One way to live intentionally is by journaling, and writing out intentions for yourself. I have always had a hard time with journaling because most of the time it has felt performative, and as though I was never really writing it for myself. Many times people would tell me that they would journal about their day, or about something that would upset them in order to explore those feelings. This is not to knock those who do have the ability to free write, I just simply never was able to. So, I started to think about the things I wanted to write, the ways that I can use writing to motivate myself and how I can begin to intentionally log my place in life.
- Have some prompts for tough days. Think about why that day was not the best of days. What made it difficult? Was changing the trajectory of today in my control? What is one way I can make this better? How can I approach tomorrow differently? Many times, we have the power to control the narrative of our days. What makes it bad, how to fix it, who and what we give power to. However, it’s very understandable to get caught up in all the movement and drama that we don’t always step back to realize this. This is just a few examples of prompts that can help us think about the power we give to external sources. What is something you should have, could have, said differently? What about today made you feel upset? Invaluable? Explore these things so you know what to change, and possibly even how to change it.
- Have some prompts for good days because good days deserve just as much time (if not more) as bad days. What made today successful? What was one good thing about today? What do you think you did differently today that made it better than yesterday? Name one thing you’re really proud of and explain why. Make room for the good, allow it to happen, and then feel it just as hard as all the other emotions. Let it happen again.
- Lastly, pay especially close attention to the days that just are. The days that feel neither here nor there, and treasure those especially. Too often we ignore the days we have because they feel mundane and unworthy of praise. This is the cycle that I think can be the most harmful because we forget present living. We forget to enjoy the little things in all the hustle and bustle of the day. So write down 5 key things, good things, from that day. I love to savor my morning coffee and really make it a special moment. Write down something that made you laugh or smile, a show you got to watch, a line in a book that you loved. Don’t forget those days because those are the ones we see the most, and those are the days that we feel are gone within a blink of an eye.
Setting time aside to write is not always easy, which is why it becomes important to do it. Take 10-15 mins depending on what your schedule looks like, silence your devices, and just start writing. This is a great night time routine especially when taking time to reflect and wind down because it gives you the opportunity to start your next day with your goals, prompts, and desires in mind. Journaling can set positive boundaries for how much you let a day impact you and your mood, it allows you to remember, reflect, and pivot as necessary. Depending on the type of day you’ve had, try out one of these prompts today. Let me know how useful you’ve found them.
Let me know which prompts you use daily to help you with journaling!
Gloria Alyssa 