4. How to fill your journal

Now you've bought the beautiful journal, got the stationary, pens and all other additions to make this book beautiful and uniquely yours. Now what? The blank pages stare back and you are already overwhelmed with the big question of what to put into this book.

The short answer is, whatever you want. The thing that we all have to acknowledge no matter our age, gender, size or creed is that we are all uniquely different. What's right for me will not be right for you. Some of us are creatively artesy others are creative with words so pick your poison and lets do this.

The first thing to note is that you need to choose a time, a comfortable space and be relaxed. This may seem trivial but without this in place you will not make journaling a priority. Journaling must become a daily habit, find time in your schedule and block time for you to journal, the same time each day is a good idea. If we set the time aside it is much easier to continue the daily habit. For me, I journal in the morning to be clutter free for the day ahead and in the evening before I go to bed to review my accomplishments and clear my mind for a decent night's sleep.

WHAT SHOULD WE PUT IN A JOURNAL ?

Your journal is the place to capture your thoughts, your ideas, special moments or even disasters. A place to record your observations to explore new ideas.

Don't trust your memory. How many times have we all been out on a trip or even a commute and a brilliant idea comes to mind but by the time you got home or to the office it was completely gone?

Your journal does not have to be perfect. Just as we are not perfect. Scribble down ideas so that you can expand on them later. Write about conversations with colleagues or friends. having a tough time with a family member ? Journal about that too.

Don't forget that photographs are also an incredible way to journal. Not all journals have to be written page after page. A journal is a journey, a picture into a particular episode of your life. A place you can revisit and reflect on where you were on a particular date in time .

Take time on a regular basis to revisit your past entries, you might be surprised of how much your life has progressed by simply re reading the chapters of your life as described by you. Can you imagine the legacy that you will leave behind to your children by the words you write about the life you have lived, the many adventures that we omit to tell our children or the stories we find insignificant but that they find intriguing.

Most of all , enjoy the journey.

xx Lei

A journal is your completely unaltered voice. – Lucy Dacus