Have you ever considered that polarity? Where are you consistent in your life? Making choices from an evolved/conscious thought pattern that serve you well? Where are you habitual in your life? Choosing by default/from your subconscious what you have always done, even if it does not serve you well?
Don't dismiss the paragraph above with the automatic thought of I don't choose from default. Or with the resistance of I don't understand what she is talking about. We ALL have consistent behaviors and habitual behaviors. Most of us don't take the time to consider which of our actions fall into which category.
Why would I want to consider such a thing may be the next question you entertain. Good question! The answer is .. knowing is half the battle G.I. Joe. When we are aware of the times we habitually act or don't act we have the power to change and grow.
So here are some journaling prompts for you:
Do you find yourself in the same kind of discussions with your spouse, parent, co-worker? Discussions that never work out the way you want? Discussions that you walk away from feeling sad, hurt, angry, generally not good as you leave? You may hear things over and over again that you don't want to hear and/or you may say/think/feel things over and over again that just make you feel less than great about yourself, the relationship, the situation. In these moments you have engaged in a habitual response. Reacting to stimuli provided by someone/something outside of yourself.
Do you find yourself in the same behavior pattern over and over again where the outcome is less than desirable? This too is reacting .. going shopping when you can't really afford to, eating when you are not hungry, drinking too much, gambling beyond your budget, spending too much time online, etc.
Write about the things that repeat in your life - patterns, feelings, thoughts, behaviors. Which of these serve your highest good? Which ones come from conscious choosing and net you good results? Which ones come from habit or need and net you results that you don't always enjoy?
Now write about how you can more often land in the consistent category.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
How do you show up in the room?
Last week I had coffee with one the the most squared away women I know. During our time together my friend was talking about her concept of two kinds of people in the world and I was struck by the similar concept I have when coaching clients around being grounded. She was sharing with me that in her experience one either walks into a room projecting "here I am" or one walks into a room thinking "there you are". An interesting concept if you think about it. How do you walk into a room? Most of us shift between "here I am" and "there you are" depending on the room, the people in the room, the day, etc.
I began to think about my work with clients where I focus on being present and filled with self-awareness; i.e grounded. When we enter a room is there a wrong or right way to project our energy? How do we make "here I am" a good way to enter a room rather than it being an ego based exercise that takes away from others? Is is always better to enter a room projecting "there you are"?
When we are present in the moment, knowing who we are, what we want, what we need, what our goals are we are grounded. It is from this position that we can walk into a room with the graciousness of "here I am" and/or the generosity of "there you are". We can increase others sense of welcome, comfort, value, engagement from either projection of our energy; when we are personally grounded we provide for others and reap rewards for ourselves.
It is from this place of groundedness we can project "here I am" in a positive way; with our self-awareness and empowerment. When walking into situations we then have things to share, the ability to be open, aware and responsive to the stimuli around us. We can engage in the present moment and make the most of things for ourselves and for others. In this scenario we do not draw the energy away from others and plant seeds of having a big ego. This is a win/win posture for life, business and relationship. If we are grounded in self-awareness and hold the question of how can I be of service, we provide and receive with a seamless ease.
The opposite end of the spectrum is walking into a room projecting "there you are". "There you are" is a powerful energy to project from a place of personal grounding. Think about how delightful it is when someone you perceive as "put together", "squared away", and/or "successful" approaches you with a sincere inquiry or compliment about about you, your work or an event in your life. Now think about how powerful it can be for you to project your energy in this way. You of course must have a sincere curiosity about those in you are speaking with. What are their strengths? What do they do with natural ease and grace? And so on. What does it cost you to be interested in someone else? What might you learn or gain by engaging in a conversation started around someone else's strengths? You'd be amazed!
Projecting "there you are" from an ungrounded, insecure, or deflecting posture is often self-defeating and does not serve you or the other person very well. When we are ungrounded, insecure or deflecting attention/energy away from ourselves we are often selling ourselves short. We can do this consciously and subconsciously.
I invite you to think about - at the very least - how you project your energy when you walk into a room, situation, party, etc. What is your most comfortable pattern of projecting your energy? Consider your behavior at work, socially, with family, with friends. What difference do you notice? I strongly encourage you to journal about how you show up most often, "here I am" or "there you are".
