of our thoughts in our journals, to let some go and to realize we need to think some other thoughts through. It's important for us to do this every day and first thing in our journals. We need to sort through our thoughts from the previous day, from the night, and what popped into our minds when we woke up this morning. But, get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
What thoughts are obsessive thoughts that keep coming to mind for some reason? Are they thoughts we need to work through, are silly and nonsensical and need to let go, or a combination of each? Then, do it in your journal: think it through or let it go. But, get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
Our thoughts can also be our to do list kind of thoughts. Get them down in your journal so you can think of something more productive. But, get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
If you think of any memories, capture them on the page. Is there something you feel compelled to think about and think through? Then, do so in your journal. Also, something to keep in mind is how you need to get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
Our thoughts can appear random and not make sense at the time, let me repeat, but get them down on the page in case later you realize there was a reason why you thought of it.
Every day, journal and think about the following:
So, go for it, write all your obsessive and popcorn thoughts down on the page, along with the things you were already thinking through in order to reach a conclusion.
What thoughts do you need to let go and move on?
What thoughts do you need to think all the way through, from all angles, to a conclusion and then act on the conclusion or do not act on the conclusion?
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Daily Journaling Exercises or Prompts
WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL NOW?: IT'S YOUR TURN (A DAILY JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT)
These are prompts to go through each day answer one or all each and every day. Be thorough in your response.
List at least five blessings in your life today.
List at least five blessings from your past.
List at least three blessings you know or think you'll have in your life.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
What have you done and experienced today?
Journal about each of your senses today: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and sensing/discerning.
Answer who, what, where, when, why, how, and what-if questions.
List at least three memories that pop into your mind. Give enough information of each memory you can journal more about it later. Now, journal more in-depth about at least one of these memories.
What are your dreams and goals? How are you going after them and making them come true?
What is an inspirational quote that comes to mind?
Are you focusing on a theme in your life today, this week, this month, this quarter, and/or this year? If so, what is it? How? Explain.
Where have you been?
What have you learned?
What are your favorites? Why? What memories come from each?
List at least five more blessings in your life.
These are prompts to go through each day answer one or all each and every day. Be thorough in your response.
List at least five blessings in your life today.
List at least five blessings from your past.
List at least three blessings you know or think you'll have in your life.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
What have you done and experienced today?
Journal about each of your senses today: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and sensing/discerning.
Answer who, what, where, when, why, how, and what-if questions.
List at least three memories that pop into your mind. Give enough information of each memory you can journal more about it later. Now, journal more in-depth about at least one of these memories.
What are your dreams and goals? How are you going after them and making them come true?
What is an inspirational quote that comes to mind?
Are you focusing on a theme in your life today, this week, this month, this quarter, and/or this year? If so, what is it? How? Explain.
Where have you been?
What have you learned?
What are your favorites? Why? What memories come from each?
List at least five more blessings in your life.
Journaling Exercise or Prompt
AN EXPLANATION OF "A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT"
A journaling exercise or prompt is meant to inspire you to journal. This is the definition.
Instruction: The journaling exercises or prompts are optional. They are meant to help inspire you to journal. Therefore, use them if you want, or ignore them until later and when they are needed or if you just want to journal more.
If you are having a good day of journaling, read these and see if they inspire you to journal more. If you need inspiration, use the journal exercises or prompts.
Feel free to come back to the journaling prompts at any time and do them. In fact, you might want to do each prompt several times over time. Your answers will change.
MY GOAL WITH THE JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS
My main goal is to give you more information and more inspiration to journal than you could ever use in your lifetime. It is far better to have more options than not enough.
Therefore, I will include multiple journaling exercises or prompts.
HOW DO YOU USE THE JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS?
How do you use (or do) the journaling exercises or prompts? Read it and start journaling whatever comes to mind, when it comes to mind, even if it has nothing to do at all with the prompt. After all, the point of a journaling exercise or prompt, is to get you to journaling.
Journal as much as possible. This is the goal.
Make sure to have fun with these prompts. It's meant to be inspirational, not pressuring.
SUNDAY JOURNALING: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
1 What happened in your life this last week?
2 What challenges did you have?
3 What blessings did you have?
4 What did you learn last week?
5 How was your journaling?
6 What do you expect from this next week? What plans do you have?
7 What blessings do you expect or hope for?
8 What do you hope of expect from your journaling this week?
9 List at least 10 blessings now.
A journaling exercise or prompt is meant to inspire you to journal. This is the definition.
Instruction: The journaling exercises or prompts are optional. They are meant to help inspire you to journal. Therefore, use them if you want, or ignore them until later and when they are needed or if you just want to journal more.
If you are having a good day of journaling, read these and see if they inspire you to journal more. If you need inspiration, use the journal exercises or prompts.
Feel free to come back to the journaling prompts at any time and do them. In fact, you might want to do each prompt several times over time. Your answers will change.
MY GOAL WITH THE JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS
My main goal is to give you more information and more inspiration to journal than you could ever use in your lifetime. It is far better to have more options than not enough.
Therefore, I will include multiple journaling exercises or prompts.
HOW DO YOU USE THE JOURNALING EXERCISES OR PROMPTS?
How do you use (or do) the journaling exercises or prompts? Read it and start journaling whatever comes to mind, when it comes to mind, even if it has nothing to do at all with the prompt. After all, the point of a journaling exercise or prompt, is to get you to journaling.
Journal as much as possible. This is the goal.
Make sure to have fun with these prompts. It's meant to be inspirational, not pressuring.
SUNDAY JOURNALING: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
1 What happened in your life this last week?
2 What challenges did you have?
3 What blessings did you have?
4 What did you learn last week?
5 How was your journaling?
6 What do you expect from this next week? What plans do you have?
7 What blessings do you expect or hope for?
8 What do you hope of expect from your journaling this week?
9 List at least 10 blessings now.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Introduction to Journaling, Part 2
THE ONLY RULE WITH JOURNALING (A RULE OF THUMB, REALLY)
There is only one rule with journaling.
However, with that being said, many journal keepers will disagree with this. I will explain.
