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Insights Journalling: How (and Why) to Write a Journal

Written by: Ruth Hegarty

Article Overview: Journalling is one of the most valuable tools for gaining insight into who you truly are at your core and growing confidence. Whatever major change you seek – whether it’s in your career, relationships, athletic performance or any other area that matters to you – you simply can not move forward with purpose and intention unless (and until) you begin to understand the inner workings of your own personality.

Insights Journalling: How (and Why) to Write a Journal

Journalling is one of the most valuable tools for gaining insight into who you truly are at your core and growing confidence. Whatever major change you seek – whether it’s in your career, relationships, athletic performance or any other area that matters to you – you simply can not move forward with purpose and intention unless (and until) you begin to understand the inner workings of your own personality. Greatness is about attitude, positive thinking and creating environments that best serve your own ends. We all have greatness within us and it’s up to us to draw it out.

Keeping a confidence journal leads to deeper self-understanding. Success in both life and work directly relate to how we see ourselves on the inside. We need to see ourselves on the inside the way we want others to view us on the outside. Our self-image (how we see and think about ourselves) has a profound effect on how other people perceive us, even though it may not be the impression we want to convey. Look at your inner self. Do you consistently see yourself as a follower or as a leader? Do you have optimistic or pessimistic attitudes and/or behaviors? How do you answer the question: Is the glass ½ empty or ½ full? Perhaps it is just right the way it is. What inner thoughts occupy your mind? Do you consider yourself to have a positive or negative outlook? Do you believe people can change their attitude? Do you need or want to change any of your habits or attitudes? How do these questions relate to your current state of confidence as well as where you want to go? Writing down what you want and who you want to be will help make it happen.

• Think about the past 6-12 months and ask yourself: How have I grown as a person? What qualities have I strengthened or developed? Am I more patient, focused, financially responsible, open-minded or provocative? Have I been able to set (and protect) my boundaries?

• How has my environment improved? Have I cleaned up my home or office, created order out of chaos or challenged myself to throw things out?

• What am I tolerating?

• Have I reduced my debt?

• Do I feel more connected to those things that make me feel passionate? Have I identified any interests or activities that ignite my passion? What positive steps have I taken to pursue these interests?

• Am I better able to see the humor in difficult situations?

• How am I taking better care of myself? What have I done to effectively manage my mood or reduce my feelings of overwhelm?

• What have I done to help others improve the quality of their lives?

• Describe 5 times when you have overcome crises in your life. Which of your strengths did you draw on to overcome each crisis? What effect did the outcome have on you and your life?

• Describe 10 times when you were proud of yourself.

• What are you afraid of right now?
• Make a list of all your accomplishments – big and small!

• Describe your perfect life: What would it look/feel like? Who would be in it? What possessions would you have? Where would you live? What work would you do? What kind of vacations would you take? What personal qualities would you have? What would your experiences be? Include things you already have in your life that you want to keep as well as things you don’t yet have but want.

• Identify 10 life adventures or experiences that excite you – where would you want to go? What do you want to learn, feel or be able to do?

• How attached are you to what other people think? Can you let go of the constant need for the approval of others? Ask yourself: What have I missed out on simply because I was too afraid of what others would think if I stepped out ahead of them?

• Create a Journal WOW Page: Great things happen all the time that we are wowed by, although sometimes we don't take the time to notice and truly appreciate these events. Keep track of the WOW occurrences in your life so you can take the time to absorb them. Your WOW journal page is a great place to turn to when you have a day that doesn't go your way and you need a confidence boost.

• Create a Journal GRATITUDE Page: Having an attitude of gratitude is the first step in creating the joyful life that is perfect for you. Until we learn to appreciate what we already have, we won't appreciate (and sometimes won't even notice) that which we receive. Take time each day to write down at least one thing for which you are grateful.

• Create a 100 THINGS I Want to Experience/Accomplish in My Life Page: If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Consider this your dream sheet for what you would like to have happen in your life. Be creative, be outrageous and most of all don't be practical. It may not seem possible at this very moment, however, we never know what the next moment might bring. The bigger your dreams the more compelling reason you have for becoming more confident.

• DISCOVER YOUR TALENT: To discover your unique gifts and talents, you need to spend some time focusing specifically on what they may be. What are the things you truly love to do? What do you think MIGHT be your talent? What situations do you get completely involved in? Lose complete track of time? Can do forever and never get tired? Knowing your talents and being proud of them builds confidence.

• Journaling Questions to Ponder in the MORNING:
1. What am I happy about in my life now and what about it makes me happy?
2. What am I excited about in my life now and what about it makes me excited?
3. What am I proud about in my life now and what about it makes me proud?
4. What am I grateful about/for in my life now and what about it makes me grateful?
5. What/Who am I committed to in my life right now and what about that makes me committed?
6. Who do I love? Who loves me? What about them (me) do (they) love?
7. How can I serve today? What am I here give? How will I feel/act knowing that I am contributing?

• Journaling Questions to Ponder in the EVENING:
1. What have I given today? In what ways did I help humanity/myself today?
2. What did I learn today?
3. How has today added to the quality of my life or how can I use today as an investment in my life?
4. If I had 30 seconds to give the world a message, what would it be? How have I lived this message today?

• Journaling Questions to Ponder ANY TIME:
1. What is right/great about this situation/day?
2. What is not perfect yet?
3. What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it?
4. What am I willing to no longer do to make it the way I want it?
5. How can I enjoy the process while I do what is necessary to make it the way I want it?

Related Articles
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  Use Your Journal To Record Your Experience.
  The General Journal: Your Most Versatile Accounting Tool
  Goal Setting - Not your Everyday Goal Setting Article!
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Article Tags: 12 months, athletic performance, attitude, attitudes, boundaries, confidence, current state, environments, follower, greatness, inner thoughts, inner workings, insight, intention, negative outlook, order out of chaos, personality, profound effect, self image, valuable tools
Referred by: http://www.LeadingEdgeCoaching.com



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