Journal Power for Peace

Author - Mari L. McCarthy
Published - September 24, 2014

I’ve been wondering about using journaling to promote peace. 

Sometimes I think I should never read the news. Oh the mess this world is in! Often, it’s really disheartening, and it seems like there’s so little one person can do. 

Being the change we want to see is the first challenge, write? First, we have to create peace in ourselves. 

But even if true peacefulness is not exactly where we personally dwell, we still ache for better harmony in society. Let’s spend a week journaling about options for ourselves as well as those around us. 

Wednesday: Personal Peace Meter 

As with any exploration, we start by looking at what’s here now. Ask your journal: 

  • How peaceful do I usually feel?
  • How do I know when I am not feeling peaceful?
  • How much do I crave more peace in the world and my life? 

Thursday: Peaceful Places 

Let imagination play, so you can learn more about your concepts of peace. 

  • Describe in detail a physical location that is peaceful to you.
  • Close your eyes and imagine a corner of your mind as an actual, physical place of peace. Then write a description of that place, and furnish it as you wish. 

Friday: Plan for Peace 

Whether modest or grand, make a plan in your journal outlining a path to increased personal peace. 

  • Make a list of whatever is standing in the way of your complete calm and tranquility.
  • List ways to work around or eliminate those obstacles. 

Saturday: Peaceful People 

Think about the people you know. 

  • Of those in your inner circle of family and friends, which would you describe as relatively peaceful people?
  • Now consider less familiar friends, acquaintances, and business relationships. Who seems to have a peaceful demeanor?
  • Do you perceive any commonalities among these peaceful folk? 

Sunday: In Praise of Peace 

Taking a little break from the process, journal today around songs of praise. 

  • Describe the thing that makes peacefulness so lovely and attractive.
  • Write the title or a few lyrics from a peaceful song you know. Journal what it means to you. 
  • Compose your own song, poem, or other expression.

Monday: Passion for Peace 

The world around us is seriously unsettled. Are you ready to play a part in creating solutions for us all? 

  • You can’t save the whole world, but there’s a need somewhere nearby that you can fill. Make a list of your options.
  • Participate in any peace-making project and journal your experiences. This could be anything from campaigning to get out the vote to mending fences with your neighbor. 

Tuesday: Project Peace 

In the end, peace is not a project, with a beginning and an end. Peace has to guide both culture and personal lifestyle. We must project peace. 

  • How can I modify my daily routine so that I feel more peaceful?
  • What can I do to project more peace out into the world? 

It’s just a beginning, but when it comes to stuff like war and peace, you have to do something, start somewhere, and trust your journal to take it from there. 

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Another fun way to get daily journaling prompts is by using my 34 Daily Journal Writing Prompts, a series of emails that’s sent to you each day with a tasty new theme for your journal entry!

 

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