Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Journal of Journaling Through

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Awareness is one of the "7 benefits" that I discuss in my new book, Journaling Through: Unleashing the Power of the Authentic Self. Today I had a big awareness of my surroundings! As I was looking through cards at Walgreens in Bellaire, I found that I was hanging around just to listen to the music- I was hearing old hits from the 60's...One Summer Night...Frankie Avalon...and many others. It was enchanting- instead of rushing in and out the music slowed me down. I connected to a different time and place- just listening to that music...old school....by just being aware...and present. That was my gift today...awareness...not missing the moment...and allowing it to just slow me down....

Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Journal of Journaling Through

Journal Entry: Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Today was special- all about memories! It felt like one of those magical days...when everything just clicks! I got to go to New Braunfels and give a talk at the Seekatz Opera House for the New Braunfels Library Book and Author Luncheon . The last time I went to New Braunfels was with my family, to ride the famous rapids on the beautiful Gaudelupe. The first time I ever went to New Braunfels was with my parents, the family I came from- at least a million years ago- for the same reason- to ride the famous rapids! This time was different, but it helped me reconnect with those precious memories.

I met tons of interesting people at the luncheon- no blueprints here! People didn't just buy books- they told you their story. I also had one other big nugget that day- Katherine Center, author of Get Lucky, introduced me. I have known Katherine most of her life. She is just simply an amazing young woman with talent oozing out of her bones. Getting to reconnect with happy memories, talk about my passion- journaling....and stop for ice cream (my favorite thing) on the way home with Katherine- made another amazing memory- life doesn't get any better than that.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Is the Unknown Beckoning You ?

Why did this happen to me ? This is the question I hear daily - the riveting question that confronts each of us as we step into a journey that is new, scary and unfamiliar. It is what I call the journey into the Unknown. Each time we experience a change or loss we embark on the journey into the unknown. The change can be a divorce, death, job change, move or health issue. The unknown calls on the boldest aspect of our being to enable us to move through our current difficult situation.

This last week I gave the keynote speech at the Cancer Counseling Conference. I was reminded once again that loss and change connect all of us along this journey into the Unknown. I was reminded of the time when I was trying to navigate the stromy water after my husband's death, and how I looked for tools to help me sort through the overwhelming feelings that seemed to flood my emotional body. I no longer had a reliable roadmap. But, once I discovered a way to break my situation into managable pieces, I could begin to walk slowly on my path in a new meaningful way. I no longer felt frozen. My thought, "I will never get through this" no longer looked so big and scary.

Applying some simple tools helped me look at my situation through a different lens. Through the years I have passed these tools on to other fellow travelers, embarking on a similar journey. I discuss these toools in my new book, Journaling Through, as Tools for Transformation.

Journaling and answering the questions associated with these three key points can help you break your situation into managable pieces as you navigate the road into the unknown in a new way. I invite you to use this method for support as change challenges you to dig deeper to find your answers within.

1. Identification of a Situation: Tell your story! identify the situation, the emotions attached to the situation and the changes that have come inot your life because of the situation. Write about the other losses or changes that this situation has brought up for you.
2. Integration Reformation of the Situation: What do I have left in my life? What connections support me? What beliefs or behaviors is this situation challenging me to explore in myself or others? How has my environment changed? How can I be in the present- not on rote? What pieces of my life can move forward with me- and support me?
3. Reconstruction/ Metamorphosis/Transformationof the Situation: What has shifted in my beliefs, perceptions or consciousness as a result of this situation? How will my life be different going forward because of this situation? How has my spirituality been affected? How can I join with the transformational power of the mystical presence of God?

Remember.....The unknown is the gap- the past is already behind, and the future has not yet happened. The unknown path is the great opportunity to break free of past limiting thoughts, condititons, and beliefs allowing the unrestricted self to let go and Break Free.....