Journal pages that don't quite work

A huge part of my creative process involves the pursuit of journal ideas that don't quite work. I know this part very well. Somewhere along the way from initial idea to final draft, a creeping sort of doubt sets in. I find myself staring at the page or screen thinking, hmm, this isn't how I imagined it. Maybe if I try it this way. Nope. How about this way? Also nope.

It takes a lot of nopes, but eventually, in order to move on, I have to concede that an idea isn't quite ready for sharing and might never be. My folders are overflowing with printables and posts in various stages of completion that don't quite work.

Here's an example...

My original idea was to create a variation on my alphabet-inspired pages, with colourful letters serving as writing spaces.

I can't tell you how much fun I had arranging the letters! That little m. Who says all the stems have to be the same length? It was so much fun that I also made a numbers page and a few other variations. I couldn't stop! Writing the prompts was also a treat -- some are easy-breezy and some a little more challenging.

But when the time came to journal the page, writing into those simple letter shapes kind of ruined it for me. The end result looked messy, which is usually fine by me where journaling is concerned, but not in this case. Some letters didn't offer enough space and some offered too much. I mostly sorted it out in a second attempt by writing along the inside borders of letters, but still felt the page needed to be filed away.

Until today.

Today, I thought I'd share it with you anyway.

Maybe it truly doesn't work or maybe it does after all. Or maybe it's a step along the way to a better idea. It's often hard to tell the difference and in the past I've been hesitant to write when I just don't know. But now I'm wondering if sharing what I'm up to, even when it's not quite working, might be an opportunity to chat about our creative projects, to revisit ideas we aren't ready to give up on yet and cheer each other on through the nopes.

I'll start. If you'd like to give this page a try, you can click here or on the image above to download it. I'd love to know your thoughts. Truly. And if sharing ideas that don't quite work -- yet! -- is something you'd like to see more of in future posts, just leave a comment below to let me know that too!

P.S. The pdf page file includes two page sizes: letter and A4.

A new journal page collaboration with Paul Day

Paul and his grandson, Frederick

One thing Paul Day and I share in our approach to journaling is a deep appreciation for the surprises that seem to accompany every aspect of self-reflection. For both of us, each unexpected discovery is its own reward and keeps us coming back to our journals day after day.

Together, we set out to create a set of journal pages that looked for lovely little surprises in the juxtaposition between past and present. Paul was also eager to explore his progress through the years and capture cherished memories, old and new.

The result is a set of pages that seeks out the good things and meaningful moments that shaped us long ago and the ones that are continuing to guide us now.

Here are a few words from Paul about his experience with journaling and our work on these pages:

Hi I'm Paul. About 4 years ago I became aware of journaling and the many positive aspects, especially prompt lead journaling.

About a year ago I stumbled across Christie, and her friendly approach, encouragement, and prompts have allowed me to expand my journaling further, and I've found it very cathartic at times. This opportunity to work with Christie and create these prompts has been a real joy.

We hope you’ll find joy in these pages too! If you’d like to download them for your journal, you’ll find them right here.

L is for Lovely - New alphabet-inspired journal page

This week's alphabet-inspired journal page begins with one lovely thing about being you. It's a variation of a question I've been exploring for a while now: What does it feel like to be you?

I haven't considered the question in quite this way before and do you know what I noticed while I was journaling my one lovely thing? Gratitude. Which surprised me a little because it wasn't my initial intention with this prompt. Originally, I thought it would be more about getting to know yourself from an inward-looking perspective, which I know can be a little uncomfortable, scary even. I thought writing about a lovely thing might be a lovely way in. It was, but it also took me in a direction I didn't foresee, which happens ALL THE TIME while journaling! It's what makes it so worth the effort -- and the scary bits here and there.

And wouldn't you know it, it also gave me an idea for answering this prompt. If looking for one lovely thing about being you it feels a little too sensitive to approach directly or if the answer feels elusive, why not start with gratitude? For example, is there a special someone you're grateful to have in your life? Perhaps that can lead you to one lovely thing about your relationships. Is there a project you're thrilled to be involved in? Perhaps that reveals one lovely thing about the work you do or the adventures you're drawn to.

