Journaling and the Importance of Clearing Your Mind
As I previously blogged, meditation is one of the key morning routines to set up creative success for me. I practice daily and always as soon as I open my eyes. However, it is only 11 minutes of my morning routine. The other 15 minutes of my daily morning ritual has to do with cleansing annoying thoughts, focusing on my beliefs and being grateful for everything that I have in my life. I have a small notebook and pen at my bedside table and once my meditation is complete, I grab that little book and head to the couch for 15 minutes of positive focus.
My notebook isn’t strictly for writing. I doodle in it, illustrate what I’m talking about and make lists and plan in it as well. I like to have a variety of pens and a Sharpie around too…sometimes a reminder has to bold and stand out! But, for the most part it is a place for setting my daily intentions and getting my headspace positive for the day.
Let it Go
I don’t know about you but I can often wake up with a brain full of garbage…bad dreams, worries about the things going on in my life, work stresses and the like. It’s important to get those things out of your mind first thing, before they become the focus of your day. I spend a good solid paragraph getting those things out on paper. What does a “good solid paragraph” mean? Well, like I tell my English classes every fall, write for 10 minutes or half a page. Get all that messy stuff out, all the complaints, the worries, the fear and the ugliness. Sometimes it isn’t ugly at all and that’s okay too. Just write down the things in your head to make a nice clear space for creativity each day.
Belief and Trust
The next thing that’s critical to setting up the day in a positive way is to think about the things that are true in my life…the things that I can count on, the things I believe. I simply write down ten things that I trust in and that I believe. No matter how bad things get I can count on these things to be as they are, always. For instance, I believe in love…all the love. I know that it’s always out there and that no matter how rotten things are somebody (fortunately, lots of bodies) loves me and there are people that I love too. I trust that my friends have my back and will be there to support me and that’s an amazing thing! I trust that there will always be another sunrise and that means that there is always opportunity. It’s easy to get bogged down in our own negativity and it limits the creative mind. Remembering to believe and trust what I know to be true, every morning, clears the mind for bigger and better things.
Gratitude
The last couple of minutes of my morning page is simply a list of ten things that I am grateful for on any given morning. There are a lot of repeats on my lists but no matter how blue I may have risen in the morning I am always grateful for things and writing them down, giving them voice and space, makes me feel better. I’m grateful for family and friends, my strength and my health, being raised by an amazing, strong woman…there are so many things! I am lucky to be creative, energetic and live in such a beautiful province, so close to nature. It’s easy to write down ten things once you get in the habit and this simple act can completely change your mindset for the day. Once you get into the habit you will be amazed at how it shifts your attitude for the day. And attitude is everything!
