There’s something about the end of one year and the beginning of the next that invites review and reflection. Without this calendar marker, it’s really just another day—but, for me, January 1 always feels momentous. It’s like drawing a line in the sands of time between the past and the present: whatever happened in the past stays in the past. And though I acknowledge that the past affects my decisions now and in the future, a new year invites new awareness, new thinking, newness of all kinds. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I enjoy creating traditions for stepping over the line.

New Year’s Eve marks a point in time when one foot stands firmly on one side of that line, in the past, and the other foot in the present. And so, my New Year traditions include two parts:

Part One: Review and reflect on the past

I usually do this part of the tradition on New Year’s Eve, though I may also spend time during the first week of the New Year. First, I browse journal and calendar entries for the previous year, as well as last year’s New Year’s Chart (see below), to remind me of the various events and changes that occurred during the year. Note that I wrote “browse,” not “read,” because reading would take way too long, though I do read the letter I wrote to myself at the beginning of the previous year.

Then, I freewrite for twenty to thirty minutes, sometimes longer, with the following questions in mind (feel free to adapt this list in any way that works for you).

• What did I hope for and what did I accomplish?
• How has this year affected me personally and professionally?
• In what ways have I been disappointed and in what ways surprised and encouraged?
• What has been my greatest delight?
• Where have I let myself down?
• What has changed for me and within me?
• Have my values or beliefs shifted in any way?
• What fears have I overcome and/or what fears have I developed? And Am I more or less hopeful?
• How have I grown and what have I learned?

Part Two: Looking forward to the future

Create a New Year’s Chart. This is a fun, creative activity you can do alone or with other family members. When my children were little we used to do this together on New Year’s Day. You’ll need a large piece of paper and several colored markers. If you want to add fun (and time) to the activity, you can include glitter pen, stars, stickers, and pictures that you cut from magazines.

The think to keep in mind about this activity is that it is not about resolutions or even setting goals. It’s about wishing and dreaming and thinking large.

1. Write the new year in large numbers at the top of the page.
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2. Next, draw six circles and label the circles as follows (feel free to change these as suits you). Be sure to allow plenty of space around each circle:
   •  Things I want to do.
   •  Things I want to be.
   •  Things I want to learn.
   •  Things and people I want to see.
   •  Places I want to go.
   •  Adventures I want to have
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3. Choose a different color for each topic or give each person a different color, and begin brainstorming all the things you’d like to do, be, learn, and see, places you want to go and adventures you want to have, around each circle like spokes off a wheel. Categories to think about while brainstorming include relationships (family, intimate, friendship), work/career, recreation, health, spirituality, community, and education.
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4. When you’re done, post the chart on a wall. You can continue to add to it as you see fit over the next week or so. You may decide to keep it up on the wall all year as a reminder or to put it away and bring it out next New Year’s eve during the Review and Reflect part of your own personal New Year’s tradition.

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Sand Image based on photo by the_girl
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I have just been reading Writer Magazine’s June 2011 interview of Gail Godwin, regarding her recently released The Making of a Writer, Volume 2: Journals, 1963-1969. Godwin’s purpose in publishing her edited journal entries is to inspire other writers by sharing her journey and growth as a writer, as well as how she mines her journals for story ideas.

Godwin made several statements during the interview that resonate strongly with me, and I’d like to share them with you. She speaks of journal writing as “an ongoing conversation” about the themes that are most important to us, about art, how to live our lives, what it means to be human. And how the themes that run through our journals signal parts of us that need attention, or “working and reworking.”

I have often said we write in our journals, not only to help us process our emotions and thoughts in the current moment, but also for the future, so we can look back and say, “There is where I have been.” Godwin confirms this idea and highlights the importance of recording details we think are mundane because, later, we need those details to remember who we were at the time, exactly what happened, and what was going on in the outside world.

She says, “The longer you keep journals, you realize you have a commitment to the self … So you become more and more responsible about putting in the kinds of things that one forgets–how people talk, how rooms look, just trivial things that make a moment unique.”

This week’s journaling prompts will help you give context to current life events, as well as help you write more complete, complex, and descriptive journal entries — today and tomorrow.