I hope you'll find all sorts of lovely surprises in your journal today!

If you'd like to journal the letter l with me, I'll send it to you! In the comments below, tell me one lovely thing about being you. Not only will you get a head start on the first prompt in this printable, but I'll also send a reply in return along with the pdf file* so you can keep journaling!

P.S. If you're new to this alphabet-inspired journal series, I'm sharing the process with you -- and these printable journal pages! -- as I go. You can find more information about pages a through k, plus some of my other page projects, here.

* The file will include two page sizes: letter and A4.

Everyday Journaling - How to Make Ripples

I think we’re making ripples all the time. They’re in every word of encouragement, every effort to build something lasting, and every smile directed at someone in the middle of an ordinary day.

Here are 8 quick journal prompts for thinking about ways you can make ripples.

1. One person you can check in on:

2. One thing you can leave better than you found it:

3. One local organization or business you can support:

4. One next step you can take on a project that matters to you:

5. One meaningful issue you can learn more about:

6. One way you can encourage one person you adore:

7. One way you can share your knowledge or skillset:

8. One good thing you can put out into the world:

How will you make ripples today?

P.S. This page is part of my Everyday Journaling series, in which I create on-the-spot journal pages inspired by everyday experiences. If you’d like to create your own blueprint for making ripples, this printable journal page is available in my shop.

Everyday Journaling - How to Listen

I feel like good listening can be hard to come by. Even so, I think we know it when it happens. To be truly heard — to be gifted with someone’s full attention and encouraged to say what you think without interruption or dismissal, even if it doesn’t quite make sense yet — is deeply validating.

I know I can be a better listener. It’s something I think about all the time, mostly after I’ve sucked all the air out of yet another conversation. I can be impatient, distracted, and sometimes more in need of validation of my own perspective than interested in working to understand someone else’s. Often, I don’t recognize that I’ve missed an opportunity for a deeper, more meaningful discussion until the discussion is long over. All of which prompted this journal page — to give myself a dedicated spot to think about good listening and hopefully generate some helpful insights about how to put that thinking into practice.

I found it really helpful to consider elements of good listening in lots of different circumstances. I started to see different layers of listening, one on top of the other, that could lead to better understanding. Going forward, I’m working on giving conversations my full attention and a chance to unfold without jumping straight to conclusions about where they’re headed or what they mean. I’m working on asking better questions about another person’s perspective and experience rather than assuming I already know. I hope it will lead to more understanding and engagement and also more fascinating discussions!

P.S. This page is part of my Everyday Journaling series, in which I create on-the-spot journal pages inspired by everyday experiences. If you’d like to jot down your own thoughts and observations about how to listen, you’ll find this printable journal page right here in my shop.

Everyday Journaling - Even the Stuff that Feels Silly

I can’t decide if this is something I should share. I’ve gone back and forth a hundred times in my mind. I’ve written it up and deleted it twice. I may delete it again. (Regardless, I’m already imagining a whole new page just to sort through the misgivings I’ve had about this one.)

Is it okay to admit that all I want to do is watch TV? That lately I have this distracting urge all day long to stop what I’m doing, find a screen, and disappear into someone else’s story? Do I write about that sort of thing here?

The thing is, creating and journaling this silly, ridiculous journal page dedicated to the things I could be doing instead was really helpful. It generated lots of new ideas and resulted in a huge, handy list of better things to do for those moments when I can’t think of better things to do.

It also cheered me up. It reminded me that I can journal about anything. And that even the ideas that don’t at first feel worthy of serious consideration can lead to something good.

P.S. This page is part of my new Everyday Journaling series, in which I create on-the-spot journal pages inspired by everyday experiences. If you’d like to jot down your own handy ideas for things to do other than watching TV, you’ll find this printable journal page right here in my shop.

Uncomfortable Journaling and How to Get Past It

I do a fair bit of reading about the role of reflective journaling in learning -- especially adult learning. Reflection itself is an awesome thoughts-to-action process. Awesome. It aims directly at the core of who you are and what you're capable of achieving and that, I assure you, is riveting subject matter for your journal. (More about this below, I promise.)

But.

It's not an easy process. Not by a long shot.