Knowing who you are and how you show up in the world makes you more successful in everything you do.
Jounal On!
Wendy
I began to think about my work with clients where I focus on being present and filled with self-awareness; i.e grounded. When we enter a room is there a wrong or right way to project our energy? How do we make "here I am" a good way to enter a room rather than it being an ego based exercise that takes away from others? Is is always better to enter a room projecting "there you are"?
When we are present in the moment, knowing who we are, what we want, what we need, what our goals are we are grounded. It is from this position that we can walk into a room with the graciousness of "here I am" and/or the generosity of "there you are". We can increase others sense of welcome, comfort, value, engagement from either projection of our energy; when we are personally grounded we provide for others and reap rewards for ourselves.
It is from this place of groundedness we can project "here I am" in a positive way; with our self-awareness and empowerment. When walking into situations we then have things to share, the ability to be open, aware and responsive to the stimuli around us. We can engage in the present moment and make the most of things for ourselves and for others. In this scenario we do not draw the energy away from others and plant seeds of having a big ego. This is a win/win posture for life, business and relationship. If we are grounded in self-awareness and hold the question of how can I be of service, we provide and receive with a seamless ease.
The opposite end of the spectrum is walking into a room projecting "there you are". "There you are" is a powerful energy to project from a place of personal grounding. Think about how delightful it is when someone you perceive as "put together", "squared away", and/or "successful" approaches you with a sincere inquiry or compliment about about you, your work or an event in your life. Now think about how powerful it can be for you to project your energy in this way. You of course must have a sincere curiosity about those in you are speaking with. What are their strengths? What do they do with natural ease and grace? And so on. What does it cost you to be interested in someone else? What might you learn or gain by engaging in a conversation started around someone else's strengths? You'd be amazed!
Projecting "there you are" from an ungrounded, insecure, or deflecting posture is often self-defeating and does not serve you or the other person very well. When we are ungrounded, insecure or deflecting attention/energy away from ourselves we are often selling ourselves short. We can do this consciously and subconsciously.
I invite you to think about - at the very least - how you project your energy when you walk into a room, situation, party, etc. What is your most comfortable pattern of projecting your energy? Consider your behavior at work, socially, with family, with friends. What difference do you notice? I strongly encourage you to journal about how you show up most often, "here I am" or "there you are".
Knowing who you are and how you show up in the world makes you more successful in everything you do.
Jounal On!
Wendy
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Your journal as a compass to your life.
Bedrock and personal truth, your journal as a compass -- all things I have presented. How has that gone? How is your journaling in general? Is it becoming easier to visit your pages on a regular basis? Are you enjoying the process. Are you aware of resistance? What is that resistance about? All of these questions are sincere meaning I would love to hear the answer.
So this is in the same vein of bedrock and personal truth ... "That which is like unto itself is drawn."
This quote arrived in my inbox a last week and has been rumbling around in my journaling and life. Like attracts like we have heard that most of our lives right? So how is that true in your life experience today? Does what you say out loud match what you think internally? How do you attract and manifest in your life? Do you attract what you talk about or what you think about? This is a great journaling question.
It was presented to me that "That which is like unto itself is drawn." Actually means vibrations are always matched. Ask and it is given. Do you find this to be true in your life? Or is there a rub between what you want and what you get? This once again is a great awareness to take to your journal. After exploring your experience of asking and receiving if you find the match is not even, that you ask for one thing but get another perhaps it is time for you to consider how you are asking. For each of us there are four levels of awareness: the physical, intellectual (what we think), the emotional (what we feel) and the spiritual (what we "know").
In order to attract what we want we must be aligned within our awareness and have the majority of our awareness focused on our desire in order to attract it .. and then keep it.
Start with something small that you wanted and have gotten with ease then move to an experience where the wanting and receiving have not worked out so well. What was different in those instances? Journal away and discover how you attract in your life.
So this is in the same vein of bedrock and personal truth ... "That which is like unto itself is drawn."
This quote arrived in my inbox a last week and has been rumbling around in my journaling and life. Like attracts like we have heard that most of our lives right? So how is that true in your life experience today? Does what you say out loud match what you think internally? How do you attract and manifest in your life? Do you attract what you talk about or what you think about? This is a great journaling question.
