“Journaling
from the events of daily life does not mean simply keeping a log or diary of
who we saw and what we did each day. It means, rather, writing down the experiences
that have affected our soul in a particular way.” Anne Broyles
New Workshop
Introduction
Welcome to Journal with Impact. In this new blog workshop we are going to look
at key exercises that can create space for personal reflection and creative potential in several
categories that most often influence our lives. If
a category you are interested in isn’t listed, just substitute your choice and
apply the exercise that fits. You can use the material for your own pursuit, or
as an author, use them to develop your fictional characters.
When
we begin any creative action, there is a basic three-step process:
create—prepare—share. For writers it might look more like write—audience—read.
Journaling takes that first step and fills the create space with possibilities.
Often we do not even see them at the time but discover them later when we
reflect back after some emotional or time distance. Yet at the same time the
journals can be a lifeline to keep us connected to our souls when life swirls
around us in busyness and sometimes chaos.
How
we journal, when we journal, and what we journal are all part of the creative
decisions, but the heart question is why? Why here—why now? Is it a season we
need to mark as a changing point in our lives? Do we need quiet time to develop
reading skills, for spiritual reflection, to contemplate relationship issues in private, or to recover ourselves?
The
journal is meant to be nurturing and healing, even when we go through grief and
pain. We set up a time and place and use methods that enable us to engage,
rather than the journal becoming a taskmaster. While we journal, we begin to
discover what feeds our personal creative process, how to generate fresh
material for our own lives (or characters’ lives), discover direction, learn to
see shape and structure, and focus coherence within.
At
first glance it may appear overwhelming, but the beauty of the journal is that
it seeds through snippets. We track whatever appeals to our senses: quotes,
lines from a poem or a book, descriptions, overheard conversations, or a
special memory. We begin to draw closer to the exercises and material that work
for us and let the rest go. The key is impact.
Even
in the busiest day we can find a few minutes to pause.
Journal With
Impact Outline
Conversation
One Reflection
Conversation
Two Vocation
Conversation
Three Family
Conversation
Four Travel
Conversation
Five Nature
Conversation
Six Memoir
Action Steps:
1. In what
ways are you hesitant to keep a journal? Write the ideas and words down in a
list.
2. Next to
each way listed write a negative reason word and then write a positive reason
word to challenge yourself to journal through your hesitations.
3.Which topic
are you most curious to explore? Why?
Share: Is there a
subject or topic not on this list that you’d like to explore from a journal
perspective? Let me know in the comments so I can incorporate some examples.
Read deep, marcy
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