The one rule with journaling is this:
Journal every single day. Without fail.
The ideal rule with journaling is this:
That you will journal several moments every day.
Some will say it is okay to journal when you can or when you feel inspired.
Some will even say that one sentence per day is enough. It is when you are just beginning.
The reason to journal at least every day, preferably at several moments throughout your day, is this: After 32.5 years of journaling, I have learned something beautiful about journaling: The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.
Let me repeat that again. Please slowly read each word.
The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.
Period.
End of story.
Any questions?
Journal once a year.
Journal one sentence a day.
Some is better than none with journaling.
However, do you want to live the deepest, most creative, most productive, most thought-full, most joyful, most blessed life you can, and be the biggest blessing you can be to others, then journal at several moments every single day without fail. You will not accomplish this by journaling any less.
If you journal less, you will live a less thought-FULL life. It will not be as deep, full of blessing, otherwise. In fact, you will take your life, people, and things for granted.
HOW OFTEN AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE JOURNAL?: HOW TO MAKE JOURNALING A DAILY HABIT
I shared the answer in the previous paragraph. Journal every day, at several points throughout your day. And, you should journal as much as possible.
Great. This might seem intimidating or like wishful thinking. In fact, you might not have the time for it. Let me explain how you can.I journal between five and fifteen pages per day, letter size of 8.5 x 11, single spaced, 12 point font/type. I average nine pages per day, but have journals as many as fifty in a day. But, journaling is my full-time job.
When I worked full-time, I averaged five pages per day.
I say all of this not to brag or intimidate, but to make a point.
I started off writing one sentence per day.
That is the secret, folks. Don't start with the expectation of journaling one page or even one paragraph in a day. Start with a minimum goal of one sentence per day for one week. If you journal more than that, score! Extra bonus!
Then, journal the next week one sentence twice a day... in the morning and evening.
Then, journal the next week one sentence three times per day... in the morning, at Noonish, and then in the evening.
Then, for the next week, journal one sentence in the morning, at lunch, when you get home from school or work, then after dinner.
Then, for the next week, journal one sentence in the morning, at lunch, when you get home from school or work, then after dinner, then before bed.
Then, the next week, add one sentence to each of those times.
Keep building until you journal at least a page twice a day.
Then, keep building from there.
I steal times throughout my day to journal. I do my best to keep the appointed times, but also make sure to journal at every down moment. Our days are full of empty spaces and journaling is how I redeem the time, not checking my cell or doing social media. For instance, when I am on hold on the phone, when standing in a line at a store, sitting in waiting room at doctor's office, waiting for an appointment, waiting for someone to get ready to go somewhere, if I toss and turn at night, if I am stircrazy, if I am worked up about something, if I am anxious or stressed, if I am upset, if I am cooking something and cannot leave the kitchen but can journal a sentence or two as I cook, when I pull into a parking lot I journal for a minute before I go in store, etc. I steal time to journal all day long, plus write at the five times per day mark. This is how I have journals fifty page days at times.
My greatest joys are the mornings I cannot sleep in, because I am wide awake. It could annoy me. But, instead I think, "Yay! More time to journal!" And I rush to do just that. I usually have a major insight or A-HA moment those days, like I did this morning, by the way.
Journaling takes time. It is a practice and an art. Don't think you have to start off journaling pages or even paragraphs per day. Build up to that slowly over time. It took me years to get to this point. I wasn't born knowing how to journal. I've learned through lots of trial and error and experimentation.
Journal every day, at several moments throughout your day, the length you can and build up from there. It's really that easy.
Remember the one journaling rule of thumb: The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.
So, if you have never journeyed before, I hope this helps.
For you journal keepers who have journaled before, I hope this helps inspire you to do more so you and your life can be far more deep, creative, reflective, productive, and blessed, so you can then be more of a blessing to others.
JOURNALING IS ALWAYS CHANGING--OR NOT
What I love most about journaling is it can be something you do differently every time you approach the page--or you can do the exact same thing. It's your journal. Be creative. There is only one rule (which we already covered), but all else goes. Experiment. Have fun with it.
If you are doing something that works in your journaling, meaning every time you sit down to journal, you are able to write several paragraphs without thought, where you are writing and are not getting stuck or blocked, then keep doing what you are doing. Don't change.
But, if you find yourself stuck or blocked, or even bored when you try to journal, then change it up and try something different than what you are doing now.
Journaling should bring you peace and contentment in the end and leave you with a new perspective. If it doesn't, try something new or different.
GRAMMAR?
With journaling, it is okay to break every single rule possible regarding grammar and how you write. Write one word sentences. Don't write in sentences. Make lists, mind maps, use bullets, or not. The choice is up to you. Do what works for you in that moment when you face the blank and empty page. If it works, your hand or hands are busy journaling. If not, then you are tapping or twiddling your thumbs. If it's the latter, mix it up and try something else.
So, forget grammar. Do what works for you as you journal.
OOPS. THERE ARE THREE RULES OF JOURNALING
1 The more you put into your journaling, the more you will get out of it.
2 Forget grammar.
3 Never, ever delete something, throw it away, rip it up, or get rid of it. Never, ever.
RULE 3: NEVER DELETE ANYTHING
Part of what makes journaling so effective and so delightful, is also what makes journaling such a powerful activity. It's reflection and self-analysis. It's about learning to live a deeper, more thoughtful life. Journaling gives us proper perspective, where after we deal with out stuff, then we can look around and count our blessings, and then we can be a blessing to others. We learn how to be far less self-centered by looking within and realizing our weaknesses and limitations, along with our mistakes. This brings humility. Then, we can be thankful for what we have and not regret the things we don't. Through this, we count our blessings and can look out at others and see past their warts and bring blessing to their lives. It's a wonderful progression.
We live such shallow lives normally.
Journaling makes us go deeper, where we explore the depths of self, situations, others, etc.
But, we can only do all of this through reviewing our journaling and reading it again, to analyze it and see what themes emerge, where we seem to keep tripping up, how we have grown, how what happened in the past seemed so nonsense but looking back we see how things worked together, we see how blessed we are, and we learn how we need to grow. Journaling it once and not reviewing and analyzing prevents us from doing all of this.
