              |
 |
 March 2007 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page Section: Life & Leisure Journaling To Reach Your Goals By Nancy Jo Eckerson
I have a multitude of journals that I have been using for the past 11 years. My daily journal is where I write current concerns and joyful experiences. My labyrinth journal is a place to jot down anything I have noticed on my latest meditative walk. I have another journal where I list miracles and wonders. I have an applause journal for compliments I receive on my career work and another journal for my dreams for the future. I love writing, as you can tell. And it is obvious that I am not alone in my belief that journaling is a means to access your inner voice, and to aid you in attaining your dreams. I have researched and read numerous books about its effectiveness. One of my favorites is Write it Down, Make it Happen by Dr. Henrietta Klauser. “We need to have faith that we will reach our goals; to bolster faith when it flags, write it down as a reality,” says Klauser. Write in the present tense. I have incorporated this technique and found that over time it is very effective. I write things like, I love that I am a painter. I adore watercolors and it’s great fun when I paint a picture that people admire. Soon, I am getting compliments from friends and family on the newest addition to my portfolio.” Klauser goes on to recommend that when you are stuck, start writing. Writing through to resolution is a great way to get back on track. When I am stymied, I start to write. Sometimes, the answer pops onto the page in minutes. Other times, I can write about a goal or obstacle every day for a month before the solution appears. Eventually, it will appear. I believe that writing releases much of the negative energy that builds up over time. It then brings clarity to a situation that allows creative thinking to enter the picture, once again. It is a crucial tool in attaining our desires. The key to success is in your hand. Write! It doesn’t matter if all you write in your first line is, “I don’t know what the heck to write!” Just keep that pen moving, and you will eventually get to the meat of the matter. I prove this to myself every morning. In addition to all the specific journals I incorporate into my life, I also journal morning pages. The idea came from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. “Morning pages are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness; ‘Oh, God, another morning. I have NOTHING to say. I need to wash the curtains. Did I get my laundry yesterday? Blah, blah, blah.’ They might also, more ingloriously, be called brain drain, since that is one of their main functions,” writes Cameron. It is amazing what has happened to my mornings since I started this practice. I rarely skip a day, because the benefits are so apparent. My inner critic, who seems to be fully awake even before I am, gets splattered all over the page until I can finally come alive enough to see it for what it is — a spoiler, my pessimistic voice, designed to strip me of joy. Then I begin to write counter points and list the blessings and things I am grateful for, until I actually finish in a very happy state. With the closing of the cover on my spiral notebook, I now energetically head into my day. It is amazing, but quite often answers to the previously spewed dilemmas will simply pop into my head, and I proceed with a great deal more confidence in my day. Why not give it a try? There is no end to the joy you can receive through journaling. I leave you with this thought: “Journaling is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform our lives,” from Deepak Chopra, author and physician. back to top back to table of contents Current Issue | About Forever Young | Where to Find | Advertise | Our Advertisers | Community Calendar | Contest | Clubs | Contact Us | Archives | Home |