It was presented to me that "That which is like unto itself is drawn." Actually means vibrations are always matched. Ask and it is given. Do you find this to be true in your life? Or is there a rub between what you want and what you get? This once again is a great awareness to take to your journal. After exploring your experience of asking and receiving if you find the match is not even, that you ask for one thing but get another perhaps it is time for you to consider how you are asking. For each of us there are four levels of awareness: the physical, intellectual (what we think), the emotional (what we feel) and the spiritual (what we "know").
In order to attract what we want we must be aligned within our awareness and have the majority of our awareness focused on our desire in order to attract it .. and then keep it.
Start with something small that you wanted and have gotten with ease then move to an experience where the wanting and receiving have not worked out so well. What was different in those instances? Journal away and discover how you attract in your life.
Until week's installment .. Journal On!!
Wendy!
Visit my website to read about and/or purchase: Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still:
A guided journey for those who journal and those who wish they did.
http://www.wendymwarden.me
A guided journey for those who journal and those who wish they did.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Are you coming along?
Where is your journal? How many times did you visit it this week? How many pages did you write? Was it easier with a quote to germinate your on? Did the quote spark thoughts to consider? Did the prompts spur you on to more writing.....or did you find yourself journaling away without any outside stimulation? Was it still a quite meditation; you, the journal before you, the pen in hand and consideration vs. writing? Whatever the week was for you (I would love to hear about that if you choose to post) observe and keep coming back to your journal.
Since the quote I shared with you last week that talked about going deep enough to find a bedrock of truth, I will jump to the end of week one's benefit list and talk about personal truth seeking in your journal. Revealing and Resolving Your Personal Truths. I must admit I have not had many clients sit across from me and profess that they want to find their personal truth and reconcile it with the actions of their lives. But that is indeed what all of us that seek to do when we choose to grow, learn and change. Journaling is a fabulous tool on the journey to achieving that goal.
Most people who put pen to page with the hope of revealing and resolving personal truths, finding bedrock if you will, are trying to resolve some internal conflict, or doing so in an attempt to figure out how to say something out loud that they perceive will be so hurtful they can never speak it.
A good way to make journaling beneficial to you in a case like this would be to write the conflict across the top of the page so you clearly see what is bothering you. Then allow what ever comes to flow right onto the page. Just write!!!! You might be surprised at what comes out of your pen. This is a good thing, your journal is a safe place to spill whatever is bothering you without hurting anyone else. Get all the thoughts out of your head and onto the page.
If this is not free flowing and easy, then prompt yourself with questions like: Why does this bother me? Why am I angered about this? Why are my feelings hurt? etc. Sometimes we have to hold our own hand to get the process started.
When the "whys" of your journaling seem to be waning, then ask yourself the "hows". How can I make this better? How do I change what I am thinking and/or feeling about this situation? How do I communicate what I need?
You will be amazed at how a pen and piece of paper and a little commitment from you can change your experience of the world. I invite you to post questions, thoughts, successes with your jouralning and/or struggles with your journaling here so the growing group of followers can get a sense of how journaling is working for others.
I want to share a journaling snippet from my week. On Wednesday afternoon I was driving to a training session and talking on the phone (hands free of course) with my sister. We were in the mist of joking, playing seeminglynonsensical diatribe when out of my mouth came .. "Now that you know the end is obtainable what are you going to do with the rest of your life?" It was a joke in response to something she said about how old we we're getting to be but it stopped us both dead in our tracks. I immediately knew it was the title of the next workshop I was to create. While I was driving I said I have to write this down so I don't loose it before I develop it. (This is another way a journal serves us well to capture ideas so we don't loose them.)
The moment I was seated at my training and opened my book to take notes, I wrote across the page "Now that you know the end is obtainable what are you going to do with the rest of your life." Thursday morning when I sat to journal I wrote about why that phrase spoke to me, why I like it so much, what power I perceive in that combination of words, how that headline will impact my clients, how that headline could attract new clients, etc. Thursday afternoon I had another conversation with my sister about the possibilities of that sentences. Then again in journaling on Friday morning the outline for the workshop was born.
So watch for an upcoming workshop announcement :) and know that once you start journaling the practice can and will foster a connection to ease and abundance in your life that you would have never imagined.
