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Hello Reader!

Is journaling necessary? No. Very few things actually are. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. Despite the bazillion “101 Benefits of a Journaling Practice” articles you can find on the interweb.

I was not a diary writer or journaler as a kid. It just wasn’t my thing. And yet, the lure of the “101 Benefits” message is strong. After reading the book 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voscamp, I began a written gratitude journal. That cracked opened the door for me. Each night before bed I would record as many joys, gifts, delights, thankfuls I could think of. When I wake in the morning, I think of three more before getting out of bed. Several other techniques gave me the confidence to begin writing on a regular basis.

Use a journal you like - my first journal was one I picked up in Disney World with Mickey Mouse on the cover. You do you and use something that makes you happy.

Don’t make it precious - do something that “ruins” the journal. Flip to a random page and splatter paint on it, run it over with the car, rip some pages out, let your toddler draw a picture in it.

Use it for everything - after writing down your thoughts, on the next empty page create a to-do list for the day. Keep the journal nearby and use it as a scratch pad all day. Tape in business cards, write down appointments, use it to practice hand lettering.

I use a bullet journal as my planner and journal. I rock the to-do list, scratch pad and note taking part of the journal. The writing down the bones part? Not so much. Even with all of those techniques, I still wasn’t showing up in my writing. Sure, I would write. At least a page or two most days. But, it’s like I was unconsciously censoring myself. My brain thought I was writing all the things down, my soul knew I wasn’t even tapping the surface.

Then I found a way to write so that it was illegible, even to me. The benefits of journaling come from the act of writing. Not from reading it back in the future. There are two ways that I use to hide my writing in plain site.

Messy script upside down - When writing, use loopy messy script, leaving no space between words and going all the way to the top and bottom of the lines. After writing one line, turn the book upside down and continue writing directly over the first line.

Asemic writing - shown in the image above, asemic writing is a wordless writing. It’s created by using a different part of your brain to express your thoughts. It’s an abstract way of making marks on the page. I love this technique because it opens a link between the left and right side of the brain. The thoughts I have when using asemic writing are expansive, bright and full.

Asemic tips:

• Hold the pen loose
• Exaggerate the loops and extended lines
• Adjust the spacing
  • Overlap words
  • Flow from one word directly into the next
  • Break a word in the middle
• Write as fast as you think and don’t censor the words that come to the surface

​Here’s a link to an art journaler that I love, Dina Wakley. She goes on quite a few tangents (skip ahead to 6:19), but she explains the general idea and shows how to do asemic writing.

If you’re interested in incorporating art journaling as a practice, I also recommend Dyan Reaveley as someone to follow. Her primary message is using mixed media art as a tool in supporting her on her mental health journey. I’ve taken several in person classes with Dyan and in one of them I broke down crying because I didn’t realize how stuck up in my head I was until it all turned off when I started playing with paints. For me, as someone that has constant chatter in my head, being able to turn it off was such a blessing! It was one of the times when I was so very present in my body and so happy with who I was with and what we were doing that it literally set me free.

Action Steps:

1. Buy a journal you love
2. Write, paint, draw
3. Repeat daily.

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Journaling is a big part of my daily life. It’s how I know what I think. Otherwise it gets all jumbled up in my head and influences my decisions unconsciously. Living life on purpose with intention is my goal. Journaling helps me get there. Free writing is my preferred method, but sometimes I need a little push in a direction to get started. I thought maybe you may need some inspiration as well.

Enter the question of the day writing prompts:

1. As the summer comes to an end, write about a good memory that you made this season.
2. Where am I letting perfection get in the way of done?
3. What would my next move be if I believed in my dreams?
4. What steps can I take immediately to do work I love?
5. Who or what am I sacrificing my truth for? Why?

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​Question everything. And then move forward with grace and love.

Grateful for you,

Diane

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