How to Use a Journal to Boost Your Business

iStock_000008962604XSmall copyOne of my favorite business tools is my journal. I admit to being lost without my smart phone, Evernote app and online calendar, but nothing beats pen and paper when it comes to building clarity and staying focused in my business. In fact, no matter how addicted I am to the digital world, I don’t actually make progress on my “big picture” goals until I’ve explored them in my journal.

Now before you dismiss this as “just another thing that you will probably fail to keep up with,” let me encourage you by saying there is no wrong way to journal! The key is to find what works for you and make it part of your sacred business rituals – meaning it becomes a habit that you do on a regular basis (whatever that means for you).

And don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a pointless self-help exercise. Journal writing is not just for love-struck teens and couples in counseling. Successful entrepreneurs — including Oprah and Suze Orman — understand the power of the written word in business.  In fact business gurus such as Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, have been professing the benefits of journal writing for decades.

So a journal is an essential tool in your toolbox. When it comes to business journaling, you can use this tool to become more productive and creative at work. You can also use it to prioritize and organize your tasks, generate fresh new ideas and gain clarity on your long-term strategy and goals.

Here are 10 ways to use a journal to boost your business:  [Read more...]

Learn to Use Journal Writing as a Spiritual Practice

Christian Journal Writing Prompts for Lent

The journey of Christ’s death and resurrection is such a powerful story and yet sometimes I forget how much it relates to my own life today. I simply go through the motions during Holy Week and don’t allow myself to truly experience the lessons as God intended. I think this is because the traditional mode of “listening” in church is not enough to engage me.

I’m a visual-kinesthetic learner, which means I need to see and move in order to process information. That’s why journal writing is such a critical tool for me. I use my journal to help me reflect and examine different perspectives. I even bring my journal to church to take notes during the service, write down scripture passages or hymnal verses and remain fully present and engaged. If you’re looking for a new way to explore the lessons of Holy Week, try keeping a Lenten Journal.

Twelve Writing Reflections for Lent

Judas: Betrayal 

Write about a time when you felt rejected or betrayed by a friend. How did you react? How was this similar or different from the way in which Jesus reacted to the betrayal by Judas? Write a description of this person. Describe the friend in detail including all of his or her strengths and weaknesses. What do you know about this person that may have caused him or her to betray you?

 

The Religious Leaders: Envy/Jealousy

Write about a time when you experienced envy or jealousy. Describe a time when you judged others unfairly or felt unjustly judged by others. How did you call upon the strength of Christ in this situation? Now write about the same situation from someone else’s perspective. Can you see both sides of the story now?

 

Peter: Denial

Recall a time when you were willing but weak — a time when you avoided doing the right thing. Are you facing a difficult choice in your life today?  Describe your choice in detail and listen for God’s voice as you consider your options. Try scripting a conversation with God in your journal. [Read more...]

How to Choose a Word of the Year

How to Choose a Word of the Year

While most people are busy making their New Year’s Resolutions this week, I’ve been joining the millions of creative and innovative thinkers who choose a Word of the Year instead. This different approach to New Year’s resolutions is something I discovered from my mentor, Christine Kane, who launched a Resolution Revolution with her Word of the Year Discovery Tool in 2009. The idea is simple – choose one word to fully embrace in 2012. A word that will guide you, transform you, inspire you and challenge you for the coming year.

The Word of the Year may sound easy – as if you can cross this project off your list by just choosing the first word that comes to mind and then forgetting why you chose it by Valentine’s Day. But when you truly give your word choice your full attention, the process can be much more powerful than creating traditional New Year’s Resolutions. Your word can become part of your daily life all year long. Like a gentle reminder to inspire you in the choices you make throughout the year.

Three Tips to Help You Decide on Your Word of the Year

If you’re feeling anxious about selecting just the right word to shepherd you through the new year, I want to share a few tips to make this process fun and rewarding!

1. Let your word pick you. Just like the wands in Ollivander’s Wand Shop choose their owners in the Harry Potter series, your Word of the Year will choose you. All you need to do is set the intention to discover your word, and be open to the magic. Chances are your word will sound very strange to you at first. You might even be tempted to break out the thesaurus and find a similar word that “sounds better” for some reason. But once it appears in your conscious mind, you won’t be able to shake it. You’ll find yourself asking WHY it’s showing up for you and what it could possibly mean. Give this word the attention it deserves and explore what it is trying to teach you.
[Read more...]