I highly recommend that we buy a special book for journaling. It might be a three-ring, spiral notebook or a blank book bound in leather, but it needs to be special. It needs to stay in a place that you feel is 'safe.' In order to form the good habit of journaling, I believe we must consistently practice. Writing in our journal should be a scheduled event, at 7p.m. instead of watching the latest gossip out of Hollywood, perhaps we could write for 20 minutes. At first it might be helpful to have a list of questions to respond to: Over all, in mind, body and spirit, how did I feel today? What did I see today that pleased me? What did I hear today that pleased me? If I didn't like something today, how did I respond to it? What did I learn today? Is there an event coming up that I need to practice the positive when thinking about it?
If you want to write about turning your negative thoughts into positives: do NOT write the negative out in detail, just the essence. When writing the positive responses remember: write in detail-at least five positive, kind, soothing statements that are truthful.
| In her book, WRITE YOURSELF WELL, Hunter Darden, gives the following tips when writing for healing: |
| • | Write for at least 20 minutes a day on 4 consecutive days. That's what has worked in clinical trials |
| • | Focus on what been bothering you. Express your deepest thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative. Ask what difference it has made in your life |
| • | Write continuously, without regard for spelling or grammar. Don't edit yourself |
| • | Write about the same issue several times in order to gain more understanding and view the situation from different perspectives |
| • | When you stop writing for the day, take time to reflect on what you've divulged | |
You might find Ms. Betsy Drutecco's article, WRITE IT OFF, online. BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS January 2006 BHG.COM
Perhaps there are readers with additional tips for journaling? How about sending them to Carolyn@stresscenter.com I will share them next month. Send pictures! I think it helps liven up the newsletter.
Write it out,
Carolyn
Grace
I used to believe in the passage of "every once in a while we are given true moments of grace." Instead, what I have come to know is that every moment we have is a moment of grace. The difference is, now I see grace in not only the big huge moments of life but also in the subdued quiet aspects of it as well. That is how grace works. Sometimes it is the "Love American Style" fireworks, with a lot of bang, glitter and dazzle and other times it is in the gentleness of holding a babe or sitting in the silence of nature and allowing the "voice" / sounds of nature to speak to us.
Grace is taking a catastrophic event and understanding its lessons and resolving to take those lessons forward into living in the present moment of life. Grace teaches us to breath, to slow down and sit with whatever is occurring and then to choose a course of action. Grace, if allowed, will lead us to the path we are divinely intended to be on. With grace we will naturally start to develop the gifts that have innately been with us all our lives but were buried as we busied ourselves with living "accomplished" lives. Accomplished lives are lives that are lived with accolades and awards that do not foster our inner life... our spiritual side, and so we end up with this ever ongoing, nagging essence of "something is missing." That nagging is right on the mark. It is our spirit calling out to us over and over again telling us there is much more that we are here to do, more then what we are currently doing.
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