51 Comments

This is so thoughtful and helpful - thank you.

I have found it helps to keep my to-do list and notebook separate from my journaling notebook. It helps to stop my journaling becoming just another tick list item and keeps it separate for when I want a more thoughtful moment.

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Thank you for sharing Louise!

I think having different journals definitely helps in segregating different 'intentions' which makes me feel more organised in life. Making room for thoughtful moments in life is what nourishes us and allows us to live in the present. It's beautiful✨

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Same for me. I have to keep both separate. To me, a to-do list is something that gets mangled everyday as I carry it around and cross off. It's an item that gets thrown away as an accomplishment of a day well done. Journaling is something to keep and savour.

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I have like a bunch of notebooks then. Two planners and two journals. Then multiple notebooks regarding my writing job. Just something about writing something is just a wonderful feeling.

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I relate to this Bailey🥹

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Love this Patricia!

There's one notebook that easily accessible (to-do list) and other that is a deeper reflection of you and your thoughts. 👏🏻

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Definitely. Excellent. Journaling is food for the soul, not simply something else to do. Go and enjoy

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I love this Mansi! And that you add flowers to your journal especially 🥰 I always collect flowers on walks and have a growing flower garland at home where I dry them.

As for journaling I’m hosting another coorporate workshop for mental health awareness month and love reminding people, like you said, it’s not a tickboxing exercise to write / reflect. I agree, the easiest way to journal is to write what you see and use bridging words or sentences aka I see / I think… every time your trail of thought comes to and end.

I have 3 journals. One for therapy related reflections , one for my wellbeing offering and reflections on my coaching and one for daily „digestion“ of experiences

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I love that Carmen! What is even more beautiful is the fact that you hold these interesting workshops and encourage others to approach journaling meaningfully in their lives. We need more people like you in this world 💕

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We need more people like you, Mansi! You write so beautifully about it all 💖

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May 22Liked by Mansi Kwatra

I put my collected flowers in my journal.

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May 21Liked by Mansi Kwatra

Very well said! Journaling is our daily dose of unwinding and keeps us moving in life as our memories are safe.

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Yes Mr. Blaze!

I think it's so important to hold on to the good (and even some challenging) experiences as they define who we are now. And it's always a great feeling to think that my journals can be passed down in the family. It's so wholesome💕

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May 21Liked by Mansi Kwatra

These are great tips for journaling. You’ve inspired me to stop procrastinating and just start. I’ve been wanting to get back into it for a while.

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I appreciate your presence here Ingrid!✨💕

Sometimes, we just need a little nudge to reconnect with those beautiful parts of ourselves that somehow got lost in the way. I am glad I could be of help to you.

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Thanks for this reminder. I once had the thought of attaching photos to my journals. But then brushed it aside.

I am definitely implementing it this time. Have a couple photos in mind.

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Thank you for being here Ebere!✨

I think a journal that has pictures looks and feels more meaningful because you have to go the extra mile to select, print and paste the pictures. The process itself is so wholesome

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Thanks, Mansi! I've been journalling since I was in elementary school, but I enjoyed reading about these other ways I could incorporate into my practice.

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Thank you for being here Kelisha!

I am so excited for you to incorporate these little things in your journal. Do let me know your experience with it. 💕

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I love journaling and as you say, keep your journal close by as thoughts come into your mind that you need to journal and just write and see what you have to say - if I've had a deep conversation with a friend about a personal issue, I often journal about the chat as it helps me listen again to our conversation

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That is such a lovely example of how having a journal within reach is always helpful! I think these little practices differentiate people on how much fulfilling they think their life is. I love that you are being intentional about journaling.

Good luck.✨

PS: Thank you for subscribing. I hope you enjoy being a part of this slowly growing community🤍

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Journaling is something I had practiced religiously before motherhood. However, I lost touch with it over the past two years. Your story rekindled my desire to restart the relationship with my journals.

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Thank you for your kind words Shanjitha♥️

I see it often that motherhood changes a woman in many ways. They leave some parts of their story behind and hold on to some. I feel honoured to be able to play a slight role in nudging you back towards something you really enjoyed doing before motherhood. Best of luck to you in your journey, I am sure you are a wonderful mother ✨

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Thank you, Mansi. Your words made my day.

