Karen carries a pen and paper wherever she goes. "I bounce ideas off myself when I write," she explains. At home, she prefers a purple pen and a bound book. "I look for a pretty journal with a picture that resonates with me or a photo that inspires me," she says, "but I know environmentalists who only write on the backs of paper."
Tana combines writings with drawings in bright colors over blank pages in spiral-bound books. Some people journal on the computer. Oprah's Web site, www.oprah.com, even offers a place to journal.
"Whether you write on a computer, a notebook or bound journal doesn't matter. What does matter is what you put in it. Use the power of the pen to find, hear and use your inner voice," says Lorraine. "At the very least, journaling allows you to save a piece of the day for yourself."
Getting Started Journaling
Complete the following phrases:
- I am eager to …
- I doubt myself when …
- I feel powerful when …
- I'm proud of myself because …
- My 10 favorite things are …
- I am most grateful for …
- I can simplify my life by living without …
- I feel my mission in life is to …
- In my wildest dreams, I …
- I believe in myself because …