So many times in my life, I have faced challenges or experienced something that made no sense whatsoever. I have wondered why or thought how it didn't seem fair or was pointless. I've thrown a pity-party. Then, later on, more things happen, I do the same. Then, later on, something else happens, I review my journaling, and see how things worked together to bring me to this point. This exact point. How it came together the things that seemed unrelated and challenging. I learn how everything had a point. But, I would never have seen it own known it if I hadn't journaled it in the first place and then reviewed my journaling.
I never would have seen how things came together if I journaled something and then deleted it, destroyed it, or gotten rid of it.
Some will say it's therapeutic to rip up your journal.
Really?
If you fully deal with your stuff, you don't need to destroy to let go and move on. If you fully deal with your stuff, you learn that challenge is one of the biggest blessings in your life.
Why destroy a blessing?
Oh, at the time, it may seem ugly. But, often times, great beauty comes from what seems ugly.
So, never, ever delete. Not one word.
It's okay if your journaling is ugly. It's okay if you feel ugly after writing the ugly journal. Give it time. Beauty will rise from the ashes.
Keep every word, every scratch, of your journaling.
WHAT CAN YOU DO INSTEAD OF DELETING?
1 If it's too painful to keep using that journal, start a new one. Set it to the side and forget about it.
2 If you feel like you need to rip something up, write as ugly of a letter as you can, purging The ugliness onto the page so you don't keep it within. Then, copy the letter. Keep one copy. Put it to the side. Take the other and rip that one up.
3 Or, just simply rewrite it. Keep the original and on the next page, rewrite it.
WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL?
Truthfully, you should journal anything you want and anything that comes to mind, even if you wrote it before. There is a reason why it comes to mind or is on your heart.
It's true.
But, there are times you approach the page, your journal, and are blank. Nothing is there. Nothing comes to mind. So, what then?
There are many things you can do in that situation, or even just in general and every time you journal.
Journal every day about where you've been, where you are, and where you want to head in life. Then, count your blessings of each and then journal about memories of each. This is the simplest approach to take with journaling every time you approach the page.
There are other ideas as well:
Count your past, present, and future blessings.
Do some journaling exercises or prompts.
List as many memories as you can. Then, expand upon each of them until you have a full journal entry of at least a page per memory.
Ask who, what, where, when, why, how, and what-if questions.
Make lists of different things then expand to a page journaling of each item. For example: What are your favorite foods? Movies? Books? Say why they are your favorites and list at least three memories of each. Then journal a page about each memory.
List the decades of your life then under each decade, list as many memories come to mind.
Look around your house and list items, rooms, etc and the memories associated with each.
Then, expand your memories to one page each.
Every day, count your blessings. I know I ready said that, but I repeat that.
Those are just a few examples of what to journal.
IT'S YOUR TURN: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
Count your past, present, and future blessings.
Why is each a blessing?
List a memory of each blessing and then journal as much as you can about it.
There is only one rule with journaling.
However, with that being said, many journal keepers will disagree with this. I will explain.
The one rule with journaling is this:
Journal every single day. Without fail.
The ideal rule with journaling is this:
That you will journal several moments every day.
Some will say it is okay to journal when you can or when you feel inspired.
Some will even say that one sentence per day is enough. It is when you are just beginning.
The reason to journal at least every day, preferably at several moments throughout your day, is this: After 32.5 years of journaling, I have learned something beautiful about journaling: The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.
Let me repeat that again. Please slowly read each word.
The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.
Period.
End of story.
Any questions?
Journal once a year.
Journal one sentence a day.
Some is better than none with journaling.
However, do you want to live the deepest, most creative, most productive, most thought-full, most joyful, most blessed life you can, and be the biggest blessing you can be to others, then journal at several moments every single day without fail. You will not accomplish this by journaling any less.
If you journal less, you will live a less thought-FULL life. It will not be as deep, full of blessing, otherwise. In fact, you will take your life, people, and things for granted.
HOW OFTEN AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE JOURNAL?: HOW TO MAKE JOURNALING A DAILY HABIT
I shared the answer in the previous paragraph. Journal every day, at several points throughout your day. And, you should journal as much as possible.
Great. This might seem intimidating or like wishful thinking. In fact, you might not have the time for it. Let me explain how you can.I journal between five and fifteen pages per day, letter size of 8.5 x 11, single spaced, 12 point font/type. I average nine pages per day, but have journals as many as fifty in a day. But, journaling is my full-time job.
When I worked full-time, I averaged five pages per day.
I say all of this not to brag or intimidate, but to make a point.
I started off writing one sentence per day.
That is the secret, folks. Don't start with the expectation of journaling one page or even one paragraph in a day. Start with a minimum goal of one sentence per day for one week. If you journal more than that, score! Extra bonus!
Then, journal the next week one sentence twice a day... in the morning and evening.
Then, journal the next week one sentence three times per day... in the morning, at Noonish, and then in the evening.
Then, for the next week, journal one sentence in the morning, at lunch, when you get home from school or work, then after dinner.
Then, for the next week, journal one sentence in the morning, at lunch, when you get home from school or work, then after dinner, then before bed.
Then, the next week, add one sentence to each of those times.
Keep building until you journal at least a page twice a day.
Then, keep building from there.
I steal times throughout my day to journal. I do my best to keep the appointed times, but also make sure to journal at every down moment. Our days are full of empty spaces and journaling is how I redeem the time, not checking my cell or doing social media. For instance, when I am on hold on the phone, when standing in a line at a store, sitting in waiting room at doctor's office, waiting for an appointment, waiting for someone to get ready to go somewhere, if I toss and turn at night, if I am stircrazy, if I am worked up about something, if I am anxious or stressed, if I am upset, if I am cooking something and cannot leave the kitchen but can journal a sentence or two as I cook, when I pull into a parking lot I journal for a minute before I go in store, etc. I steal time to journal all day long, plus write at the five times per day mark. This is how I have journals fifty page days at times.
