The Talking Joy Team is Journaling As a Practice
Pam sent a journaling prompt every morning for 7 days to the Talking Joy Podcast team before they met for this recording. In this episode, we gathered the graces of this meaningful spiritual practice. Here are some suggestions: Jo-Ellen Darling in her book, Journaling as a Spiritual Path says, “make a commitment to try to journal every day even if you only have a couple of minutes, and even if you can only muster a sentence or two. Record the date and anything you notice upon waking, or from your previous day, or what lies ahead today.”
Here are some suggestions: Jo-Ellen Darling in her book, Journaling as a Spiritual Path says, “make a commitment to try to journal every day even if you only have a couple of minutes, and even if you can only muster a sentence or two. Record the date and anything you notice upon waking, or from your previous day, or what lies ahead today.”
If you already journal I suggest that you openly try these suggestions for the short amount of time we are exploring.
Day 1: Who or what do you need to lovingly release or place in Gods hands today?
If you are new to journaling, or if you have attempted journaling before but it never stuck, you may want to simply write about the happenings of your day or previous day, both significant and insignificant, in chronological order.
Afterward: Go back and read the entry—notice what stands out and what draws your attention. Remember that it’s not about how well you write but the nuggets of truth in what you have written that is of value.
Day 2: Today I invite you to write about the significant happenings of the few previous days.
On any given day we can find something to be grateful for, or something we are struggling with that we desire to make peace with. But we may have to look back at yesterday to see that our lives are full of significant and meaningful experiences.
Here are some examples: A phone conversation, a coffee or lunch with someone or an experience your child had at school. Moments with your spouse, dreams you had the night before or thoughts that “came to you” as you drove around or during exercise.
Happy journaling! Pam xx
Day 3: Today: try to write for five minutes without stopping using this sentence stem: What I really want is….
An equally important aspect of creating a habit of journaling will be to spend time alone each day. This may be quite challenging raising children. Yet, spending time alone can help you slow down, to notice how you feel and think-even though you truly think you don’t have the time at this moment in your life. It’s important to remember to value yourself in the life you are living, to give yourself a mini-break whenever you can. Try to spend at least 10 to 20 minutes each day in quiet by yourself whether it’s sitting in the car before you go into a store, pulling into a public park, or getting up 15 minutes early each day with coffee. During these breaks take your journal with you!
Day 4: What have I heard or read lately that I keep thinking about?
Self-knowledge is one of the fruits that comes from a commitment to the creative process.
"The deepest call to a creative life comes from within your own interiority."
~John O'Donohuse
Day 5: PROMPT: What do I want to be doing a year from now?
Your journaling prompt for today: There may be many reasons for journaling. One is to have a ritual that provides us with grounding and stability. Another is to create a place to confide our thoughts, and feelings, our hopes and joys, our struggles, fears, and disappointments. Maybe we journal to have a time to dream, confess without judgment, and contemplate all things….Yet another aspect of journaling is to show us our growth and the lessons we’re learning in any number of these areas of our lives.
Day 6: What did I love to do in my childhood….
Did you have a journal/diary with a lock when you were a kid? I did! I was soooo afraid my little brother would read my deepest secrets--aka who I had a crush on at the moment!
As an adult, I have used this excuse for not journaling but what I have realized is that writing can help further me along on my path towards more wholeness. AND I can still keep my journal under lock and key!
Day 7 of journaling as a spiritual practice!
The process of loving ourselves is less about fixing ourselves and more about allowing grace into our lives. Grace is “a disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.”
Your journal prompt for today:
Take some time to think about (on a walk, in the shower or sipping your coffee) how you want to love yourself. Be specific. On a large sheet of paper write “SELF-LOVE” in the center. Draw spokes around this phrase. Add all the words and phrases that are true for you right now; try not to edit your words as you do this. Go back and add more as you think of them during the week.
Pam’s Tip: Grab a group of friends that might want to try journaling. Each day share with them via txt the 7 prompts. Then gather in person or on zoom and unpack what you discovered about yourself. I think you might find that you have a lot in common AND that you can support and encourage one another on a different and more meaningful way.
-Pam xx
*This information was inspired by the Conversations with Pam episode “Journaling as a Spiritual Path.” The Podcast airing was Friday, February 18th 2022 with author Jo-Ellen Darling who talked about her new book, Journaling as a Spiritual Path. All information is inspired from her book.