Journaling inspiration | The 52 Lists Project

The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal
A year of journaling inspiration

I'm obsessed with lists. My 2018 journal is filled with lists like - my current TV shows, books I've read films I want to see, and my wishlist of treats to buy for myself throughout the year.

So I was only delighted when I received the 52 Lists Project as a Christmas present this year.

I've wanted this book for ages, and it's been sitting on my Book Depository wishlist for well over a year. It was the perfect gift for me!

Journaling and writing has many benefits for your mental health. It can help you to unwind and meditate, track your symptoms or thoughts, and to cope with and manage your illness.

I've tried my hand at journaling before, but it never lasted. The 52 Lists Project is the perfect chance to start again.

The journal contains 52 lists, one for every week of the year, with prompts to inspire and make you delve into yourself. Each week you have a list to fill out and answer, and no matter how strange or random or fun or irrelevant you find the topic, the 'Take Action' section encourages you to apply a lesson from the list to your own life. For example, I thought List 2 about your favourite characters from TV, movies or books was a pretty stupid second list of the year. But while it seemed like a silly list, I discovered why I'm attracted to a certain type of character and what traits I find important.

List your favorite characters from books, movies, etc.
Find a common personality trait between your favorite
characters. What is one character trait that you admire
in your favorite characters that you can work
towards this week.

As you progress through the year and the journal, the lists become more reflective. Like asking about difficult moments from your past that have shaped you, your accomplishments and the things you are grateful for. You are also encouraged to look outwards and towards the future.

As Moorea Seal says in the book's introduction: "start with a curious spirit and get ready to discover the beauty, joy, creativity, and power that is already inside of you."

I'm only a couple of weeks in, but already I love the writing prompts. Not only is the journal designed beautifully, but it truly is thoughtful and inspiring. I'm excited to stick with it for the year and understand my inner self. Are you ready to cultivate your own happiness too?

List 17 - List the difficult moments in you past that have
shaped you for the better.

Here are some other similar journals you can try as well:

• Calm by Michael Acton Smith. Read my review here. 

• Moorea Seal's other journal - 52 Lists for Happiness. Buy it online from Easons here. 

• Fearne Cotton's Happy or her newest journal Calm have also had amazing review. You can buy them here. 

Until next time,

Mindful Journaling: 10 Beautiful Things

I have another mindfulness journaling tool for you all today.

Having enjoyed my Here I Am reflection, today’s tool also focuses on accepting and responding to your surrounds. A large part of mindfulness is based on finding happiness in the present, rather than seeing it as a far-off in the future achievement.

I'll be happy when I'm rich.
or I'll be happy when I find a man.
These thoughts just put happiness off, and relegate it to something that you have no control over now.

Instead, mindfulness accepts happiness as more of a mindset, something achievable in the present. This journaling tool will help you find beautiful moments of happiness right now.

10 Beautiful Things I Noticed Today

To capture your 10 Beautiful Things you must reflect on what you see, hear, taste, smell and feel and keep note throughout the day. This tool forces you to notice the little things going on around you. I spent my day actively seeking out beautiful moments and found myself constantly noticing how much beauty there is around me. I was surprised at how many little things are actually beautiful moments when we take the time to stop and appreciate them.

Here I Am

This month, I want to slow down the pace of life and be happy with where I am; here in the present moment. The theme is Don't Rush - and what better way to do that than by stopping and acknowledging my present?

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” 
― Thich Nhat Hanh

So to kick off the month I've come up with a simple journaling tool to increase my mindfulness and help focus on the present. Last month, I rediscovered the power of journaling, and it's something I will be returning to throughout the rest of May. Journaling is a great way of practicing mindfulness, as it can be used to acknowledge your feelings and appreciate every moment.
A huge part of mindfulness is about finding peace where you are. So today I'm acknowledging where I am - right here.

To use this journaling tool, think about the following questions:

1. Where are you physically? What can you see, hear, smell?
2. Where are you in your life right now? What’s going right? What’s going wrong?
3. Where are you mentally? What’s your mood like?

This tool allows you to practice mindfulness by situating yourself in the present moment, and also reflecting on why and how you are where you are. To use this, try to keep in mind the stream of consciousness technique where you write in one continuous flow. Put down in writing whatever comes to mind as you consider the above questions!

Here I Am:

It’s Monday evening – 6:24pm to be precise. I’ve just had dinner and am sitting at my desk. My desk is a bit of a mess, and I wish I had the time to give it a good clean. My curtains are opened to my right hand side; with the windows both open too. The smell from outdoors is permeating into my room and reminds me of how much I love letting the fresh air in during the warmer months.

In front of me is my book shelf – in need of a good dusting around the two rows of unread books. I have a book buying problem (I bought another two this morning...). But I can admit it, and so therefore my logic tells me I am not an addict. And to my left is my bed; made in haste and looking rather untidy.

Book Review: Let it Out - Katie Dalebout

This month I was blessed to stumble across a new book on journaling - 'Let it Out' by Katie Dalebout. After reading My Mad Fat Diary last month, I was inspired to try my hand at journaling and keep my own journal to chart my mental health journey.

Essentially, journaling is writing frequently. For many people, their blog is their journal. But it is difficult to be 100% honest with yourself on such a public platform. Despite sharing details about my mental illness online, I also need a more private reflection to capture my daily struggles, frustrations, setbacks, achievements and gratitudes.
It’s a personal diary, so to speak.

And Katie Dalebout’s ‘Let it Out’ is exactly the book I needed to guide me along my journaling path.

Self Care Journal

I'm still raving about self care! You know me, I love saying I'll commit to something but then failing to do so for any considerable period of time. Thankfully, Zoe does commit well to nice notebooks and list-making. And this is where a Self Care Journal comes in.

If, like me, you've felt that you were failing to really practice self care during Self Care is Not Selfish month, there are still little things we can do that can make a big, positive impact on our mental health.

Alas, all of your self care needs have been met with Rachelle Abellar's Self Care Journal. It's a great little illustrated journal filled with 100 pages of prompts all about looking after your mental health. Whether you have found making lists or journaling helpful before, or whether you haven't given it a shot yet, the book is designed to be interactive and engaging.
Rachelle also runs a Self Care Zine on Tumblr, filled with motivation to get your self care on.

Self Esteem Journal

TherapistAid

For the past week I've been keeping a Self-Esteem Journal. It wasn't planned, but there I was browsing different online sites and I came across this.

With 3 daily questions, the worksheet is designed to help boost confidence by focusing on success and achievements.