Journaling For The Health Of It®

What have you always wanted to do, but other people gave you a lot of reasons why the dream was impossible? They may have told you it was silly, too expensive, you were too old, it would take too long, etc. You may have decided they were right, and you were better off where you were. Your present situation was uncomfortable, or worse. But, you reasoned, you knew what to expect. Stepping into a new venture can be unnerving. It also can be exhilarating. Friends and family members often think they’re giving us good advice and saving us from the disappointment and shame of certain failure. And, yes, others are afraid we will grow beyond them and they can no longer relate to us. And, for others, it’s plain old envy. So, you put your dreams on a shelf with plans to take them down and dust them off “someday.” Then life happens, and you think it’s too late.

I love the stillness of the early morning. It’s quiet. It’s unhurried. And it gives me space to ease into my day.

Each morning, I pour myself a strong cup of coffee and spend about an hour in my journal. First, I do a brain dump to release any nonsense that’s swirling in my head. Then, I jot down at least three things I’m grateful for to help shift my attention toward what’s going well in my life. And finally, I move on to writing about what I want to accomplish over the course of the day.

Saving money can be a frustrating process. I’ve been there. You manage to get a good lump sum saved, then your car craps out and you end up draining your savings and still having to put part of the repairs on your credit card. 

It can feel really disheartening when this happens. It’s tempting to throw in the towel and give up on saving money altogether. But imagine if you hadn’t saved that lump sum. You’d owe even more money to the credit card company.

In 2020, we all find ourselves dealing with larger amounts of stress during these unprecedented times. Anger is at an all-time high and anxiety levels have skyrocketed as uncertainty takes us down a path of negativity that we never intended on traveling.

It is so easy to get bogged down by the numbers that flash at us on our TV screens and internet sites constantly reminding us that we have little control over what is happening around us right now. So how do you stay clear minded and keep your mindset positive so you can be an inspiration to those who are looking for even the smallest glimmer of hope?

I ran a small press for seven years and published 13 books during that time. I did the acquisition, editing, production, distribution and marketing. My authors did a ton of work, too. Together, we published three New York Times Bestsellers, got great reviews from professionals and online readers, won three prestigious Hoffer Awards and numerous other awards, and optioned one book for a film.

Each person has a unique personality. Yes! That part of you that nobody knows, not even you. Do you see those habits that you simply brush off as ordinary? Or those truths buried deep inside you that you don’t like remembering?  Well, scientists and self-improvement books claim that these habits can be part of your hidden personalities.