Journaling Workbook

“In the journal, I do not just express myself more openly than I could to any person; I create myself.” – Susan Sontag Why Keep a Journal A journal is more than just paper inked with random words. It is essentially a facilitator for self expression, self awareness and self improvement. A journal can be what you need it to be: a confidant, a non-judgmental friend or a depository of your reflections in life. Here, I’ll show you how to create a reflective diary that will guide you on a journey to self discovery.

“As there are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen to write.” –William Makepeace Thackeray Daily Reflections Tip: Write about your daily musings, encounters, dreams from the night before or whatever comes to mind – big or small. No need to glamorize your words. Just let your thoughts flow. Write along the lines of the following questions: What are you grateful for today? What are your first thoughts in the morning? Looking back over today, what stood out in your personal life, home life, work life? What did you learn today? Any particular feelings/memories that bothered you?

“It is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time “It is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.” –Mina Murray Weekly Reflections Tip: Speak to yourself about your successes and shortcomings, and how you plan to make the coming week better. What did I learn this week about myself, the people around me? What can I celebrate? What can I be proud of? Any magic moments? What challenges did I endure? What do I plan to do – differently or the same – next week?

“I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart.” –Anne Frank Mindful Minute Tip: Draw the bigger picture with as many details as possible. Take time to reflect on your intentions, goals, priorities and life in general. List one thing you’re grateful for. What are the 3 most important things you want to do? What progress, however small, have you already made towards your goals? Every day can be an opportunity: What’s yours today? What do you need most from yourself, your family and the universe?

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” –William Wordsworth FINAL THOUGHTS Just like therapy, journaling eases the burden on your mind and lightens up your heart. You’ll see over time how profoundly useful and transformative this tool is for your life. I’d love to know how this journaling template has helped you! If you have any thoughts or comments, please reach out to me at (insert email). If you want to know more about the many wonders of journaling, you can find my blog post on it here: (insert blog URL) xo, Claudia