Abundance in Affirmations

 Hello everyone! This month I'm going to chat about journals... 

Journaling is for all ages! Let them be creative

There are probably as many ways to journal as there are romance authors – And that’s a lot!

Just like no two authors will tell the boy meets the girl story alike. No two people will journal the same.

Because everyone journals for different reasons, much like how every boy will fall in love a little differently. 

Just like the romance catorgery has a long list of subgenres - suspense, horror, cozy, erotica, and historical to name a few - journals come in many types - time capsule, daily, one word, manifestation, and affirmation (the one I'm going to talk about today).

So let's start with what I consider an affirmation...

I think our minds are the most powerful instrument we have, our thoughts and beliefs are something we consciously and subconsciously repeat to ourselves over and over again throughout the day. 

Like... I'm a great writer. I'm an amazing mom.

BUT often our internal tape recorder is on loop with - I can't write. My kids are going to grow up and be serial killers. 

We don’t always realise we are holding onto these thoughts and letting them loop in our mind because we live by them without questioning them. Some thoughts are really supportive and positive whereas others are toxic and extremely limiting, leading to that feeling of self-loathing and worthlessness. 

An affirmation is a way for us to re-write and consciously choose the thoughts that will best support us, at the same time letting go of the negative thoughts that no longer have a place or purpose. Reading that, it may sound simple but it’s not as easy as eating your favorite doughnut (I wish it were,) it takes time and focus and a real want to change your mindset and undo years of quite often, negative thought patterns.

Now that I've sort of talked about an affirmation is I'm sure you are thinking, what the heck am I going to journal about - I'm an amazing writer????

The main focus of an affirmation journal is to help you find yours. We all don't need the same affirmations. Some of aren't moms or if we are we don't doubt our ability. 

So how do your find yours?

First, start by spending some time thinking about your internal thoughts. What is on loop in your mind? Make a list of what your tops one are. This part is really a week or longer process. Just because I think I suck as a mom on Monday doesn't mean that I feel that way all the time. Maybe I'm just having a bad day. Charlie is having a bad day making me doubt myself... but by noting that this is something I feel on occasion I can set up a journal page for it. Now this page may simply have "I'm a great grandma to Charlie" written on it. Or it may have a favorite parenting quote. Or I print pictures and glue them into my journal

Charlie and Milo... the smile says it all

Whatever resonates with you. 

Once you have settled on a couple that seem to hit your loop on a regular bases, set aside a couple pages of your journal for affirmations that you find encouraging. Like if your questioning your ability as a writer, maybe find a couple of quotes that lift you up. Or simply write - I'm a great writer. Or do both. 

The thing to keep in mind with an affirmation journal is that it will keep changing as your life does. Things happen that  may cause you question a part of your life that you never have before. If you have a practice in place for keeping an affirmation journal studies have shown, you are less likely to let this negative developement crush your self esteem. 

Is an affirmation journal something your write in or read everyday? Maybe. Again this will be determined by YOU and your needs. 

I just want to end by saying that everyone - and I mean everyone has an abundance in affirmations! Don't let your mind loop the negative.

Thanks for stopping by! See you next month

Stopping Time...

Don't we all wish that one time or another that we could stop time? To take a moment longer to enjoy something?

One way I do that is with a time capsule journal. 

Time capsule journals can be used to capture daily life... I do weekly ones - here is one from from last summer and last week.

As with any journal, there are no rules. I like to keep mine a ‘surface’ recap. I ‘work-out’ my personal ‘issues’ in a personal  journal.

A one all purpose journal doesn’t work for me. I took me years to figure that out… I know a little slow. Journaling is personal and so you need to do it the best way it fits you. It's a way of stopping time. Of capturing a moment.

Back from the rabbit hole. My weekly recaps vary as you can see. Sometimes there are lots of pictures…sometimes memorable from events… whatever reflects what I want to highlight for the week.

My aim for my time capsule journal is to keep record of the what was going on around me. I include family members but only worldly events that touched me personally. I know that may sound selfish but I can research what happened world wide but that won’t have the fact I spent time building a leprechaun trap with my 7 year old.

The time capsule journal is by far the most undefined and open for personal definition. I've helped friends set them for weddings, births, and a kidney transplant. It's a journal meant to stop time. 

What types of journals do you keep? I'd love to hear about your journal(s). Have a great month and see you in April!