You want to journal but do not know where to start. Start with some tips, tricks, and tools from my book Be Journal: A Journey for Purpose Discovery and Self-Confidence. Journaling is great for your mental health and it has helped me with self-care, productivity, and mindfulness. I designed the Be Journal as a way for me and others to create a holistic lifestyle driven by purpose. With tips from the Be Journal, you will join me on a journey with gratitude exercises that eliminate toxic emotions, goal-setting that boosts encouragement, weekly prioritization that reduces stress, and passion exploration that sparks imagination and creativity.
Let’s get started with the Be Journal framework which provides my top five for mindfulness and motivation. Feel free to start with one or two of these daily/weekly. Here’s what you can experience on your journey with journaling:
o #1 3G: Getting Closer to Purpose is a great place to start. In your journal, you will focus on gratitude, goal-setting, godsend and listing 1-3 things for each question: What are you grateful for? What goals do you want to accomplish? What do you want God and/or the universe to do on your behalf? Focusing on these areas will help you create action steps and manifest blessings to get you closer to your purpose and personal mission.
o #2 Kick Start Your Week is a tool to become action-oriented and keep you focused for a successful week. In your journal, you will list 3-4 priorities to accomplish at home, school, work, etc. This will help you in not overextending yourself and prioritizing what is most important.
o #3 Maximize Your 5-9 is a guide to help you excel in your passion, interests, and hobbies before or after work. In your journal, make a list looking at the hours of 5:00-6:00, 6:00-7:00, 7:00-8:00 and 8:00-9:00. For each hour time block, jot down an activity that you plan to do to pour back into yourself. Keep in mind, the timeslots can be for the morning or night. Activities can include meditation, prayer, reading a book, trying a new recipe, checking out a new restaurant with family/friends, taking a walk, exercising, listening to music, attending a workshop, going to a community event, and more. For some we spend up to 80% of our time at work, caring for others, and/or doing the things we have to do. This is a space to aid you in spending more time doing the things you want to do.
o #5 Be Attitude will serve as aspirations and affirmations to influence your life. In your journal, write the word BE _________. In the blank space, write your own attitude or action you want to possess and manifest. I have used phrases like be calm, be motivated, be open to what’s next, and be kind to yourself.
o #5 Questions & Quotes can take journaling a step further. In the Be Journal, there is a weekly reflection question. I encourage you to find a list of journal prompts and answer one each week. Questions aid in reflecting about past memories, present happenings, and future aspirations. Also, in the Be Journal, there are 25 quotes from inspiring women of color such as Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Toni Morrison, Oprah Winfrey and more. I encourage you to look for quote books, cards, or apps. Quotes can affirm you with words of encouragement.
One may be thinking, how do I apply this to my life and hold myself accountable? Try journaling once a week as a morning devotional with mediation/prayer, as an afternoon boost with a cup of coffee/tea or lastly as an evening ritual before bed. Use your journal to kick start your week on Sunday or Monday, as a midweek check-in on Wednesday, or for your end of the week wrap up on Friday or Saturday. Choose one of these as a way to get started and try to be consistent with it. Always remember to re-evaluate and shift if need be. In order to join the journey, purchase a Be Journal and get started, https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/educ8theworld .
Copyright © 2023
All rights reserved. No part of this publication or conceptual framework therein may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
By Rosalyn Robinson Collins
Author - Be Journal: A Journey for Purpose Discovery and Self-Confidence
Instagram: @berosalyn
Website: https://educ8theworld.org/bejourney