Since the quote I shared with you last week that talked about going deep enough to find a bedrock of truth, I will jump to the end of week one's benefit list and talk about personal truth seeking in your journal. Revealing and Resolving Your Personal Truths. I must admit I have not had many clients sit across from me and profess that they want to find their personal truth and reconcile it with the actions of their lives. But that is indeed what all of us that seek to do when we choose to grow, learn and change. Journaling is a fabulous tool on the journey to achieving that goal.
Most people who put pen to page with the hope of revealing and resolving personal truths, finding bedrock if you will, are trying to resolve some internal conflict, or doing so in an attempt to figure out how to say something out loud that they perceive will be so hurtful they can never speak it.
A good way to make journaling beneficial to you in a case like this would be to write the conflict across the top of the page so you clearly see what is bothering you. Then allow what ever comes to flow right onto the page. Just write!!!! You might be surprised at what comes out of your pen. This is a good thing, your journal is a safe place to spill whatever is bothering you without hurting anyone else. Get all the thoughts out of your head and onto the page.
If this is not free flowing and easy, then prompt yourself with questions like: Why does this bother me? Why am I angered about this? Why are my feelings hurt? etc. Sometimes we have to hold our own hand to get the process started.
When the "whys" of your journaling seem to be waning, then ask yourself the "hows". How can I make this better? How do I change what I am thinking and/or feeling about this situation? How do I communicate what I need?
You will be amazed at how a pen and piece of paper and a little commitment from you can change your experience of the world. I invite you to post questions, thoughts, successes with your jouralning and/or struggles with your journaling here so the growing group of followers can get a sense of how journaling is working for others.
I want to share a journaling snippet from my week. On Wednesday afternoon I was driving to a training session and talking on the phone (hands free of course) with my sister. We were in the mist of joking, playing seeminglynonsensical diatribe when out of my mouth came .. "Now that you know the end is obtainable what are you going to do with the rest of your life?" It was a joke in response to something she said about how old we we're getting to be but it stopped us both dead in our tracks. I immediately knew it was the title of the next workshop I was to create. While I was driving I said I have to write this down so I don't loose it before I develop it. (This is another way a journal serves us well to capture ideas so we don't loose them.)
The moment I was seated at my training and opened my book to take notes, I wrote across the page "Now that you know the end is obtainable what are you going to do with the rest of your life." Thursday morning when I sat to journal I wrote about why that phrase spoke to me, why I like it so much, what power I perceive in that combination of words, how that headline will impact my clients, how that headline could attract new clients, etc. Thursday afternoon I had another conversation with my sister about the possibilities of that sentences. Then again in journaling on Friday morning the outline for the workshop was born.
So watch for an upcoming workshop announcement :) and know that once you start journaling the practice can and will foster a connection to ease and abundance in your life that you would have never imagined.
Until next Friday's installment .. post a comment here and Journal On!!
Wendy!
Visit my website to read about
Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still
A guided journey for those who journal and those who wish they did. http://www.wendymwarden.me
Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still
A guided journey for those who journal and those who wish they did. http://www.wendymwarden.me
Friday, September 18, 2009
Journal On
So, it's been a week .. do you have pen in hand and paper at the ready? Did you spend any time playing with the options and endless combinations? It really does make a difference in the flow of your writing when the pen feels good in your hand and the ink marries well with the page. An ease is created that fosters the flow of writing.
I will assume you are on board and perhaps even wrote this past week. If so how was it? Was it easy? Did you find yourself emptying things onto the page that surprised you? Did you write more than you thought you could or would? Or was it more difficult? Hard to get started? Did you think about what you "should" write about? Did you worry about getting it right?
Post comments about your experience and let me know how you are progressing.
Whatever your experience was it is okay! Journaling really has no rules. There is not a right way or wrong way to do it. There is not a right time or wrong time to do it. It really is a Nike .. "Just Do It" kind of thing.
Like with most new habits you attempt to establish in your life it may be helpful to carve out a time and place that has some stability about it to foster your new journaling practice. For me, it is generally early in the morning before my brain has engaged in the world. Before phone calls, before email, before conversations with my partner, before TV, etc. I have a favorite place in the family room, a favorite pen, and the spiral note book of the week and off I go. The dogs snore away near me and I journal stream of consciousness for at least three pages. Jouranling masters far wiser than I believe that there is magic in the three page system. That if you actually write for three pages you get past your internal editor to what is really going on in your head/heart/subconscious. This is when journaling becomes productive.
