JOURNAL FOR LIFE The Art Of Capturing How We Live © Lee Wise 2003 All rights reserved

I will share with you a few of my on-going thoughts regarding practice of keeping a journal.

I am not an expert on subject: but I am a proponent of art.

This is a highly *personal* article, and segments of what I have written may not read well in your opinion.

However...

There's a reason for my leaving things as they are: most of what you will peruse in this short piece is from my journal, and I don't always make entries that "read well."

On contrary, my overall purpose for keeping a journal is to engage in a practice which helps me *live well.*

May these very simple -- but hopefully not simplistic -- meditations be a blessing to you in any one of following ways. Should that transpire, I will deem time and effort I have taken to formulate these ideas a success. It would be an honor for me if what I share...

1. Encourages you to begin practice of keeping a journal or at least give it a try for a period of time.

2. Causes you to reflect on your own life in a way that is meaningful for you.

3. Prompts you to continue living "the good life." A life of excellence.

4. Inspires, encourages or motivates you in any way! IN THE BEGINNING...

Recently I decided to begin practice of journaling once again in my life. In order to assist me in process, I joined a forum and began to engage in a "21 Day Challenge" of personal development.

As a part of process, I wrote down my own guidelines for adventure.

"I will give myself freedom to be creative in my journaling.

It may be a quote, recording a victory, joy, or struggle. I will also give myself freedom to vary in my 'purpose' for each journal entry.

I may 'use' my time for simple expression, professional development or a variety of other on-the-spot 'reasons' for a day's entry. In this way I will attempt to capture a 'life in process' -- journey of my days during this time period."

In other words, I defined what I wanted to accomplish with a measure of personal freedom and creativity in mind. I did not want to jump-start a 21-day guilt trip for myself by setting my expectations to high!

In addition, I decided to design something that was "doable." Below was backbreaking endeavor I set out to accomplish .

"Goal: 15 out of 21 days, M-F. each week."

Based on my experience, I have two recommendations for you. Should you decide to begin or renew your own practice of journaling, I would encourage you to:

1. Design a "non-killer" objective. In your own mind what you set out to do should be *believable* and *achievable.*

2. Define a set of "guidelines" or statements that will serve to free you in process.

Having said that, I will now continue to share a number of random observations, insights and suggestions related to art of keeping a personal journal.

The comments after headings in capital letters are thoughts from my journal. They are in quotation marks and will serve as a running commentary to highlight main topic of discussion.

I would suggest that you...

TAKE TIME TO PREPARE

One of my first entries after I made decision to begin my journaling activity was this:

"Being 'prepared' helps -- i.e. a journal file open and ready to record things if opportunity comes up.

Get something to record in. Make it visible."

If I were to continue that line of thinking today, I would record...

"Take note of time frames and locations that 'just seem to fit' when it comes to 'making it all happen.'

Capture those moments that appear to rise up and say to you: 'Now is a good time' or 'This is a good location.'

Preparing does help. It really does."

FREE YOURSELF

I wrote these words about "freeing aspect" of my goals:

"Glad I 'freed myself' by making it simple and attainable -- that helps.

Principle: create your own 'emotional freedom.'

Do whatever you have to do in order to give you... A sense of freedom as opposed to obligation, Delight instead of duty, Encouragement instead of exasperation."

JUST BEGIN

"Just starting process helps.

How do you get up mountain? Begin. Not new, but true.

Like anything else, just beginning process helps. That's an advantage of making it simple and attainable."

CAPITALIZE ON WHAT MOTIVATES YOU

Concerning importance of incorporating into your life anything that prompts you to accomplish your mission, I wrote:

"Utilizing motivation of this board helps.

Utilize whatever -- or whoever -- personally motivates you to 'get job done.'"

MAKE IT FUN

These comments speak for themselves:

"Do what's fun.

Structure it in a way that is fun or record in a way that is fun.

Incorporate 'fun factor' into your journaling experience. I have found that helpful."

USE YOUR JOURNAL TO HELP YOU FOCUS

One day I decided to create a "gratefulness ledger" and record various things for which I was thankful. I could have listed *many* additional items.

But...

My goal was to give me freedom, remember? I wanted to see life that day through grateful eyes.

Here is what I recorded:

"Gratefulness ledger for this day...

I'm grateful for a loving, godly wife.

I'm grateful for good health and Lord's blessing with my health.

I'm grateful for my ministry and leaders He has given me to serve with.

I'm grateful for being able to influence others for eternity.

I'm grateful for opportunity to be able to continue to develop my writing skills.

I'm grateful for a loving family.

I'm grateful for a past that didn't totally destroy me.

I'm grateful I can pray."

CHANGE YOUR STYLE

On another occasion I designed a section called "about journaling" and recorded these thoughts concerning how we we journal. A given "style" if you please.

"Changing 'style' helps.

EVEN BIG KIDS "SPILL!" Affirming People In An In Your Face World © Lee Wise 2002 All rights reserved

It still happens -- even with adults. I know. I was culprit this time.

The glass "just appeared." My arm hit that crazy glass of of water. Almost instantly water was...

On table. On floor. "Messy."

But you know what? The rest of family didn't think it was a very big thing :)

"Water? What's a little water?"

AND I THOUGHT...

"That's kinda neat! Even big kids (like me) can feel okay when they spill their drinks!"

Why did I feel this way? I'll tell you: because for about thirty years we practiced saying something over and over again.

A COMMON PHASE

We had a common phrase we used around our house when one of children spilled a drink at table -- which, I'm convinced, must be in genes of *every* child: "You shall spill liquids. It's not only your birth right, it is your responsibility."

Back to phrase.

The phrase was simple: "That's okay. Everyone spills." Sometimes child might also hear words to this effect: "That's okay. Daddy help."

Then we'd just clean up and go on with meal. No big deal. AND THE OPERATIVE WORDS WERE...

"That's okay!"

I mean, why make a "little person" feel bad because she made a common mistake? It is a part of growing up process!!

And besides...

*People are more important than "process" -- right? *Everyone makes mistakes -- right? *It is good for family to help -- right? RIGHT

Yes, I repeated word "right" for a purpose. It is a good practice to: