How To Start Journaling When You Don’t Know How

Get a beautiful journal

I hope that this inspires to go and grab a beautiful journal – no scrappy exercise books in my club please – and write.

Start with your environment

How and where do you like to write? In a crowded café, with hot chocolate and biscuits to dunk, or in a peaceful place with no noise or interruptions?

What about making your space comfortable? What do you need to make yourself a writing den? What about your desk and chair? What about the energy of the space?

If you have ever met me, you will know that I am the quiet writing type. And when it comes to journaling it is usually in bed.

Decide where you want to write. Is this in bed, on the sofa or somewhere else? Do you like smells, sounds, silence or something else? TV or radio on in the background? What about people? I find it a pain to be interrupted when I am writing, do you?

Being grounded and centered

When we are grounded, centered, in alignment, working from our heart and listening to the whispers of our soul, the Universe flows to us and through us. That’s when your writing will flow and you can create what you need.

Imagine that you have roots growing from your feet into Mother Earth, breathe that energy in, up into your heart and out through your head. Send it down into Mother Earth, breath the energy up again. Do this a few times.

Just write

Ha! I can hear you say, that’s easy for you. Really? I do have days when I look at my journal and can’t be arsed. These are the days that I need it most. I ground and then start writing rubbish and as that flows and I am engaged what I need to write comes flowing out.

So, yes, just write. Trust me I’m a coach and cake lover.

Other things to try

Mind Mapping

When I am stuck for putting structure around something, I simply create a mind map. A mind map is a collection of thoughts around a central idea. It is quick and simple and serves to ignite my imagination. I also use it for creating plans and developing ideas.

5-word mind-map

This is very simple and is similar to the mind mapping idea, except the word is a word for today.

Write a word in the middle of the page and then allow five other words to come and on each branch five and five more until you run out.

Try this: Put SMILE into a mind map and see what words come up for you.

Then you can write about what comes up for you.

Questions – journaling prompts

Of course, things are so much easier if someone asks us questions. If you struggle with the prompts in each of the sections, scribble them out and try one of these:

1. How did the day begin?
2. What happened as the day progressed?
3. What is today’s story?
4. What is the best thing that happened?
5. What am I grateful for today?
6. How did the day end?

Use prompts from your journals

For example.

1. When you think of where you are, what or who do you need to forgive or let go of this month so that you make space for new opportunities?
2. What physical clutter has been complicating your life and diverting you from meaningful life experiences? How can you sort this out? What can you let go of?