Tips for Journaling Through Seasons of Change

Another sip of a warm coffee as I look out my window to a blanket filled sky of grey clouds. Fall is here, and very present.

Mornings are now spent listening to the soft hum of rain with the sense of

winter drawing near. There seems to be a comforting tone to the gradual changing of leaves. Perhaps it reflects a change in our hearts. Autumn is a season that reflects this, no doubt, I am learning more and more that there is value in embracing these changes.

For some, it’s a transition to new friend groups

For others, it is an adjustment to a new school, work, environment.

It may be a season of loss,

Or gain.

In any circumstance, the stillness we begin to experience in cooler air and the blanket of clouds overhead allows an opportunity for us to reflect within ourselves.

How can I embrace this season of change that I am in?

What can I do to make sure that I do not take this opportunity of growth and change for granted?

For me, I have found that journaling can be a helpful outlet as I walk through different seasons. Looking back on my entries brings me immense joy to remember all that I have overcome in a year. While you are writing, imagine where you will be in one year.

Here are a few ways in which I journal that have helped to keep me grounded in change:

Write it Down

• Everything: your emotions, education, and experiences. There is something truly beautiful about taking a pen to paper, no matter the quality of your penmanship.

Make a Daily List Of What You Are Thankful For

• I have used this little tip in my journals for years. It helps me to re-center on what really matters. It can be hard to find contentment in a world that demands performance- that new car, the perfect family, designer styles... Luckily writing down even the little things you appreciate can help lift your spirits.

Record Any Regrets and Leave Them There

• Now is the perfect time to let go of unecessary baggage. Seek the pain within your heart and draw it out; it cannot hide when it's exposed to the light. When writing these things down, imagine yourself actually removing them off of your shoulders and taping them in your notebook. Now it lives there, not inside of you.

Identify Your Dreams

• Get your hopes up! Don't be afraid to write down big goals and dreams. What you behold, you become. Know that it is in our daily habits that our success is defined. Start with the small goals- maybe taking the stairs every day instead of the elevator or waking up just a half hour earlier to invest in yourself in the morning. Then, move on to the dreams that scare you, these are the kind of dreams that can change the world. Do you want to write a book? Become a motivational speaker? How about a singer, actor, or a stay at home mom? Write it down.

We cannot ignore the seasons, but we can learn to find enjoyment in them. I hope that you will take time to be still and record. May you discover yourself in the process and find peace in the change.