My greatest joys are the mornings I cannot sleep in, because I am wide awake. It could annoy me. But, instead I think, "Yay! More time to journal!" And I rush to do just that. I usually have a major insight or A-HA moment those days, like I did this morning, by the way.
Journaling takes time. It is a practice and an art. Don't think you have to start off journaling pages or even paragraphs per day. Build up to that slowly over time. It took me years to get to this point. I wasn't born knowing how to journal. I've learned through lots of trial and error and experimentation.
Journal every day, at several moments throughout your day, the length you can and build up from there. It's really that easy.
Remember the one journaling rule of thumb: The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.
So, if you have never journeyed before, I hope this helps.
For you journal keepers who have journaled before, I hope this helps inspire you to do more so you and your life can be far more deep, creative, reflective, productive, and blessed, so you can then be more of a blessing to others.
JOURNALING IS ALWAYS CHANGING--OR NOT
What I love most about journaling is it can be something you do differently every time you approach the page--or you can do the exact same thing. It's your journal. Be creative. There is only one rule (which we already covered), but all else goes. Experiment. Have fun with it.
If you are doing something that works in your journaling, meaning every time you sit down to journal, you are able to write several paragraphs without thought, where you are writing and are not getting stuck or blocked, then keep doing what you are doing. Don't change.
But, if you find yourself stuck or blocked, or even bored when you try to journal, then change it up and try something different than what you are doing now.
Journaling should bring you peace and contentment in the end and leave you with a new perspective. If it doesn't, try something new or different.
GRAMMAR?
With journaling, it is okay to break every single rule possible regarding grammar and how you write. Write one word sentences. Don't write in sentences. Make lists, mind maps, use bullets, or not. The choice is up to you. Do what works for you in that moment when you face the blank and empty page. If it works, your hand or hands are busy journaling. If not, then you are tapping or twiddling your thumbs. If it's the latter, mix it up and try something else.
So, forget grammar. Do what works for you as you journal.
OOPS. THERE ARE THREE RULES OF JOURNALING
1 The more you put into your journaling, the more you will get out of it.
2 Forget grammar.
3 Never, ever delete something, throw it away, rip it up, or get rid of it. Never, ever.
RULE 3: NEVER DELETE ANYTHING
Part of what makes journaling so effective and so delightful, is also what makes journaling such a powerful activity. It's reflection and self-analysis. It's about learning to live a deeper, more thoughtful life. Journaling gives us proper perspective, where after we deal with out stuff, then we can look around and count our blessings, and then we can be a blessing to others. We learn how to be far less self-centered by looking within and realizing our weaknesses and limitations, along with our mistakes. This brings humility. Then, we can be thankful for what we have and not regret the things we don't. Through this, we count our blessings and can look out at others and see past their warts and bring blessing to their lives. It's a wonderful progression.
We live such shallow lives normally.
Journaling makes us go deeper, where we explore the depths of self, situations, others, etc.
But, we can only do all of this through reviewing our journaling and reading it again, to analyze it and see what themes emerge, where we seem to keep tripping up, how we have grown, how what happened in the past seemed so nonsense but looking back we see how things worked together, we see how blessed we are, and we learn how we need to grow. Journaling it once and not reviewing and analyzing prevents us from doing all of this.
So many times in my life, I have faced challenges or experienced something that made no sense whatsoever. I have wondered why or thought how it didn't seem fair or was pointless. I've thrown a pity-party. Then, later on, more things happen, I do the same. Then, later on, something else happens, I review my journaling, and see how things worked together to bring me to this point. This exact point. How it came together the things that seemed unrelated and challenging. I learn how everything had a point. But, I would never have seen it own known it if I hadn't journaled it in the first place and then reviewed my journaling.
I never would have seen how things came together if I journaled something and then deleted it, destroyed it, or gotten rid of it.
Some will say it's therapeutic to rip up your journal.
Really?
If you fully deal with your stuff, you don't need to destroy to let go and move on. If you fully deal with your stuff, you learn that challenge is one of the biggest blessings in your life.
Why destroy a blessing?
Oh, at the time, it may seem ugly. But, often times, great beauty comes from what seems ugly.
So, never, ever delete. Not one word.
It's okay if your journaling is ugly. It's okay if you feel ugly after writing the ugly journal. Give it time. Beauty will rise from the ashes.
Keep every word, every scratch, of your journaling.
WHAT CAN YOU DO INSTEAD OF DELETING?
1 If it's too painful to keep using that journal, start a new one. Set it to the side and forget about it.
2 If you feel like you need to rip something up, write as ugly of a letter as you can, purging The ugliness onto the page so you don't keep it within. Then, copy the letter. Keep one copy. Put it to the side. Take the other and rip that one up.
3 Or, just simply rewrite it. Keep the original and on the next page, rewrite it.
WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL?
Truthfully, you should journal anything you want and anything that comes to mind, even if you wrote it before. There is a reason why it comes to mind or is on your heart.
It's true.
But, there are times you approach the page, your journal, and are blank. Nothing is there. Nothing comes to mind. So, what then?
There are many things you can do in that situation, or even just in general and every time you journal.
Journal every day about where you've been, where you are, and where you want to head in life. Then, count your blessings of each and then journal about memories of each. This is the simplest approach to take with journaling every time you approach the page.
There are other ideas as well:
Count your past, present, and future blessings.
Do some journaling exercises or prompts.
List as many memories as you can. Then, expand upon each of them until you have a full journal entry of at least a page per memory.
Ask who, what, where, when, why, how, and what-if questions.
Make lists of different things then expand to a page journaling of each item. For example: What are your favorite foods? Movies? Books? Say why they are your favorites and list at least three memories of each. Then journal a page about each memory.
List the decades of your life then under each decade, list as many memories come to mind.
Look around your house and list items, rooms, etc and the memories associated with each.
Then, expand your memories to one page each.
Every day, count your blessings. I know I ready said that, but I repeat that.
Those are just a few examples of what to journal.
IT'S YOUR TURN: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
Count your past, present, and future blessings.
Why is each a blessing?
List a memory of each blessing and then journal as much as you can about it.
