Tip #1~ Don’t hold back! To get the most from your journal it needs to be a place for true, deep, authentic, unbridled, open, passionate, honest, fearless, real expression of self. In short, tell it like it is. This may mean that you need to take steps to secure the privacy of your journal so you feel confident that it is a safe place to be completely honest with yourself.

Tip #2~ Journal your whole self. Use your journal to connect with yourself, mind, body & spirit. Simply by the way that you start your journal entry you can choose which aspect of yourself will be expressed. For example, I think………comes from the mind; I feel………. can express both the physical sensations of the body as well as the emotions you’re experiencing; I guess………or I imagine……… allows you to call forth your creative, wise, soulful self.

Tip #3~ Be Clear. When you’re not sure what to do next, journaling can be a quick cure. Writing down everything that’s on your mind helps clarity emerge from confusion & overwhelm. Once it’s all in front of you in ink on the page you’ll soon see what feels heavy & hard vs. what feels like your inspired next step. If you’ve written everything that ails you down and you’re still feeling stuck and unsure of how to proceed. Journaling the following statement as many times as you can will help you get back to possibility thinking. If I wanted to I could…………..

Tip #4~ Grow to Love yourself. Like all relationships, growing  in love & appreciation for yourself will come as a direct result of your intention to do so. Taking the time to get to know you deeply through journalled self inquiry is a life times worth of entertainment. Here are a few self inquiry starters – (finish this statement as many times as you can) I love myself, therefore I………  I am most afraid of/that……… I love……...(what do you love? write down everyone and everything you can think of). I’m happiest when………

Tip #5~ ‘Shoulds’ & ‘Have to’s’ can suck the joy right out of one’s life. Shoulds & have to’s are generally the fruit of guilt, obligation & limited thinking. It can be an eye opening experience to take the time to list all the things you think you should do & all the things you tell yourself you have to do. And just check, are these activities really in alignment with who you really are and the life you’re here to live? Are you able to let go of some or all of these? Can you delegate any? Are you able to see that some are in fact things you ‘want’ to do and now feel free to view them in this much more joyful light?

Tip #6~ Gratitude is a powerful transformational practise. Journaling a list of all you’re grateful for as often as you can will truly change your life. The more often you ask your mind to sift your experience for everything great. The more your mind will make a habit of looking for what’s right with the world. And before you know it your whole perspective will shift to one of abundant gratitude for the amazing life you live. I am grateful for/that…………

Tip #7~Heal emotional pain. You can use your journal to help heal any area of your life that’s causing you pain. Often times we burry our emotional pain in our body. Using your journal you can call back into your consciouness energy ready for release. Spend some quiet time completing this statement to discover what you could choose to let go of & heal. If I wanted to I could forgive …(xyz)…..for …..(xyz)…….

Tip #8~ Vibe high. It’s been said energetically our vibration is equivalent to the 5 people in our lives with whom we spend most time. That being the case it’s an interesting and worthwhile exercise to journal a list of all the people with whom you spend most time. You can then work through the list putting a plus or minus next to each name to indicate – does this person uplift & energise or drain and deplete you most of the time? This is powerful information if you allow it to guide your decisions about with whom you spend how much time. You may be surprised by what you discover.

Tip #9~ Need closure? If you have any people living or passed in your life with whom you have unfinished business. You can use your journal as a tool to help you gain closure. By writing a letter to the person you wish to complete with you are able to freely express anything needing to be said. It’s amazing how the simple act of writing this letter in the privacy of your own journal can really have you feel heard and become willing & able to let go.

Tip #10~ Celebrate yourself. It is said that what we appreciate, appreciates. Taking the time for some self appreciation in your journal is a fun & valuable practise. There are lots of ways to do this – such as creating a success log, where you can record every one of your achievements big and small that you can remember. Adding to your log often as you go on living and achieving. You could also make a list of all the qualities and attributes you like about yourself. Taking the time to notice and write ‘What’s great and lovable about me’ feels good :). And ultimately your journal is all about helping you feel better all the time.

to learn even more about how to put your journal to use,  make sure to get your copy of

An Informal & Inspirational Guide to Journal Writing only in the Journal Junky Gift Set range.

Enjoy! Soli xoxox