So in the coming week I hope you continue to dance with the practice of journaling. Find your tools (pen, paper), find your supportive structure (location, time of day), carve out your dedicated 15 minutes to write three pages at time and then "Just Do It". (I say that with a encouraging smile not a drill instructor's tone.)
In the coming weeks I will delve deeper into the specific therapeutic benefits of journaling as well as sharing some stories of: who journals, why they journal and how they foster their practice. As well as sharing some of the amazing successes that have been born on the pages of journals. I can and will address your questions if you submit them as comments. I can do this privately or as part of the next week's installment so please share your preferences when you comment.
For now I will leave you with a bit of inspiration to get you writing:
It always comes back to the same necessity: go deep enough and there is a bedrock of truth, however hard. - Mary Sarton
I will assume you are on board and perhaps even wrote this past week. If so how was it? Was it easy? Did you find yourself emptying things onto the page that surprised you? Did you write more than you thought you could or would? Or was it more difficult? Hard to get started? Did you think about what you "should" write about? Did you worry about getting it right?
Post comments about your experience and let me know how you are progressing.
Whatever your experience was it is okay! Journaling really has no rules. There is not a right way or wrong way to do it. There is not a right time or wrong time to do it. It really is a Nike .. "Just Do It" kind of thing.
Like with most new habits you attempt to establish in your life it may be helpful to carve out a time and place that has some stability about it to foster your new journaling practice. For me, it is generally early in the morning before my brain has engaged in the world. Before phone calls, before email, before conversations with my partner, before TV, etc. I have a favorite place in the family room, a favorite pen, and the spiral note book of the week and off I go. The dogs snore away near me and I journal stream of consciousness for at least three pages. Jouranling masters far wiser than I believe that there is magic in the three page system. That if you actually write for three pages you get past your internal editor to what is really going on in your head/heart/subconscious. This is when journaling becomes productive.
So in the coming week I hope you continue to dance with the practice of journaling. Find your tools (pen, paper), find your supportive structure (location, time of day), carve out your dedicated 15 minutes to write three pages at time and then "Just Do It". (I say that with a encouraging smile not a drill instructor's tone.)
In the coming weeks I will delve deeper into the specific therapeutic benefits of journaling as well as sharing some stories of: who journals, why they journal and how they foster their practice. As well as sharing some of the amazing successes that have been born on the pages of journals. I can and will address your questions if you submit them as comments. I can do this privately or as part of the next week's installment so please share your preferences when you comment.
For now I will leave you with a bit of inspiration to get you writing:
It always comes back to the same necessity: go deep enough and there is a bedrock of truth, however hard. - Mary Sarton
- Journal about what the quote means to you as you read it. What thoughts were provoked? What feelings were provoke? Did you exhale and think WOW? Were your confused by her meaning? Do you feel resistance to considering the quote? Journal .. pen to page and just write what comes.
- How does know your bedrock of truth make you a better* person?
- Have you ever considered your personal bedrock of truth? What is it?
- When has knowing your personal bedrock of truth sever you in making life choices/decisions?
Until next Friday's installment .. Journal On!!
Wendy!
Visit my website to read about Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still: A guided journey for those who journal and those who wish they did. http://www.wendymwarden.me
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Let's Get Started!
Why should I journal? I hear that question often. There are a million and one reasons to journal and a million and one ways to do it!
Journaling is a unique as each of us. There is no right way or wrong way to journal, there are no rules!!!
So let's get started!
Find a writing utensil you like. Do you like the weight and shape in your hand? Do you like the flow of the ink or lead? Do you like the color? This may all seem like silly stuff but finding the writing utensil you enjoy writing with will really help you overcome resistance to journaling.
Now paper, find paper that accepts your writing utensil, that allows "pen" to glide across the page. Do you like white paper? Lined paper? Cardstock? Bound paper? Explore your options.
