Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just want to add your spiritual postings in your regular journal, you will want to read this.
Personal journaling supports our development and growth. But spiritual journaling goes deeper. Spiritual writing is a reflection of our soul. Like personal journaling it too is a tool for self-discovery, aids concentration, is a safety valve for emotions, a training ground for improving thought to paper processing, and builds self-esteem and confidence.
Spiritual growth is not just about religion, it concerns all life -- time, goals, relationships, work, politics, and our inner life. Spiritual journaling is a process where the part of us that connects with God, or our higher power, expresses itself. It is a process of where selfishness can be transformed into caring, rebellion into obedience, and despair into hope. It is with this connection that personal development occurs.
Journaling is just one discipline to a greater path of grace. Prayer and fasting are the other two. This discipline is a response to grace not an alternative. It is also an adventure in joyful freedom.
Have you ever been listening to your pastor or priest and you zone out briefly, hear something profound, and then suddenly snap back? It's there and then gone.
What about a time when you started crying and there wasn't a reason? The tears could have been triggered by words, a phrase, a visual from a conversation, television program or commercial, movie, or radio broadcast. Apparently, there was an emotional pull, do you remember what it was? Did you ever think of what actually trigger it?
It is my believe that these and other ways we receive subtitle messages, either from your inner spiritual self or a higher connection, are guidance. God and the universe talks to us all day long but because of our busy lives we don't listen very well or stop and take notice of what "really" just happened. Usually, we just push our way right though the message, shrug it off to being tired, dismiss it as irrelevant, or not having any time to address it.
But these do have meaning and it is important to record these, even if on a napkin, and spend some quiet time with them later in your journal. Then ask our higher power for guidance and understanding. When was the last time you did this? Maybe you have never asked. Maybe its time to renew the experience.
In order not to repeat past events we study them. But do we study our day so that we don't repeat certain experiences again? Usually not. What if you asked: "What occurred in today's events that seem out of the ordinary?" "What messages appeared that were quickly tossed that were spiritually based and could have additional meaning?"
For this very reason, not to repeat our mistakes and to improve our future that we should stop and ask. Throughout history we've been told: "An answer cannot be received, until first we ask." I know this last sentence must be a quote from somewhere but I couldn't find the source.
Do you read material that spiritually enlightens you? A great exercise is to journal before you read the material. This will allow your soul to reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit and enhance the reading.
What about journaling after or during the reading? Writing allows the meshing of thoughts -- the authors, yours, and the higher power. It is a powerful connection. It is the best way we can begin to see our path and our purpose.
Dear Higher Power letters are my favorite. I feel like I'm talking with my best friend and trusted father When was the last time you wrote to him or her?
Many people tell me they only journal when they need to dump their negative emotions. Yes, journaling can be a great use for this, however, journaling is actually so much more. If you do find that your entries are more focused on negative aspects of life, I highly suggest you change it. Since like attracts like, you are opening the opportunity to the universe to send the exact type of energy back to you. And who wants more negative energy in their life?
If you must post journal entries that are negative, let me suggest that you don't stop there. Continue writing flipping to the positive side. This maybe difficult at first but as it changes so will your attitude about life.
Normally, people who don't journal often tell me that they don't do so because it is always negative. Who wants to return to something that is negative? I surely would not.
Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
Catherine Franz is a life and business coach living in Northern Virginia. She has presented journaling workshops over 20 years. Catherine has authored two great books on tips and techniques of journaling. Copies available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com/store/main.htm
Culver prom limo ..Have you ever wondered why some people can make millions... Read More
PASSED, PASTPassed is the past tense of pass. Past means... Read More
On the first day of a bright and shiny new... Read More
Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:? The theme... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
The following answer sounds simplistic?but think about it. The single... Read More
You may wonder why I have chosen this title of... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
Sometimes there is confusion about the exact meaning of the... Read More
Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read More
(Skip directly to ten for the fastest shortcut!)Like any field,... Read More
How many of you take the time to really write... Read More
If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More
Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to... Read More
There are various forms of structure, including frameworks, work processes... Read More
What Makes a Great Headline?Headlines are far more important than... Read More
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More
"Do I send samples, a media kit, or just the... Read More
When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them... Read More
When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number... Read More
William Faulkner, the great Mississippi writer, said, "The tools I... Read More
Readers often send me interesting and exciting e-mails about the... Read More
Rudolf Flesch, a specialist in writing skills, ran classes... Read More
The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
Not long ago, I went to an Internet Marketing Seminar.... Read More
Your query letter can be a deal maker or a... Read More
When I was young, I used to talk to myself.... Read More
Freelance editing opportunities are out there, you just need to... Read More
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More
One of the best ways to blow someone's winning streak... Read More
Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a... Read More
EditingExpect, allow, and accept that every first draft will represent... Read More
In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,"... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?How we usually begin the preparation stage... Read More
Just about everyone is familiar with this beginning: "In the... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
When my first book "Starting Your Own Business" was published... Read More
Whether you are working for a small business, large corporation,... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?We all tackle plotting differently. How you... Read More
Hands up all those who'd like to have a successful... Read More
Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More
Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts,... Read More
As a professional copywriter, not only do I do a... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Writing |