JOIN THE CHALLENGE!
JOIN THE CHALLENGE!
Sentence Stems for the New Journal Writer

Sentence Stems for the New Journal Writer

April 28, 2015 | Comments Off on Sentence Stems for the New Journal Writer

  If you’ve suggested to your client that journaling would help them process their feelings and you’ve been met with a look of bewilderment, it might be a good idea to offer prompts to get them started. The simplest and most structured form of journaling prompt is called the Sentence Stem. Give your client four or five sentence stems to get them moving in their journals. Here are 10 to use as examples: Journal writing makes me feel… Right now I’m feeling… I wish I could… The person I want to be is… If I could change one thing about
Read More

Inspiring the Reluctant Journaler

Inspiring the Reluctant Journaler

April 12, 2015 | Comments Off on Inspiring the Reluctant Journaler

    You just love journaling and you know how powerful it can be to unleash the insights and creativity that is often hidden away in your head. Your pen flows across the paper; you are inspired and in awe of what came from YOU! As a professional, you want to share this compelling tool with your clients, but for some reason they don’t seem as eager as you had hoped. You hear all sorts of excuses why they can’t write. “I’m too busy.” “I’m not a writer.” “I don’t think I want to know what’s deep down inside me.”
Read More

5 Practical Ways to Get More Entangled With God: A Guide for Busy Entrepreneurs

5 Practical Ways to Get More Entangled With God: A Guide for Busy Entrepreneurs

March 2, 2015 | Comments Off on 5 Practical Ways to Get More Entangled With God: A Guide for Busy Entrepreneurs

    It was the week before I presented a workshop to employees of a major automobile corporation. Nerves had gained a foothold. A glance at my calendar compounded the stress. Fifteen counseling clients … intern supervision … resident counselor meetings … a visit from my college-aged son. By week’s end, I was overwhelmed. This was more than a simple case of over-scheduling, I thought, feeling drained and discontented. What was wrong?  I shared my dilemma with a girlfriend over coffee. She asked just one question: “How is your time with God going?”  Sure, I’d read my Bible (during church).
Read More

How Often Should I Journal?

How Often Should I Journal?

January 13, 2015 | Comments Off on How Often Should I Journal?

  My friend Becky journals every day. Dana journals when she has something she needs to sort out in her head. Lilly journals her prayers each night and includes any answered prayers in a different section of her notebook. The answer is: You can journal as often or as little as you like.                             For me, the frequency of my journaling depends on what I’m trying to accomplish. If I just need a place to dump some feelings then I might journal until I feel sufficiently cleared of everything that’s been on my mind. If I’m journaling to solve an issue
Read More

Christmas Past Journal

Christmas Past Journal

December 16, 2014 | Comments Off on Christmas Past Journal

  On Christmas Eve my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, in-laws, and friends join together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. With the exception of a few years spent overseas during my husband’s Navy career, I’ve attended every Christmas Eve celebration since childhood. This year our party will be at my parent’s home. It’s lovely, comfortable, and very inviting. We’ll eat all the yummy family favorites, pass out gifts to one another, and when we’re ready to sit a spell, I’ll break out the “Christmas Past Journal” and read the entries from last year and some from the year
Read More

Journaling Your Way To Stronger Life Transitions

Journaling Your Way To Stronger Life Transitions

November 17, 2014 | Comments Off on Journaling Your Way To Stronger Life Transitions

  When our youngest child prepared to leave for college four years ago, the “Empty Nest Syndrome” was far from my mind. I knew other parents who had difficulty accepting their new lifestyle, but I eagerly looked forward to more time with my husband, the freedom to travel, and a release from school activities and obligations. What I didn’t expect was the feeling of loss that would accompany my new life. As a Christian counselor with 15 years of experience, I knew that my feelings were normal. Life changes and their accompanying transitions can be exciting … and overwhelming. I
Read More

The Family Journal

The Family Journal

October 20, 2014 | Comments Off on The Family Journal

  A friend of mine told me she really wants to journal, but just didn’t know where to begin. She also said she would love for her kids to be involved and her hubby too! She has great enthusiasm for journaling together with her family and I suggested she try starting a family journal.   To get the whole family into the swing of journaling try this:   Purchase a plain spiral notebook with a solid white cover. Have the family design the cover using markers, colored pencils, or pasting pictures. Decide what the theme of the journal will be:
Read More

Privacy is Key

Privacy is Key

September 18, 2014 | Comments Off on Privacy is Key

Recently, I watched an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. Have you seen the TV show? Well, in this particular episode Raymond discovers that his mother would sneak into his room and read his journal while he was sleeping. In fact, Ray’s mother admits that she read his journal frequently when he was growing up. Naturally, as most of us would be, he was very upset to find this out. He ranted about how his journal was filled with private, personal thoughts. How could she invade his private life like that? Has anyone ever invaded your privacy and read your journal
Read More

A Brief History of Journal Writing

A Brief History of Journal Writing

September 11, 2014 | Comments Off on A Brief History of Journal Writing

Introduction Journal Therapy is the act of writing down thoughts and feelings to sort through problems and come to deeper understandings of oneself or the issues in one’s life. Unlike traditional diary writing, where daily events and happenings are recorded from an exterior point of view, journal therapy focuses on the writer’s internal experiences, reactions, and perceptions. Through this act of literally reading his or her own mind, the writer is able to perceive experiences more clearly and thus feels a relief of tension. This has been shown to have mental and physical health benefits. The Development of Journal Writing
Read More

Prompts for Your Spiritual Journaling Journey

Prompts for Your Spiritual Journaling Journey

September 9, 2014 | Comments Off on Prompts for Your Spiritual Journaling Journey

If you’re new to journaling or you just need some fresh ideas about what to write, this list will help you move forward on your journaling journey. Journaling prompts are simply ideas to help you start the writing process. You can write about each topic or choose the topics that speak to where you are in your life right now. Enjoy!   When do you feel closest to God? How has living as a Christian changed your life? Talk about the gifts God has given you and how you use them to serve others. My favorite scripture is_____ because_______. What would
Read More

Connect with NACJW