Pages of Progress
Charting intentions through therapeutic journaling
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The other night I watched one of my favourite actresses Judi Dench being interviewed by Louis Theroux, and she mentioned half way through the interview, that she struggles to read and write due to her eye sight deteriorating. This stuck a cord with me, mainly because I felt sad for Judi wondering how she would go on especially with reading her script lines, even though she said she’d teach herself new tricks. I realised that I may only have 30 years of decent eye sight left, so the thought of not being able to journal every day later in life, really pained me.
NOTE TO SELF: Appreciate your eyesight, the ability to be able to read, write and journal every single day, is not to be taken for granted, EVER!
Whist walking along the shoreline at 730am, it was stunning by the way, I decided to set myself some new journaling goals for 2024. One of these intentions included helping you set some journaling intentions for the new year. You might not know this, but my mission in life is to help thousands of people, young and old, learn how to adopt a daily journaling practice.
Here’s the thing, setting intensions for journaling isn’t just about grand, defined objectives. It’s about committing to the act of opening your journal, penning a thought and allowing the ink to guide you through each day. In essence, it’s about cultivating a practice that may start with a single word but can transform into sentences of expression over time.
Reflecting on my own journey of over 1000 consecutive days of journaling, I’ve discovered the transformative power of what this habit holds. It’s not about the quantity of words but the consistency that gradually amplifies the impact.
As we approach Christmas and the New Year, what do you envision for your journaling practice? Perhaps it’s the commitment to opening your journal every day, could you make a promise to yourself, to write just ONE word as a starting point? It’s a small step, but one that I guarantee will pave the way for a more profound connection with your own thoughts and emotions.
Maybe you’ll explore the potential of these simple but impactful daily entries. To start you on this journey, here are a few therapeutic journaling prompts to inspire your new journaling intentions…
1. Reflect on the moments that sparked joy in the past year. What one word encapsulates that feeling, and how can you infuse more of it into your daily journaling?
2. Consider the emotions you’d like to explore more in depth this year. Write a letter to yourself, outlining how journaling can help you navigate these feelings.
3. Imagine your ideal day five years from now. Detail it in your journal, focusing on the emotions and experiences you want to prioritise.
4. What fears or uncertainties linger as you enter the new year? Write them down and explore how journaling might serve as a compass through these uncertainties.
5. What fears or doubts are holding you back from embracing change in 2024. What themes or images resonate most with your aspirations?
6. Imagine yourself at the end of 2024. What accomplishments do you hope to celebrate and what steps can you take today and during the festive break that will help you move towards those achievements?
Take your time to reflect on the above prompts, they will serve as a starting point, encouraging exploration and renewed commitment to your journaling journey in the upcoming year. Do let me know how you get on, as I love creating new therapeutic journaling prompts for you.
Until the next time
Take care & stay safe xx