Friday, May 8, 2015
How Do You Journal?: An Introduction
SO, HOW DO YOU JOURNAL ANYWAY?: JUST BEGIN
I will go into all of the nuts and bolts, and the specifics, throughout blog of how to journal. However, in this blog post, since it is the very first one on how to journal, I will get to the most important information you need to know now so you can start to journal the second after you read this blog post, or even as you read this. I think we should jump right in and journal immediately.
We cannot start journaling until we have a journal. Hence, that's where we will start. We'll begin with finding our journaling method. Whether you have journaled in the past, or haven't at all, you need to pick your digital journaling method.
Yes. I am insisting you start right now with journaling on your computer and to then save your journaling on the Cloud. (I will explain how. No worries.) If you start journaling on your cell, computer, and that now, then it will become a habit in three months. There is not time like the present.
WHY DO DIGITAL JOURNALING?
Four years ago, my house was threatened by a large funnel cloud, I was moved by movers, I went through an earthquake, and I was forced to evacuate because of a hurricane. All of that happened in the space of five weeks. Each act of God threatened to destroy nearly three decades of my handwritten journals. But, it was the movers who lost ten years of my journals that got to me the most. Ouch.
This is why I insist on digital journaling--and not just any kind of digital journaling, but making sure to save it to the Cloud. That way, your house, cell, computer, laptop, and tablet can all be destroyed or lost or stolen, but you will still have your journals. Permanent journaling is the only way to go.
Please try digital journaling now. It can save you a lot of heartache. I still mourn over the loss of my journaling and the pain is just as raw today as it was when it happened. You do not want to put all that time, effort, heart, and soul into your journaling only to have it lost.
Now, if you think, "Well, I can handwritten them, then I can type them up later," don't fool yourself. You may want to do that, but life has a funny way of interrupting our plans. Things will get in the way. So, save yourself the extra work and develop the habit of digital journaling today.
So, what are the methods of digital journaling?
HOW DO YOU DIGITAL JOURNAL? (WHAT ARE THE METHODS?)
How do you digital journal? You use your cell, tablet, laptop, and/or computer to journal.
Now, before I continue, so I do not have to write out those four devices each time, I will keep it simple and call it just your device to keep it simple, or if I want to be a little fancy, I will say digital device.
How do you use your device to journal? There are a few methods to do so:
1 Email: Send yourself an email (this saves it on the internet permanently and offers a search option).
2 Journal in a Document: Journal in a blank document, then email it to yourself for permanent record.
3 Journaling App: Use a journaling app. But, this is one I highly recommend you to AVOID.
ONLY use a journaling app if you can send each entry to yourself via email or save it as a pdf and then email that to yourself. MOST journaling apps do NOT offer these features.
Also, make sure you can use your app on ALL of your devices. MOST do not carry across all devices.
4 An Online Journal: This is the way I recommend most. You can do a private or public blog, or keep a private or public journal. As far as the blogs, some examples are: Blogger, Tumblr, etc. As far as online journals, there's Penzu, LiveJournal, etc. I recommend Penzu.com with no hesitation and simply cannot recommend it enough.
What makes an online journal so appealing is that then it is saved onto the Cloud (hence, is permanent). Also, they offer different features or options to help you journal and make your journaling easier and more pleasurable.
PENZU.COM: A SHAMELESS PLUG
I have used Penzu.com since November 2012 and I have over 10,176 journaling entries. Some of these entries are fifty pages and longer. I currently add roughly 1,000 entries per month. I do all of my writing in this journal, I also email copies of important emails, and email links to myself for later (of articles, things to buy, books to read, movies to see, how-to information, and anything else I can think of).
My point is not to brag (not at all), but is to point our how Penzu.com has unlimited space. You will not find this in any other online journal or blog. And, it's only $20 per year for the PRO version. But, the free version also has unlimited in space and, frankly, is wonderful. I definitely recommend it as well. Try the free version for at least a month, preferably three, and if you want the extras.
The differences between the free and Pro are in the Pro version, you can:
-- Have multiple journals
-- Tab or label each entry and do so with multiple tabs
-- Email your entries to your journal or from your journal
-- Can save one entry or all the entries in your journal in a off
-- Etc.
If you ever want the Pro version, here is a 20% off coupon. It's the best way to keep a journal or diary in the Cloud, when you use this link:
http://classic.penzu.com/r/34f16257
I will stop this plug and allow you the opportunity to check it out for yourself. Also, if you have any questions, technical support is fabulous, or feel free to contact me. I most likely can give you some guidance and or tips. Send an email or attach a comment at the end of any blog post.
HOW DO YOU JOURNAL AND DO DIGITAL JOURNALING?
The simplest answer is: Capture your life on the page.
In other words, write your thoughts, feelings, experiences, dreams, goals, fears, memories, blessings, prayers, to do list, etc. in a journaling entry. Give a summary of a moment in your day and a summary of your day, week, month, quarter, year, decade, etc. Make lists. Share your challenges and joys. What do you like and don't like? What hat have you read or watched?
Let me simplify the previous paragraph: If you have done it (lived it), thought it, felt it, dreamt of, write it down.
Or simply, journal anything and everything that comes to mind.
Really. It's that simple. Capture your life on the page, your present, past, and future.
WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL NOW?: IT'S YOUR TURN (A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT)
List five blessings in your life today.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
What have you done and experienced today? Or in the past?
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
I will go into all of the nuts and bolts, and the specifics, throughout blog of how to journal. However, in this blog post, since it is the very first one on how to journal, I will get to the most important information you need to know now so you can start to journal the second after you read this blog post, or even as you read this. I think we should jump right in and journal immediately.
We cannot start journaling until we have a journal. Hence, that's where we will start. We'll begin with finding our journaling method. Whether you have journaled in the past, or haven't at all, you need to pick your digital journaling method.
Yes. I am insisting you start right now with journaling on your computer and to then save your journaling on the Cloud. (I will explain how. No worries.) If you start journaling on your cell, computer, and that now, then it will become a habit in three months. There is not time like the present.
