Journaling Tips for Transforming Your Life Write Now

There’s a certain magic about a new year. It’s like a blank page, just waiting to be written on, full of promise and bursting with potential…

So why not reflect on the life story you would like to make your own in 2015, and write it, in detail, in your private journal? 

The first time I wrote a personal vision was in 2006. I wanted a new direction in my career, and I desired happiness in a loving relationship, after the break-up of my first marriage.

Following advice from a wise friend, I sat quietly and prayed first of all (You don’t have to pray, you can listen to music, meditate, or do whatever takes you to a still, silent place within).

Then I wrote about a specific day in my life, five years into the future. I actually had a picture in my mind’s eye as I wrote, a snapshot of how life would be in 2011. And most importantly, I wrote it in the present tense.

This is a short excerpt from my vision: “I am sitting in the garden of my country house with my husband. We are eating our lunch, surrounded by beautiful peonies. My husband is a wonderful, kind and attentive man, who has been successful in his field”.

At the time of writing, I was living in a town and had never lived in the country. But seven months later I met my future husband through a dating agency. He was a farmer, believe it or not, and fitted the description I had written perfectly. I always smile when I think about the reference to him being successful in his field! I had never dreamed of dating a farmer, but since 2009 I have been living in my country home and loving my beautiful surroundings.

Now I can’t promise you will definitely find a new partner, a new home, or even a new job this year, because it might not be the right time for you, but I do believe that writing a vision is a powerful tool to help unlock your destiny. So here are a few tips if you want to take this step towards creating a better life:

• Do whatever helps you to find the sacred space within. (If you believe in God or a Higher Power, ask for guidance in writing the vision that’s right for you). Still your mind.
• Try to see yourself, five years into the future. Write down a date in January 2020 at the top of a blank page in your journal. Then write as if you’re living that day now, in the present tense. Use lots of description and detail; make it feel real.
• Your vision should be within the bounds of possibility and not totally far-fetched.
• Read your vision out loud at least once or twice a week to keep yourself focused on your aims and ambitions.
• Take the appropriate action to bring about your dream of the future. Writing a vision is not like a magical spell; your free will is involved, and you need to make inspired choices to bring about the life you want. Talk to your journal and work out a plan.
• Be patient. When I wrote my vision in 2006 some of it quickly materialised, but there are aspects of it I am still waiting to see. Have I given up? Certainly not!
• Stay positive. When you expect good things to happen, you are much more likely to receive them.
• You might like to update and expand your vision once a year, as you get a clearer view of how it is unfolding in your life.

Don’t be surprised when you come across obstacles in your journey towards the life you want. There will be challenges, but unpack them on a daily basis in your journal.

Challenges and crises bring new opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. I am not minimising how painful some transitions can be, but your journal will be a faithful companion and will help you cope with disappointments and the general pressure of life.

Expressive writing has amazing healing effects on the body and mind. If you are living with a chronic illness or suffer with stress then pen-to-paper journaling is a powerful writing therapy without side effects.

A happy new year to you and your journal!

Lyn Alderson is a professional journalist, blogger and author, based in the English Midlands.

She has 25 years’ experience of writing news and features for UK  newspapers and magazines.To find out more about Lyn and her work visit http://lacopywriting.co.uk

 If you want to find out more about the health benefits of keeping a journal, check out Lyn's e-book The Write Therapy: How Keeping a Journal Can Make You Happier, Healthier and More Productive available from the Amazon Kindle Store.