1. Write about the most important issue you’re dealing with in your life right now. What’s at stake? How does this issue or problem affect other areas of your life? What are some possible solutions?
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2. If anyone else is involved, write a passage of dialog (remembered or imagined), discussing this issue with this other person or people. Describe expressions, tone of voice, and setting for the conversation.
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3. What is going on in the outside world — political, social, spiritual — that affects how you think about this issue?
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4. In diary form, write a list of everything that you did or experienced today (or yesterday, if you’re writing in the morning). For example: Got up at 6:30; ate strawberries and eggs for breakfast; wore my favorite red flowered dress to work; beautiful sunny day, wished I was outside instead of inside an air-conditioned office; got angry at my boss … and so on. Repeat this prompt once a week.
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5. Read a previous journal entry — preferably one written at least a year or more ago. What do you wish you knew about that day or that situation that you didn’t include in your entry? How could you have provided more context? Include those kinds of contextual details in all of your journal entries this week. At the end of the week look back and think about what else you could include that might help your future self.
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6. Freewrite for ten minutes about what, for you, is the greatest benefit you receive from journal writing.
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7. In your journal, write a real-life scene from your life today. Don’t think anything is worth recording? Think again … the scene doesn’t need to be dramatic or emotional. It could be a conversation at the kitchen table, a chance encounter with a bird, a moment of reflection looking out a window, an interaction with a child. Include as many details as you can.

Finally, I invite you to share by leaving a comment below: What is the most important thing you learned about yourself or your writing by engaging with these journaling prompts?

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Image Credit: Kevin Dooley
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Life is a never-ending source of journaling prompts. We can write about current events, past events, and imagined future events. One fun (and often revealing) kind of journal writing prompt is the “If …” statement or question.

• If I had been born male, instead of female, what sports would I have played, and why?
• If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be ____________, because …
• If I could do one thing to help improve others’ lives, it would be ____________, because …
• If I could have any super power, I would choose __________, because …

“If” prompts may be about anything from the fantastic (super powers) to the realistic (where I live) and that they may be formed as questions or statements. The other thing that all “If” journaling prompts have in common is that they end with a “why” or “because.” This helps us explore what underlies our responses.

“If” prompts are unlimited … created through imagination and curiosity about the world. So …

• If you could have any super power, which would you choose, and why?
• If you were a cat, what kind of cat would you be, and what kind of “owners” would you like to have … and why?
• If you were extremely wealthy, you would use your money to ____________, because …
• If you could live as long as you chose, how many years do you think you’d want to live, and why?
• If you could change only one thing about your life, it would be ___________, because …

Now, it’s your turn. Create and share one of your “If” journaling prompts in the comment box below.

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Image Credit: Filip Bunkens

ONCE journal writing has become a regular part of your life, you may want to have more than one, keeping different journals for different purposes. Here is a list (in alphabetical order) of journals that I keep or have kept at different times in my life. I invite you to browse the list for ideas that may work for you.

Art Journal — Use illustrations, mixed media, photography or other forms of art to convey feelings and record events. When you need or want to do so, art is an excellent way to move outside the box of your verbal, thinking mode.

Dream Journal — Keep a separate dream journal by your bed to record dreams immediately upon awakening. One method is to record your dream on the left page and some thoughts about interpretation and/or impressions on the right.

Goals Journal — Keeping a goals journal can be both illuminating and a lot of fun. A goal journal helps you record and prioritize what’s important, as well as help you develop steps to reach your goals.  And when kept in a separate journal — as opposed to jumbled in with your regular daily writing — your goals are easy to review and keep updated.

Healing Journal — When you’re going through illness or loss, a journal devoted to your physical and/or emotional healing can help you work through the emotions and other issues as they arise. In addition to writing about your feelings and thoughts, use your healing journal to record the kindnesses of other people, write down comforting quotes, and paste mementos or pictures of loved ones.

Quote Journal — Collect your favorite quotes in a special journal dedicated for the purpose. You can organize them by theme, or write them in the order you come across them. Use them for inspiration, comfort, or as writing prompts on those days when you don’t know what to write about.

Reading Journal — A separate reading journal is handy for keeping a record of the books you’ve read, your thoughts and impressions about the stories, the authors, and any quotes or excerpts that resonate for you. I like to write down the first lines of every book I read.

Spiritual Journal — Use this journal to document your spiritual life, record specific prayers, conversations with your higher self, inspirational sayings, and daily meditations.

Travel Journal — Use a pocket or purse-sized journal to capture the details of your travels. You can glue brochures, ticket stubs, snapshots, etc. into the journal next to your written impressions. These become great sources for future memoirs.

Worry Journal — This is what I call my daily journal — a catchall for all the things on my mind. Once I’ve let my worries flow through my arm and out my fingers onto the page, they seem much less intimidating.

Writing Journal — If you’re a writer (other than journal writing), keeping a writing journal is beneficial. In this journal, record thoughts, ideas, research notes, particular writing struggles, and anything else related to your writing work.

Journal themes are limited only by your imagination. Can you think of other themes I haven’t listed? Share them with us!
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Image Credit: Jenna Carver
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FREEWRITING is one of the most effective and easy forms of journaling. The idea is to write for a specified length of time (usually ten minutes), or to fill a specified number of pages, and not to stop until the timer’s sounded or the pages are full. What you write about is not important — only that you write and that you do it without stopping, without thinking, without evaluating or judging what you write.