WHY DO DIGITAL JOURNALING?
Four years ago, my house was threatened by a large funnel cloud, I was moved by movers, I went through an earthquake, and I was forced to evacuate because of a hurricane. All of that happened in the space of five weeks. Each act of God threatened to destroy nearly three decades of my handwritten journals. But, it was the movers who lost ten years of my journals that got to me the most. Ouch.
This is why I insist on digital journaling--and not just any kind of digital journaling, but making sure to save it to the Cloud. That way, your house, cell, computer, laptop, and tablet can all be destroyed or lost or stolen, but you will still have your journals. Permanent journaling is the only way to go.
Please try digital journaling now. It can save you a lot of heartache. I still mourn over the loss of my journaling and the pain is just as raw today as it was when it happened. You do not want to put all that time, effort, heart, and soul into your journaling only to have it lost.
Now, if you think, "Well, I can handwritten them, then I can type them up later," don't fool yourself. You may want to do that, but life has a funny way of interrupting our plans. Things will get in the way. So, save yourself the extra work and develop the habit of digital journaling today.
So, what are the methods of digital journaling?
HOW DO YOU DIGITAL JOURNAL? (WHAT ARE THE METHODS?)
How do you digital journal? You use your cell, tablet, laptop, and/or computer to journal.
Now, before I continue, so I do not have to write out those four devices each time, I will keep it simple and call it just your device to keep it simple, or if I want to be a little fancy, I will say digital device.
How do you use your device to journal? There are a few methods to do so:
1 Email: Send yourself an email (this saves it on the internet permanently and offers a search option).
2 Journal in a Document: Journal in a blank document, then email it to yourself for permanent record.
3 Journaling App: Use a journaling app. But, this is one I highly recommend you to AVOID.
ONLY use a journaling app if you can send each entry to yourself via email or save it as a pdf and then email that to yourself. MOST journaling apps do NOT offer these features.
Also, make sure you can use your app on ALL of your devices. MOST do not carry across all devices.
4 An Online Journal: This is the way I recommend most. You can do a private or public blog, or keep a private or public journal. As far as the blogs, some examples are: Blogger, Tumblr, etc. As far as online journals, there's Penzu, LiveJournal, etc. I recommend Penzu.com with no hesitation and simply cannot recommend it enough.
What makes an online journal so appealing is that then it is saved onto the Cloud (hence, is permanent). Also, they offer different features or options to help you journal and make your journaling easier and more pleasurable.
PENZU.COM: A SHAMELESS PLUG
I have used Penzu.com since November 2012 and I have over 10,176 journaling entries. Some of these entries are fifty pages and longer. I currently add roughly 1,000 entries per month. I do all of my writing in this journal, I also email copies of important emails, and email links to myself for later (of articles, things to buy, books to read, movies to see, how-to information, and anything else I can think of).
My point is not to brag (not at all), but is to point our how Penzu.com has unlimited space. You will not find this in any other online journal or blog. And, it's only $20 per year for the PRO version. But, the free version also has unlimited in space and, frankly, is wonderful. I definitely recommend it as well. Try the free version for at least a month, preferably three, and if you want the extras.
The differences between the free and Pro are in the Pro version, you can:
-- Have multiple journals
-- Tab or label each entry and do so with multiple tabs
-- Email your entries to your journal or from your journal
-- Can save one entry or all the entries in your journal in a off
-- Etc.
If you ever want the Pro version, here is a 20% off coupon. It's the best way to keep a journal or diary in the Cloud, when you use this link:
http://classic.penzu.com/r/34f16257
I will stop this plug and allow you the opportunity to check it out for yourself. Also, if you have any questions, technical support is fabulous, or feel free to contact me. I most likely can give you some guidance and or tips. Send an email or attach a comment at the end of any blog post.
HOW DO YOU JOURNAL AND DO DIGITAL JOURNALING?
The simplest answer is: Capture your life on the page.
In other words, write your thoughts, feelings, experiences, dreams, goals, fears, memories, blessings, prayers, to do list, etc. in a journaling entry. Give a summary of a moment in your day and a summary of your day, week, month, quarter, year, decade, etc. Make lists. Share your challenges and joys. What do you like and don't like? What hat have you read or watched?
Let me simplify the previous paragraph: If you have done it (lived it), thought it, felt it, dreamt of, write it down.
Or simply, journal anything and everything that comes to mind.
Really. It's that simple. Capture your life on the page, your present, past, and future.
WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL NOW?: IT'S YOUR TURN (A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT)
List five blessings in your life today.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
What have you done and experienced today? Or in the past?
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
Welcome to Journaling Stuff: An Introduction
WELCOME AND SUMMARY OF JOURNALING STUFF
Journaling Stuff is a blog about everything you ever wanted to know about journaling.
There will be a focus of digital journaling (online and on your computer). I will explain more about this later.
GOAL OF JOURNALING STUFF
It's my goal to make this the largest source about journaling on the web.
It's also my goal to then publish these blog posts into a book a couple of times per year and make it the largest journaling source on the market. (See Note #1 at the end of this blog post.) Furthermore, in these books, I will add even more material.
ARE YOU A JOURNALING NOVICE OR ARE YOU AN EXPERT?
It doesn't matter whether you have experience journaling or not at all. This blog is for you.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR DAY
Apart from spiritual activities, there is absolutely nothing you can do with your day, each and every day, than journaling. I would even say how journaling is the most healthy thing you can do with your day, or even your life, than journaling. It's also the most productive.
Journaling should be the foundation of your day and be what you build your day and life upon. This blog, Journaling Stuff, will share what this means and how to do this.
MY JOURNALING EXPERIENCE
I've been a journal keeper for over 32.5 years and have done daily journaling since 2001. Therefore, I have tried just about everything regarding journaling and have learned what to do and what not to do. I have experimented with journaling and have tried several types of journaling and journaling practices and well.
I have a great deal to offer you and the world of journaling, needless to say. I may not know much, but journaling is one thing in which I can unequivocally call myself an expert and I am knowledgeable.