Almost every article, paper and book I encounter includes variations of these two warnings:

1. Reflection, in order to be effective, requires consistent effort and encouragement.

2. Reflection is often uncomfortable, even painful.

Every time I read one of these warnings, I think, "I should write about this." And I do. Sort of. I start a blog post or email on the subject and then, about halfway through, I give up because it feels ... uncomfortable.

In my own journal practice, even after many years, putting my thoughts in writing is still uncomfortable at times. Awkward. Cringeworthy. Icky. Painful. Even the simplest things, like capturing a moment or two from an ordinary day, can be tricky. I think it's because journaling brings you face to face with yourself, your choices and circumstances, and what you see doesn't always meet your expectations.

Why on earth would you want to put yourself through that?

For me, it's what's waiting on the other side, just past the discomfort, that makes it worth the effort time after time. And what's waiting are the very best parts of yourself -- the strong and brave parts, the parts that are capable of change and growth, the parts that are kind and generous and funny and brilliant and utterly unique.

Reflective journaling is a surprisingly effective tool for getting to know the best parts of yourself, for building faith in yourself, for recognizing that you can do what you set out to do, and for getting out there and doing it.

Even the pain has its uses. I've found that noticing the pain in my own experiences in the course of my journaling helps me notice it in others too. It helps me see them struggling in ways that I'm struggling and reminds me to consider our common ground before jumping to conclusions about things said or done.

Long story short, I love every bit of it, even the discomfort, because it deepens my experience of the world. It makes me appreciate the good stuff all the more and it makes life more interesting. In fact, it doesn't just make life more interesting -- journaling makes us more interesting. Each of us, including you. And you are fascinating, I promise you. You have a singular story to tell. You have an important voice to add to the conversation. You have a one-of-a-kind path forward to create for yourself.

So, let's get to that good stuff together, shall we?

Here are three ways I've learned to journal through the uncomfortable parts along the way to best parts:

1. Reflect in small doses. This is how I journal the tough stuff, like heartache and failure -- small doses. And colourful spaces for writing and prompts that are grounded as much as possible in just one tiny part of the here and now. So I don't end up in the weeds. So I can take it one tiny step at a time and, for the most part, enjoy moments of progress and make note of the growth spurts along the way.

2. Adopt an attitude that is relentlessly positive. This drives my kids nuts -- because I'm always pointing out the silver linings in their clouds -- but I stand by it. Failure is an opportunity to learn. A problem well stated is half solved. Bad times remind us what's important to us. I'm not saying I'm always a ray of sunshine, far from it, but even in my darkest hours, it has become a habit to search for the good stuff and it always makes a difference in the speed and the manner in which I find my way back to the light.

3. Make it your own. There are no rules in journaling. Find the times and tools and methods and words that work best for you. Experiment, take breaks, start over, keep the stuff that keeps you journaling and get rid of the stuff that doesn't. When your journaling practice is your own, it can see you through to the good stuff.

One last thought

I'm here to help. I want to encourage your journaling any way I can.

• If you're looking for a place to start on your own, you can download many of my small dose journal pages for free from my shop.

• If you'd like some personalized, one-on-one encouragement, you can try a mini journal adventure.

• If you'd just like to say hello and chat about your journal practice (or the journal practice you'd like to develop), leave a comment below or send me an email with your thoughts -- even if they're uncomfortable. I'd love to hear from you and I'll be thrilled to chat.

How to Start Journaling Again

From time to time, I struggle to write in my journal, especially when I'm stressed. I tell myself that I don't want to see a parade of negative thoughts in written form or that I don't have the energy to wade through a tangle of emotions. Yet, when I finally do open my journal, I invariably find that there's a lot of good mixed in with the bad. Writing in my journal gives me the perspective I need to recognize all sorts of interesting, even delightful, ways to move forward. Even a super-quick jotdown provides a much needed boost of energy and optimism. Long story short, it's always good to be back and I wonder why I ever stopped!

If you've stepped away from your journal routine and aren't sure how start again, here are four ways I've discovered over the years to find your way back:

1. Gift yourself with the option of going back to your journal guilt-free. If you think you've been away too long, I promise, you haven't. It's never too late to start again. Think of your journal as an old friend who loves you exactly as you are and understands that you can't always be in touch when life gets busy. Your journal is a safe, judgment-free zone for writing what you need to write when you need to write it. Just jump in, start writing, and let the time between entries fade away.