The main benefit to freewriting as a journal writing method, is that you learn not to edit your words — or your thoughts. Sometimes previously repressed thoughts and emotions surface (you may be surprised at what you write), but then again you might write total incoherent nonsense for ten minutes. It doesn’t matter. Most of us have a compulsive habit of editing as we write, resulting in a repression of thoughts and emotions we consider unacceptable or “not good enough.”

When we freewrite, things are allowed to tumble out uncensored. Thus, freewriting clears the mind and emotions of clutter, relaxes some chaotic part of us, and allows us to then address important issues with a clear head. When used as a writing exercise, freewriting helps us find our natural rhythm and voice.

Freewriting can also help you to:

• Explore emotional issues on a deeper level. For example, let’s say that you find yourself unusually annoyed or upset by something, and you want to figure out what is at the bottom of that annoyance. Freewrite about it. Set a timer and just start writing: “Such and such annoys me and I’m not sure why. It could be because when I was little, my dad …” and so on.
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• Find subjects to write about. If you write (other than journaling), even just a blog, and aren’t sure what you want to write about, freewriting can help you find a topic. Think of a person, place, feeling, object, or event that is important to you and freewrite about it/him/her.
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• Accept yourself as you are. This may seem simplistic, but if you can learn to accept what you write without judgment, you can learn to accept the person behind the words without judgment, as well. For most of us, this is no small thing.

If you’ve never tried freewriting, perhaps because writing for ten minutes without stopping feels intimidating, or you think that it’s unproductive and a waste of time, I invite you to give it a try. During the next week, freewrite three times, for ten minutes each (no more — freewriting sessions are intentionally short). Then leave a comment here and let us know how you feel about the process.

If you freewrite on a regular basis, I invite you to add to this Journal Writing Tip conversation by sharing how you have benefited from the practice.

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Image Credit: Eemah

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AS JOURNAL KEEPERS, it’s important to think about what will happen to our journals when we are gone. Or even — and of course we hope this never happens — an accident befall us. This may seem like a morbid topic and something we’d rather avoid thinking about, but our journals are arguably our most private documents, full of thoughts and feelings which we have etched on paper (or on our hard drives). And we each have different ideas and feelings about what kind of legacy they might leave.

When my mother passed away, nearly four years ago, I inherited a lifetime of letters and journals she had written — priceless treasures as far as I’m concerned. As I read them, I’m getting to know my mother so much better, as the person and woman she was, not simply how I have imagined her. Yes, sometimes I read uncomfortably intimate information, stuff that I could get by without knowing, but it gives me a fuller picture of who she was. Her letters and journals, dating from around 1935 on, are important historical documents, detailing not only the inner life of a woman of her times but her view of world events as well.

As a result of my personal experience, I know that I’ll leave my journals for my children (they can decide whether the journals are of any value to them or not). Yet, I’ve talked to other journal keepers who wouldn’t want anyone else — especially not their children — to read their intimate thoughts, feelings, struggles.

However you feel about the subject, it’s important to communicate to someone — an estate executor, a friend, or relative — how you feel and to make arrangements for your wishes to be carried out. Then you can journal in peace, knowing that your writing will be in good hands.

How do you feel about your journals? What do you want to have done with them when you’re gone? Do you think it’s a good idea to leave them for others to read? And does it even matter? Why or why not? Leave a comment and let’s have a discussion.

For more on this topic, be sure to read my related post on WomensMemoirs.com about ways to safely store your journal writing (which will be posted tomorrow, the 22nd).

Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.
~ Demosthenes

ONE of the most challenging aspects about journal writing for the purpose of self-knowledge and growth is learning to tell the truth to yourself. After all, we don’t really want to uncover those dark, shadowy places that we have kept hidden — even from ourselves — for so long. It is much easier to think of ourselves in the glowing terms of self-deception: sure, we need to lose a few pounds and sometimes we’re not as giving as we’d like to be, but basically we’re good people, right?

The answer to that question is both yes and no. Yes, we’re basically good (I believe this with all my heart), but no, we’re probably not as good as we think we are. We all have areas of our lives in which we’re greedy or selfish or full of anger and hate — areas that we’d rather remain hidden. So we deny or rationalize or convince ourselves of whatever it takes to keep our self-deceptions active.

The problem is that without exposing these shadow areas to the light of day and even appreciating the survival skills that created those parts of our beings in the first place, we may never grow beyond who we are in this moment. Never go beyond past trauma or let go of past hurts for which we hold grudges. But, if we’re truly self-deceived, how do we overcome the paradox of belief and discover what is real and what is imagined? And how do we uncover the truth without beating ourselves up for having these undesirable qualities in the first place?

