Topic: Journaling Benefits And Inspiration
Last week, I wrote about how consistently using an “I am” statement or affirmation affects your thinking.
I had a related experience this week when I wrote in my journal about a place I love.
Each year, my two best friends and I take a girlfriend trip. We agree on a destination with ease, sometimes while we are on a trip. Except this year.
My girlfriends want to go to New Orleans. I am hesitant.
This is odd because I love New Orleans. I went to school in New Orleans. I have family history there. I have visited many times in the last 40 years, but never with my girlfriends. I know we would have a good time there. But we have a good time anywhere we are together, so that really isn’t a major factor in my thinking about going to New Orleans.
A few days ago, I found myself writing in my journal about New Orleans. In a wave of nostalgia, I wrote about memories of my experiences there. I wrote about the places in New Orlaens I love and the pIaces there I never got to explore.
I wrote about how I could visit New Orleans with my girlfriends, share it with them, and experience it in a whole new light.
Guess who has a new mindset about visiting New Orleans this year? Me! I wrote myself into thinking differently. My mindset had changed.
I will admit that I could just have easily reinforced my resistance to going there. However, I believe the more we journal about a subject the better our understanding is of how we feel about it.
Journaling can be a powerful tool if you need to change your mindset, even if you don’t know you need to change it. The clarity that comes from writing gives you an opportunity to explore all sides of a topic. At the very least, it will clarify what you current mindset is.
In my case, I can see a trip to New Orleans in my near future.
Takeaways;
Use your journal to write about the questions you are pondering.
Write your thoughts as they come and see where they lead.
Writng all thoughts on the subject, positive or negative, helps you understand your position.
If you journal, try this prompt:
Do I have a decision to make? Am I on the fence about my feelings on a topic? What experiences have I had that might help me undestand feelings and decide my next step?
Have you changed your mindset by journaling? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thank you for reading. Keep on writing!
Until next time,
✍️ Susan
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