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🥹

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This is beautiful and inspiring me to print more photos and collect more items to add to my journal!

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Thank you for being here Megan!

I am glad that I could nudge you towards adding a touch of creativity in your journal through pictures💕

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I'm a huge journaling fan, too, although, to be honest, lately life has been too much for me. Creativity and journaling are the first things that go when I'm under too much pressure. But I agree, Journaling provides space for creativity, clarity and dinner peace.

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I understand Sylwia because it happens with me too. But I have learned that being intentional towards these little things can be a game changer. Usually, I don't have a specific time when I journal, but when life gets chaotic, I intentionally try to schedule 10-15 minutes of "rest" time in my routine, where I journal or read or just sit in silence. It really helps me to stay in touch with creativity in my life. I hope things ease out for you soon 💕

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I really like these techniques, for me it’s practicing gratitude 🙏 which is awesome. Thank you

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I love that!💕

Appreciating the little things in the day to day is definitely a source of calm in my life too.

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👏🏼👏🏼

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Thank you Krisha!✨

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May 22Liked by Mansi Kwatra

Previously I had Journaled all my life, almost every day since leaving school (approx 60 years). It’s hard to believe it’s been so long. I’ll have to restart!

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Wow! That is really inspiring. ✨

I wonder how many journals you have and have you saved all of them since the very beginning?

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May 22Liked by Mansi Kwatra

Yes I have saved them. I hope all. They’re in a big box. I’m thinking (hoping with some trepidation) that my children will read them - without judgement. Thank you for asking - now this has got me to try and find the box. This interaction with you is also inspiring me to return to journaling. Bless you Mansi 🐦‍⬛

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May 22Liked by Mansi Kwatra

Btw I love that pic, on your site, of the view looking past the tree on the shore

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Oh thank you!

You're the first one to notice..

It's a stock image but I try to select an image every week that makes me (and hopefully the readers) feel a sense of calm when we look at it.

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That is soo lovely! I also want to have a box like this someday and pass it down in the family.

I've noticed how quickly things change with time. It would be so cool for your kids to read about your experience and learnings as you navigated through your life. 👏🏻

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May 22Liked by Mansi Kwatra

Such a good write. The opening section about creating ’space’ is a solid foundation. It’s interesting how you have struggled with your ‘mundane’. I’m the opposite, when I had a routine/mundane lifestyle I found Journaling relatively easy; now I’m retired (for a year) it’s too hard. Thanks Mansi

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That is so interesting to hear. I find that my struggle with the 'mundane' is periodic. I often find myself taking the things that we are supposed to do everyday (like eating, drinking water, going for a walk etc) for granted. But I always try to remind myself that there is beauty in the ordinanry. We will spend more number of ordinary days as opposed to extraordinary ones in life, so why not express gratitude for them? Each day in itself is a life..

Thank you for being here, I really appreciate your presence here🌻✨

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It’s really curious. I’ve been journaling for several years now and I love photography. But, I have not done a good work in adding photos and pictures to my journals. In fact, it’s something I’ve been trying recently. It takes the journaling exercise to a whole new other level!

Thanks for this reminder, Mansi. I think from now on I will try to add more pictures and photos to my journals.

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Thank you for being here Antony!

I had this idea of adding pictures in my journal when I moved out of my family home last home (it's currently being rebuild). I was so scared that I will forget how the home I grew up in looked like, so I took pictures and added them in my journal along with some notes on the side. I have not looked back since. ✨

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Wow! Amazing. Capturing the home you grew up in sounds really special. Thanks for sharing, Mansi.

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It is indeed!

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This is an excellent essay about journaling! It's great how you keep different kinds of journals. I've been experimenting and doing things in a new way, I'm trying it out keeping everything in one book. We'll see how it goes.

Thank you for the mention Mansi, I am honored to be in the same paragraph as Tim Denning and the wonderful Mika!

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Thank you for being here Donna!✨

I think having a journal in itself is a huge deal, even though it is just one. It shows your willingness to welcome peace in the now. A lot of people unknowingly live the autopilot lifestyle. I hope journaling brings you joy. How long it's been and how's it going so far?

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