The following tips can help you in your search for self-knowledge and truth:

1. Remember that self-discovery is an imperfect and ongoing process that takes time, diligence, compassion and gentleness with yourself.
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2. Measure declarations of character to behavior. If I hold a picture of myself as a caring and attentive mother, for example, but after careful examination realize that I spend less than 15 minutes per day paying attention to my children, I need to stop deceiving myself. I may want to be a caring and attentive mother, and I may teach myself how to be a caring and attentive mother, but progress begins with realizing where I am falling short.
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3. Examine your fears. We often hide bits and pieces of ourselves behind fear, so when you begin to examine your fears and their sources, you may also find out things about yourself.
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4. Treat all aspects of yourself with respect; healing and growth — not recrimination — are the goals of self-examination. Remember that like two sides of a coin each “undesirable” quality has a desirable side to it. For example, stubbornness (usually perceived as a negative quality) and persistence (usually perceived as positive) are really the same thing. Whenever you uncover a quality that you think of as negative, list all the positive ways that quality can be or is expressed in your life.
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5. Once you’ve uncovered an area of self-deception and gotten over the initial surprise, make a list of ways in which you can begin to change your behaviors, thoughts, and/or feelings so that you are growing in the direction you’d like to grow.

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Photo by Susan NYC
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BECAUSE of the reflective nature of personal journal writing, it can have a meditative, sacred quality to it. For this reason, I recommend having a special place for your journal writing. It doesn’t need to contain fancy furnishings, but the best place to write is where you are will not be distracted, that feels good to you, a place all to yourself where you can write regularly.

In his book On Writing, Stephen King said: “… most of us do our best in a place of our own. Until you get one, you’ll find your new resolution to write a lot harder to take seriously. … and it really needs only one thing: a door which you are willing to shut.”

Many journal writers like to write in coffee houses, parks, and other public places. These are all very good for occasional writing, but to write from those really deep places in your heart you need solitude.

Do you have that special place in your home? A place where you can close the door and create a writing ritual (light a candle, meditate, or whatever works for you) that is all your own? If so, take a moment and leave a comment to tell other Writing Through Life readers about your space. And if you haven’t carved out a space all your own, I encourage you to take some today to claim a corner of your home just for you.

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Image by: Gina Biancaniello
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WHEN it comes to writing, and this includes journal writing, we all have times when we second-guess or doubt ourselves — usually when we’re well into a project or have embarked on a new commitment. Looking ahead, the task or commitment seems daunting, overwhelming. At that point, we may begin to question our abilities to complete what we set out to do. Or we question the approach we decided to take. Or, even, why we thought we should do it in the first place (What was I thinking!).

In my experience the very best way to move through those periods of writing-related insecurity — well, any form of self-doubt, actually — is to write about it. Here’s how:

1. Write the truth about how you feel; don’t even try to make yourself feel better. Then write about other times you’ve felt this way. What happened? Did you quit or did you forge ahead? What would you have changed about your response, if anything, and what have you learned in the past about the way you generally handle your insecurities?
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2. Have an on-paper conversation with yourself. Make a statement, then respond to it. And so on. Until you’ve come to a sense of clarity.
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3. Draw a line down the middle of your page to make two columns. In the left-hand column, list everything that could go wrong. Then in the right-hand column, list what you can do to avoid or “fix” that thing. (Sometimes the answer is to ask for help).
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4. Write affirmations. Write down all the reasons you are going to succeed with the project, task, or commitment. Write down the qualities and abilities you have that give you assurance. Repeat these affirmations to yourself on a daily basis.
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5. Pretend Doubt is a person and tell him off! First, write down what you want to say, then read it aloud. You might be surprised with the results.

Above all, keep writing. You will make it through the period of self-doubt and on to success.

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Photo by Kharied

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JOURNAL writing is a microcosm of life. And as with anything else in life, it pays to be persistent and to continue working toward your goals. Persistence requires continuing to move forward in spite of occasional discouragement or setbacks.

When it comes to journaling, we all become disenchanted or discouraged with our practice from time to time. In my case, it may have been because I looked back through my previous weeks’ whining writing and judged myself as juvenile immature. At other times, just because life got in the way, I wasn’t able to maintain my usual writing schedule, and had to rethink my workload. And, as with physical fitness, once you get out of the habit of working out regularly, it takes concerted effort to regain your previous level of fitness.

When these things happen, take them in stride. Like anything else in life, your journal writing may ebb and flow with the times. But as long as you continue to persist (that is, persist to persist), you will, without doubt, enjoy the many benefits of an ongoing journal writing practice.

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Image Credit: Ilya Ponomarev

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