2. Write anything down, anything at all. Start with the date. Then, perhaps, the weather outside. Then, maybe, a thought about your day so far. If the words still don't come, try someone else's words. Write a quote or a line from a song you love, then one thought about why you love it and how it relates to this moment. Write the punchline to your favourite joke, then one thought about why it sticks with you. Alternatively, consider a list: things you're grateful for, good things, people you adore, things you're looking forward to.

3. Keep your journal in a place where you'll see it when you're most likely to write. If you're an early morning or nighttime writer, keep your journal on the nightstand. If you're a daytime journaler, try giving it a spot on (or in) your desk or in your handbag, where you're sure to find it during the day.

4. Even if you don't feel like writing, pick up your journal and read a page or two from a previous entry. You may find yourself returning to a memory that makes you smile. You may realize how far you've come since you last wrote. You may find compassion for yourself and the challenges you face. You may find a little inspiration and energy for the days ahead. You may feel the urge to write again! I tend to find a lot of humour in my previous journal entries. I'm forever trying new, often odd, things with mixed results. I take myself and my missteps a lot less seriously in my journal and it's a perspective on life that always cheers me up!

I hope these tips will help you find your way back to your journal. If they do, let me know which ones worked for you by leaving a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!

P.S. Here's one more idea! If you'd like to tiptoe your way back to journaling with a tiny collection of free journal pages devoted to the little things in life and a few personalized notes of encouragement from me along the way, try my mini journal adventure. I'll look forward to journaling with you!

What I'm Thinking About While Creating New Journal Pages

Here’s a short video of some of the things I'm thinking about when I'm creating new printable journal pages and journaling in my own journal. Spoiler alert: it's all about reflection!

Reflection Anticipates Action

Last week, I wrote in my newsletter:

“One phrase I've seen many times over the past few weeks in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and global protests against anti-black racism is ‘listening, learning, reflecting.’

The reference to reflection always catches my attention because it is a process that is dear to me and has become the focus of my learning, work, and personal development. It is front and centre in every talk I give about journaling and I always describe it this way:

’Reflection is at the core of the work we do in our journals. It's 'thinking with a purpose' and it's more than just recording events and experiences as they occur, although that's a big part of it! Reflection is also about making sense of those events and deciding what to do about them. In that way, it is an active, intentional process.’

Simply put, reflection anticipates action. It's a continual process of recognizing our experiences, teasing the lessons from them, and actively applying what we've learned to create new and better experiences. It's about thoughtful, intentional movement that takes into account what came before and what needs to be accomplished going forward.

It takes effort and practice, but it's a skill each of us can develop and put to good use. There are many elements of reflection that offer practical guidance, such as gathering lots of information from a wide variety of sources with an open mind and without immediately drawing conclusions, considering events from many different perspectives, and examining the ways our own biases and assumptions influence our actions and reactions.

Our journals are here for us in this moment -- to grapple with uncomfortable thoughts, try new ideas on for size, and visualize a different future for our communities. They're here for us to make plans for action, record our progress, and make new plans. They're here to encourage us, motivate us, and move us forward.

I don't live in the United States. I was born, raised, and still live in Canada where we have our own shameful history of racism. Systemic anti-black racism also exists here. The events of the past several weeks have made it clear to me that I have not listened, learned, or reflected enough about the devastating effects of systemic anti-black racism. I need and want to do more to hold myself accountable to my beliefs about social justice and equality. To do so requires committed, sustained reflection that includes action. I have been seeking out meaningful ways to contribute to and participate in anti-racism efforts in my community and will continue to do so. These are some of the books I'll be reading as I continue to listen and learn:

The Skin We're In by Desmond Cole
Policing Black Lives by Robyn Maynard
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

I also found this thread on how to be an ally by Mireille Cassandra Harper informative and action-oriented.”

If you’d like to share your thoughts or any resources you've found helpful, I am eager to talk and would love to hear from you. You can leave a comment below or contact me by email anytime. I'll look forward to chatting with you.