Journaling

#133 - THE MAGIC OF MORNING PAGES JOURNALING

 

Hello and welcome to another episode!

Years ago I read a wonderful book, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. A beautiful book which teaches techniques and exercises to assist people in gaining self-confidence to harness their creative talents.

One of the techniques recommended was ‘stream of consciousness writing’. Just dumping onto paper what-ever is in your head at any given time.

Over time I evolved the practice - called ‘Morning Pages’ – and most mornings for the last decade or so I sit in a quiet place with a blank journal and pen, a cup of tea, a favourite candle lit nearby, and I write…

It's become a valuable ritual for me and maybe it's something for you too?

"In particular, when things are difficult, I find it so helpful."

So much so that when people ask me how I managed to not get burned out as I started and grew kikki.K for over 20 years - working at a hectic pace - I tell them it's thanks to my ritual of Morning Pages journaling.

I write whatever comes to mind. Literally just writing in the way that I think. Dumping thoughts on paper as they come... helping me clear my head and heart and set me up for the day ahead.

Some of the key things you'll learn in this episode:

  • How to go about Morning Pages journaling.
  • How beneficial it has been for me as a morning ritual and why it might be for you too.
  • How to just keep your hand moving and write - as if no-one will ever read what you've written.
  • Not to worry about being logical or 'right' as you write.

If you're interested then you can read more about it here...

And you can browse our new Dream Life Morning Pages journals here...

 

I’ll be back next week with another guest so be sure you’re subscribed to the podcast, so you don’t miss. 

Love,

Dream Life Founder  

 

SHOW NOTES:

  • Learn more about the magic of Morning Pages journaling in my Blog here
  • Join me in my Personal Growth / Book Club - GROW to study The Artist's Way in August'22 here.
  • Join the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here - and jump into discussions and learning with like-minded people.
  • If you love this episode, don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiration – and please tell us what you thought by leaving us a review! 
  • Find yourself a beautiful new personalised journal here.
  • Come see a glimpse of my morning walks in local forests. Where I get my daily fix of nature.

 

RESOURCES:

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Hi there and welcome back to another episode!

This week I want to talk about something I absolutely love and has been so helpful in my life, and that is morning pages.

Years ago I read a wonderful book, The Artist Way by Julia Cameron. A beautiful book which teaches techniques and exercises to assist people in gaining self-confidence to harness their creative talents.

One of the techniques recommended was ‘stream of consciousness writing’. Just dumping onto paper what-ever is in your head at any given time.

Over time I evolved the practice to be what I call my ‘Morning Pages’ – and most mornings for the last decade or so I sit in a quiet place with a blank journal and pen, a cup of tea, a favourite candle lit nearby, and I write…

It's become a valuable ritual for me.

In particular, when things are difficult, I find it so helpful.

So much so that when people ask me how I managed to not get burned out as I started and grew kikki.K for over 20 years, I tell them it's thanks to my ritual of Morning Pages journaling.

I worked so hard but this ritual helped me to never hit the wall or get burned out.


So How Does it Work?

I write whatever comes to mind. Literally just writing in the way that I think. Dumping thoughts on paper as they come... helping me clear my head and heart...

I don’t edit at all. I don’t overthink. I don’t try to make sense straight away. I don't worry about spelling or grammar... or being neat. I don't pause to think it all thru.

I just keep my hand moving and write - as if no-one will ever read what I've written. Happy. Confused. Angry. Sad. Excited. What-ever comes comes out… the more intense the emotion the better.

I don't worry about being logical or 'right' and I'm not worried if I go 'off topic'.

IT IS SO LIBERATING & THERAPUTIC!

And then often I burn the pages after – so I can write things that I would never want anyone else to read...

But that's not something you have to do. I know lots of people like to look back over their scribblings over time - and there is benefit in that as you give yourself distance and space to make sense of how you are evolving.

Journaling Morning Pages style allows you to express yourself freely without being judged - and provides you with a record of your experience and feelings that will help you make sense of them and your progress over time if you choose to look back.

I always aim to fill three pages with this long-hand, stream of consciousness writing - and in my experience it best to do it first thing in the morning.

Why?

Because I find that my Morning Pages journaling provokes, clarifies, comforts, cajoles and helps me prioritise the day at hand. Free-ing me up to be creative and productive.

Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist Way says "it's the bedrock tool of a creative recovery" ...but there's no wrong way to do Morning Pages so feel free to explore it for yourself to figure out what works best.


What if it's Hard at First?

When I first started doing it, there were time when I just didn't know what to write... so that's exactly what I wrote:

"Here I am, sitting here and I have no idea what to write... the things I'm thinking are...."

...and them off I would go. Filling the page.

So when you don’t know what to write, just literally write whatever thoughts are coming to mind for you.

So there is always something to write about!

If I have a big day ahead, I sometimes write how I want the day to unfold. I also sometimes write about a specific event or meeting upcoming. My fears and hopes. My random thoughts. And it helps me clear and prioritise my subconscious.


Thinking Back...

As I think back over the last 20 years, in times when I was in circumstances that had me doubting myself or that were highly difficult, journaling in this random way in the mornings helped me process things in an unusual but very helpful way.

Thinking on paper is so valuable. You don’t have to have any answers. You can just dump your thoughts and explore your fears, doubts, anger, frustration, joy, excitement... all emotions and all circumstances. Free-ing your mind in the process.

There is no doubt some science that explains why this works – and if you know of any, please comment below - but my years of personal experience leave me in no doubt it’s a wonderful and valuable process and practice.

You should try it - and please circle back to leave a comment below to let us all know how it goes for you.


An Easy Way To Start...

And if you're curious to learn more, we'll be reading The Artist's Way in August in my virtual book club GROW - and we'll all be doing daily Morning Pages as part of that. 

When you start something new its so much easier if you have the support and the inspiration of seeing other people doing it too, so please consider joining us if you want to give it a go.


Use A Specific Journal...

I've created a new journal available exclusively at The Dream Life Store that says Morning Pages on the cover.

It's just a normal simple journal, and you can choose if you want to have it lined, plain, with grid pages or dots. And as always, you can personalise the cover with your name on it or the name of someone you want to gift it to.


I keep a separate Morning Pages journal to my normal journal - and I only use my Morning Pages journal for my morning pages. I keep it next to my bed so I can do my morning pages as soon as I wake up. I don’t read what I write which is why I keep a separate journal.

Its one of the best things I have ever done for my work life balance and for keeping sane. So definitely try it – it's absolutely for everyone.

I would LOVE to know if you are doing the morning pages already or if you start, how you find it. – please let me know in the FB group – I will link to that as well or just search for the dream life podcast Fb group.

I will be back next week with another guest so don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss it.

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