Next consider where you might like to journal and then try all the locations you think of! Do you like to sit at a desk or table? Are you comfortable curled up in your favorite chair? Or propped up in the bed? In the bathtub? Perhaps it's the local coffee shop?
Finally, what do I journal about? This is a popular question. Journal about anything and everything! Just write .. put "pen" to page. Start with your name and let your mind wander to what comes next. Start with a problem and journal the "what ifs". Start with your joys and journal, journal, journal!
The options are endless for writing utensils , for paper, for location and for subjects. This really is a just do kind of thing. Just start writing. For me it is a papermate pen and a spiral bound notebook and any place on the planet. That is after 12+ years of journaling and knowing that resistance is futile. Journaling makes everything better.
So just remember what you write, when you write, doesn't matter .. just write. I doesn't have to make sense, you don't have to re-read what you write if you don't want to. The only rules that apply to journaling are the ones you place upon yourself.
So until next week .. Journal ON! Post your comments and/or questions and I will response!
SOME OF THE BENEFITS:
Why should I journal? I hear that question often. There are a million and one reasons to journal and a million and one ways to do it!
Journaling is a unique as each of us. There is no right way or wrong way to journal, there are no rules!!!
So let's get started!
Find a writing utensil you like. Do you like the weight and shape in your hand? Do you like the flow of the ink or lead? Do you like the color? This may all seem like silly stuff but finding the writing utensil you enjoy writing with will really help you overcome resistance to journaling.
Now paper, find paper that accepts your writing utensil, that allows "pen" to glide across the page. Do you like white paper? Lined paper? Cardstock? Bound paper? Explore your options.
Next consider where you might like to journal and then try all the locations you think of! Do you like to sit at a desk or table? Are you comfortable curled up in your favorite chair? Or propped up in the bed? In the bathtub? Perhaps it's the local coffee shop?
Finally, what do I journal about? This is a popular question. Journal about anything and everything! Just write .. put "pen" to page. Start with your name and let your mind wander to what comes next. Start with a problem and journal the "what ifs". Start with your joys and journal, journal, journal!
The options are endless for writing utensils , for paper, for location and for subjects. This really is a just do kind of thing. Just start writing. For me it is a papermate pen and a spiral bound notebook and any place on the planet. That is after 12+ years of journaling and knowing that resistance is futile. Journaling makes everything better.
So just remember what you write, when you write, doesn't matter .. just write. I doesn't have to make sense, you don't have to re-read what you write if you don't want to. The only rules that apply to journaling are the ones you place upon yourself.
So until next week .. Journal ON! Post your comments and/or questions and I will response!
SOME OF THE BENEFITS:
Stress Reduction
Personal Growth
Capturing Your Life Story
Problem Solving
Enhancing Creativity
Developing and Tracking Your Intuition
Enriching Your Spiritual Practice
Assisting In the Healing Process
Revealing and Resolving Your Personal Truths
visit my website to explore my new book
Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still
A guided journey for people who journal and those who wish they did
http://www.wendymwarden.me
Personal Growth
Capturing Your Life Story
Problem Solving
Enhancing Creativity
Developing and Tracking Your Intuition
Enriching Your Spiritual Practice
Assisting In the Healing Process
Revealing and Resolving Your Personal Truths
visit my website to explore my new book
Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still
A guided journey for people who journal and those who wish they did
http://www.wendymwarden.me
Friday, August 28, 2009
Welcome!
This is a new blog for those who journal and those who wish they did!
I have been an avid journaling for well over 10 years now and have just published a book along with my friend and colleague Jerilyn Willing for and about journaling. Visit my website to learn more about the book.
http://www.wendymwarden.me/Wendy_M._Warden/Welcome.html
Please use this form to share your insights and expereince with journaling. I can answer question, will share all I know about the process and the benefits for journaling.
I look forward to hearing from lots of fellow journalers and from lots of people finding their way to the practice.
I have been an avid journaling for well over 10 years now and have just published a book along with my friend and colleague Jerilyn Willing for and about journaling. Visit my website to learn more about the book.
http://www.wendymwarden.me/Wendy_M._Warden/Welcome.html
Please use this form to share your insights and expereince with journaling. I can answer question, will share all I know about the process and the benefits for journaling.
I look forward to hearing from lots of fellow journalers and from lots of people finding their way to the practice.
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