More About Journalling

This post is continued from a post about journalling on Friday, December 2, 2016.

Wanted to share that when I do my journalling, I have a pencil holder cup on the corner of my desk and I use different-coloured pens and highlighters to mark my notes....

First, I use the same-colour pen to write all of my entries...then I use a different-colour pen to go back and write updated notes in the margins, when necessary....  I also use one highlighter for ordinary emphasis and another-colour highlighter for special emphasis.  I keep all my colours consistent and that makes it easy to go back and review my notes and to find what I'm looking for.

Also want to say again that John Maxwell's advice about journalling has transformed my diary/journalling experience.  I really appreciate this experience now, where earlier I didn't! And I use journals for my personal life and separate journals for my legal/business matters.

Spirituality

There are different definitions of spirituality that people use but to me it means belief in and respect for a Higher Power. In this blog, I haven't wanted to be overly religious; and even religious people can need practical encouragement with their lives, at times. But I believe spirituality can be a help in coping with our lives.... It gives an added dimension.

Our Christmas season is based on both religious and pagan traditions. It's not necessary to celebrate the religious side in order to enjoy Christmas.... In the western world, there are people belonging to many religions which are quite different from Christianity.... Myself, I like to acknowledge the Christian views and traditions at Christmastime but I also respect other religions, and people with no religion at all....

Meditation

The Greek philosopher Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."  I think it's healthy and desirable to take some time occasionally and look at our lives....  Are we really doing what we want to do; and living up to our values and priorities, etc...?

The Dalai Lama said he practises something he calls "analytical meditation" [in his book, "The Dalai Lama's Big Book of Happiness"].   www.dalailama.com  And there's something called "Christian meditation."  A newer type of meditation is called "mindfulness meditation."  If we sit quietly with our thoughts sometimes, I think it's helpful in this busy world....  And science has been able to show that meditation has a beneficial effect on the body....  [Am not exactly sure which type of meditation they were studying but I think it has to be good to take time out from our busyness and stress....]

[As for the Dalai Lama, I don't agree 100% with all his beliefs but I've seen that he has some very practical and sensible advice to offer to the western world....]

To Do Journaling, or not to...???

It's one thing to record your activities or thoughts and feelings in a diary or journal.... Myself, I've tried it a few times in my life.... But whenever I went back a little while later to re-read what I'd written, I somehow felt stupid...! [The journals might've helped to clarify my thoughts somewhat, at the time....]

However, in a book called "JumpStart Your Thinking," by a motivational speaker named John Maxwell, he recommended to keep a journal and write down new things that you learn...!  I've found I can also write some personal notes about how I'm applying what I've learned, etc. And this approach has transformed my journal-writing! I now enjoy it and get a lot of benefit from it--even when, or especially when, I go back and review my writing...!

Earlier, Tony Robbins had recommended to keep a "success journal."  Don't recall exactly what he said about it but I used one to record what I'd learned from the motivational speakers and experts in books and audio books.

There are blank, hard-cover notebooks that can be purchased from dollar stores and business stores.... And even the lined, school notebooks can be helpful....

A link for John Maxwell is listed in the sidebar of this blog. And I'll post Mr. Robbins' website again: www.TonyRobbins.com.

Nature Art--23

This photo and the two below were taken from the town of Fenelon Falls, Ontario. www.fenelonfalls.info There's a lift lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway, which is commonly known as the Trent Canal, I believe...?  [It used to be....]

Nature Art--22

Self-Help Books

Since my son has grown up and moved away from home, I have more time to read regular books again.... Instead of just listening to the audio books....

After the holiday season last year, I happened to be looking in my favourite department store for a book to buy.... The non-fiction books I was looking at were mostly on sale; and I ended up buying four books, plus an adult colouring book.... Recently, I found a lot of good books in the self-help section of a major bookstore in town.... I bought only one from there, to start with, but I know where to go if I need more....

The self-help books teach about relationships, mental and emotional health, physical health, business, etc. I've discovered that these books can be worth hundreds of dollars, and perhaps even thousands of dollars, in professional advice.... They can be worth far more than the price paid for the book...! One of the business books helped me with my legal matters within the past year, and I'll write about that book and author separately....