I will warn you, though. After decades of journaling, I have my biases and can be pretty opinionated about the art and practice of journaling. I've learned some foundations of journaling and look forward to sharing them with you.
LET'S TALK
Please contact me with any questions, clarifications, requests for things you would like me to talk about in a blog post or a blog post series, if you want to pick my brain, if you are struggling with journaling, and/or if you want to join the journaling community on this blog or on Twitter.com at #JournalingStuff. You can contact me by adding a comment at the end of any blog post or you can email me at:
Rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
I hope we can encourage and inspire one another in our journaling.
THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Seriously. Let me repeat a couple of things. This blog is for you. If you want me to talk (teach or coach) about something regarding journaling in one blog post or in a blog post series, just ask.
Again, add a comment at the end of any blog post or send me a private email.
SHALL WE GET STARTED?
Thank you for checking out this blog. I hope you get a great deal out of it and enjoy.
Have a blessed day and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
NOTES
{Note #1: I am off to a good start in accomplishing this objective about the book, by the way. I already have around 500 pages of material I will add to the book. It's my goal to offer the new material in a separate book or in a complete book, whichever is your preference.}
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
Journaling Stuff is a blog about everything you ever wanted to know about journaling.
There will be a focus of digital journaling (online and on your computer). I will explain more about this later.
GOAL OF JOURNALING STUFF
It's my goal to make this the largest source about journaling on the web.
It's also my goal to then publish these blog posts into a book a couple of times per year and make it the largest journaling source on the market. (See Note #1 at the end of this blog post.) Furthermore, in these books, I will add even more material.
ARE YOU A JOURNALING NOVICE OR ARE YOU AN EXPERT?
It doesn't matter whether you have experience journaling or not at all. This blog is for you.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR DAY
Apart from spiritual activities, there is absolutely nothing you can do with your day, each and every day, than journaling. I would even say how journaling is the most healthy thing you can do with your day, or even your life, than journaling. It's also the most productive.
Journaling should be the foundation of your day and be what you build your day and life upon. This blog, Journaling Stuff, will share what this means and how to do this.
MY JOURNALING EXPERIENCE
I've been a journal keeper for over 32.5 years and have done daily journaling since 2001. Therefore, I have tried just about everything regarding journaling and have learned what to do and what not to do. I have experimented with journaling and have tried several types of journaling and journaling practices and well.
I have a great deal to offer you and the world of journaling, needless to say. I may not know much, but journaling is one thing in which I can unequivocally call myself an expert and I am knowledgeable.
I will warn you, though. After decades of journaling, I have my biases and can be pretty opinionated about the art and practice of journaling. I've learned some foundations of journaling and look forward to sharing them with you.
LET'S TALK
Please contact me with any questions, clarifications, requests for things you would like me to talk about in a blog post or a blog post series, if you want to pick my brain, if you are struggling with journaling, and/or if you want to join the journaling community on this blog or on Twitter.com at #JournalingStuff. You can contact me by adding a comment at the end of any blog post or you can email me at:
Rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
I hope we can encourage and inspire one another in our journaling.
THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Seriously. Let me repeat a couple of things. This blog is for you. If you want me to talk (teach or coach) about something regarding journaling in one blog post or in a blog post series, just ask.
Again, add a comment at the end of any blog post or send me a private email.
SHALL WE GET STARTED?
Thank you for checking out this blog. I hope you get a great deal out of it and enjoy.
Have a blessed day and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
NOTES
{Note #1: I am off to a good start in accomplishing this objective about the book, by the way. I already have around 500 pages of material I will add to the book. It's my goal to offer the new material in a separate book or in a complete book, whichever is your preference.}
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015! (AND A JOURNALING PROMPT)
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015! (AND A JOURNALING PROMPT)
Happy New Year 2015, everyone.
I pray your next year will be bountiful with blessing, surrounded with those you love, memorable, and purposeful.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What do you expect from 2015?
What do you expect from your journaling in 2015?
What are you carrying over from 2014?
What do you look forward to in 2015?
What are ten blessings in your life right now?
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(Image credit: Microsoft images online.)
JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.31.2014)
JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.31.2014)
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JOURNALING STUFF, BOOK 1 NEWS
Written December 30, 2014, Tuesday, 154 p.m.
---
THE WRITING PROGRESS OF BOOK 1
This first book has two parts. One was written from 2012 to early 2014 (265 pages). The other part I've written this month and it's on this blog. What I want to update you with is on the latter.
So far, there are 114 pages and 36,180 words of the newest part of this book. (Yay!)
It's been my goal to create a resource so you can either begin your journaling practice or help you continue with a fresh perspective.
It's quite exciting to know our journaling journey together has just begun. I look forward to seeing where this takes us.
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JOURNALING PROMPT
Have you done your daily journaling template?
What about your weekly template?
What about your weekly summary?
What about your weekly review?
What about your monthly template?
What about your monthly summary?
What about your monthly review?
Quarterly of each?
Yearly of each? Now is definitely the time to do each.
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THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 2014
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MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES AND JOURNALING STUFF
Written December 31, 2014, Wednesday, 834 a.m.
THE TIME PARADOX: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES
Goodness. Is it Wednesday already?
Imagine with how much that astounds me what I think about it being the close of 2014. I stop. I blink. I look up and to the left as I think. The calendar says this is the last day of the year, and so do all of my blog entries since July, but it does not seem like the end of the year.
Sure. In some ways, it feels as though 2014 lasted a decade, if not more. However, in other ways, it feels like I blinked a year ago and when my eyes opened, it was/is a year later. It's rather mind-boggling.
Time is a paradox. It crawls and flies at the same time.
---
BREAK
Written December 31, 2014, 1015 a.m.
Today was a slow start of a day. I sure haven't been in any kind of a hurry. (Blessing #1490).
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STOP RUSHING: JOURNALING STUFF
I don't know about you, but this year, I've learned from a very wise man how rushing has never helped me in any way. It only makes me stressed, angry, and anxious. Rushing, then, sets the course of the rest of the day. And it isn't a very good one.
Rushing me we gets me anywhere quicker. Whereas slow and steady always, and without fail, wins the race.
