Write to release + MAKE peace

JOURNal Exercise One

Take the JOURNey within

I’ve been dabbling with the practice of journaling since a young age when I was encouraged to try journaling by my father, as he had experienced the benefits of this practice and wanted to share his knowledge of this healthy coping mechanism with me. It wasn’t until recently when I started my yoga teacher training course that I was really able to dive deeper and keep up a daily journaling practice. As students of the physical, spiritual and emotional practice of yoga, my class and I were encouraged to journal our experiences and feelings every day, multiple times a day. This allowed me to see the benefits of recording in a hand written journal and being able to look back if need be on my entries. Today I use journaling as a form of emotional release, where I can reflect on my day and the emotions that I experienced or am experiencing in the present moment. After writing in my journal I usually feel that my heart is more open, making space to find love for myself. Journaling helps me to create peace within my mind because I’ve been able to release cyclical or idle thoughts that are not conducive to growth or a renewal of perception. I’d like to share my passion for journaling using this space to provide weekly journal entries. If you are new to journaling, these weekly entries can be a great way to begin a practice of self love and inner work. If you are an experienced writer + releaser you can add these exercises alongside your regular entries!

Before you begin this exercise, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that the best way to receive the full benefit from these exercises is to approach the idea of journaling from a judgment free zone. As you write, try to let the thoughts pass easily from head to hand, without judging the words you are writing. Make + manifest a conscious awareness that allows your inner voice find its way to paper, as a sort of mind-dumping practice. Do not worry or have anxiety about what may make its way out and onto the paper, as you could always shred the page afterwards or burn it! That itself may be a great practice of letting go as well. No one has to see or know what you needed to write to down in that moment.

Ask yourself:

·      What practices allow me to slow down mentally in my day to day activities?

·      How does slowing down and taking a moment to enjoy the present make me feel?

We all have ways that we make time to either spend alone, or maybe a way that we surround ourselves with loving people. Maybe we adopt a certain way of changing our inner self-talk and turning it around to be positive. Whatever your way is, write it down and reflect on how it benefits your ability to stay within the present moment and not give in to either disappointment with the past our fear of your future. I hope we can all benefit from this entry! Please feel free to share your experience or entries here on the page by posting a comment or sending me an email. Share with friends and family that you know may need to take some extra time today to slow it down, write to release + MAKE peace within their heart.

Lots of love from MAKE with Madelene,

Take care everyone.