If I am pressed for you time, that wise man has taught me to actually slow down, which seems counterintuitive. In my rush, I only add more stress and anxiety to the stress of being pressed for time. Needless to say, if I slow down, I stop additional stress and anxiousness and am able to think clearer and I won't forget anything, overlook anything, or do something silly (like get in an accident--whether it's run into a doorframe with my elbow or into a curb with my car). Plus, rushing always impacts whoever is with me. Slowing down clams the situation and I am actually able to get things done quicker and actually make up time.
Hence, I took my time getting with it today.
I wanted to actually slow down and enjoy life, rather than rush through it.
(Thanks, hubby for this quite valuable lesson, which I am finally grasping after almost fourteen years. 1491.)
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A JOURNALING PROMPT: JOURNALING STUFF
How have you tried to rush this year? And, how has it helped you?
How can you slow down and enjoy every moment in the next year? (Hint: Journal is one answer you should list! Wink.)
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MY THOUGHTS AT THE CLOSE OF 2014: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES, BOOK 1
Written December 31, 2014, Wednesday, 1035 a.m.
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BLESSINGS OF 2014: CHRISTIAN STYLE
{NOTE AND WARNING: CHRISTIAN TALK COMING UP.}
I am quite grateful, Lord, for 2014 (1492) and all of the lessons learned (1493). Now, I hope to apply them accordingly and purposefully.
I cannot believe how blessed I have been this year (1494). Talk about humbling. I KNOW how I do not deserve ONE blessing. Not one. I mess up constantly. I am the polar opposite of perfect.
This is not me coming down on myself. It's reality. It's fact. Truth always matters. To try to pretend I'm something I'm not is to live a lie and is deceiving myself and others. There is no profit in that.
However, with that being said, I am redeemed (1495). I am forgiven, thanks to the blood of the Lamb (1496).
Let me clarify something. The forgiveness extended to me only by the grace of God does not give me license to do anything wrong. It does mean, though, that when I stumble by accident, there is provision. I am forgiven. If I willfully do something wrong, then I must be corrected and correct myself--and the Lord is quite good at that (1497). Hence, I am quite blessed (1498).
{NOTE AND END OF WARNING: MORE SUBTLE TALK FROM A CHRISTIAN AFTER THIS SENTENCE.}
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BLESSINGS OF 2014
I cannot believe how much has happened this year--sunshine and storm. But, I would not trade any of it for the world. It's been a blessed year (1499). I have learned so much (1500).
I have been tried and tested (1501).
Yes. I could that as a blessing. After all, through the storms of life, we are pressed to search for blessing. And, when we do, we see how there are far more blessings than possible or imaginable--even in the storm (1502)... Which then teaches us how blessings are that which exists outside of situations, people, things, memories, (1503) etc. Blessings are transcendant (1504).
---
THE BLESSINGS OF THE LAYERS AND DIMENSIONS OF EACH AND EVERY SACRED MOMENT
I have also learned how every moment has layers or dimensions (1505). This is true even in times of sunshine or storm (1506). There is far more going on that what we see or experience at the time (1507). There are emotions, the six senses, thoughts, behaviors, connections, chain reactions/snowball effects, choices, dreams/goals, the spiritual dimension, the historical dimension, the family tree/lineage dimesnion, interpersonal and relational dimensions (and each individual involved has all of these layers going on in their own lives in this moment as well), the national dimenion, the world dimension, the politics dimension, etc. There are far more layers, dimensions, and things going onw e don't know or see at the time. And, in each of those are blessings, if we look for them and seek them (1508). This is what makes every moment so special, set apart, and sacred (1509).
Every moment has an infinite of things going on, past, present, and future in orientation (1510). And, this is why we should journal. It helps us to see things from different points-of-view and perspectives (1511)--and helps us find all of the blessings in each (1512).
---
A JOURNALING PROMPT
Chew on all of that for a few minutes. Journal your thoughts as you do. Try to grasp what was just shared.
---
THE BLESSING OF TIME AND WHAT IT BRINGS
Written December 31, 2014, Wednesday, 1100 a.m.
I cannot believe how it has taken me thirty-two years to learn one of the most valuable lessons of my life (1513). Furthermore, I cannot believe how I have learrned two of them this week (1514). (Better late than never.)
LESSON 1: I learned how I should make journaling my main journaling and writing theme. I should make it the main theme of my life story. (This lesson was learned two days ago.)
LESSON 2: How to journal in such a way that I go the deepest I can, and how I can write every word with depth and meaning. (This lesson was learned yesterday.) (1515)
Let me phrase Lesson 2 another way: I learned how to do deeper in my journaling and writing and how to intertwine great meaning into every word. (1516)
LESSON 2 PUT INTO PRACTICE: I shared what I learned and now, I am putting it into practice through counting my blessings as I journal (1517).
LESSON 1 PUT INTO PRACTICE: Through writing MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES (1518).
Time was what I needed in order to get to this point.
---
LESSONS LEARNED AND AHA MOMENTS
Those lessons learned are a big deal. Both were major AHA moments (1519).
I cannot believe how I received both lessons, and learned them, back to back like that--and learned them the last three days of the year.
Oh, how silly of me to take this long to find my true writing voice. But, I know it's been a process (1520). I had to experiment and try several things, learn from them, and they led to this moment (1521). This sacred moment (1522).
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YOUR STORY
I would love to hear your story and interact with you about journaling. Please attach a comment at the end of any blog post and share who you are, when you started journaling, and share your journaling story. Or, send an email or do a tweet with #RYPJournaling.
Let's form a journaling community.
Let's learn from one another and encourage one another.
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CONGRATULATIONS ABOUT YOUR JOURNALING
Congratulations regarding your new journaling journey.
I hope and pray the next year will be the most blessed and meaningful year yet for your life. Your journaling, if you continue, will help this come to pass.
Well done.
Happy New Year!
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SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
I'll see you next year (for Blog to Book 2).
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*** THIS MARKS THE END OF WRITING:
"JOURNALING STUFF: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE, BOOK 1." ***
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