Creating a journal is another tool that can help us deepen our spirituality and reflect on our journey. There is no right way to journal; whatever way you approach it is right for you.

Here are some thoughts for reflection and to help get you started.

Be Intentional When You Journal

Journaling can be a wonderful tool to reconnect with your spiritual self and embrace the spirit within. If you decide to journal, set aside a time to relax, quiet your mind and be attentive to your spirit. You can set a specific time of the day or week to journal such as every evening before going to bed, before you have breakfast, or on an afternoon break.

Think about how journaling can be used as a tool on your spiritual journey. What are some of the reasons and ways to journal?

Recording Your Spiritual Story

In addition to sharing our thoughts and feelings, journaling can help us to record our spiritual story.  We can continue to add to our spiritual lifeline and our spiritual biography as we cross thresholds, experience conversations and grow in our spirituality.  As our spiritual story develops and unfolds, the art of journaling can awaken our heart to connecting the human story and the divine story.

Getting “Unstuck”

Journaling can help us get “unstuck” and work through obstacles by shifting our thinking and re-imaging our spiritual life force. As we reflect on our spiritual journey, we can ask questions to help us obtain clarity such as:

What am I afraid of?

What do I appreciate about myself?

Where is God or the Other in all of this?

When do I feel the most in touch with my spirituality?

Forgiveness

If we are having a problem forgiving someone, it may be helpful to write down the person’s name or the question: Why am I unable to forgive this person? Or the question: Why am I unable to forgive myself?

Gratitude List

Begin or end your day by creating a gratitude list. Asking the question: What am I grateful for today? This can help us to be present and attentive to the spirit within. What is on your list today?

Sharing Emotions

Sometimes we are unable to find words to express our emotions, when this occurs, we can doodle or scribble in our journal. For example, this can be especially helpful if we are angry and we don’t wish to talk about our anger at a particular time. However, we would like some expression of this anger.  We can also journal expressions of love, compassion, bliss, and doubt.

Self Expression

Try using crayons, markers, charcoal, or other artistic tools to express yourself in your journal.  Get in touch with your inner child by drawing, coloring or writing with colorful expressions that relate to your thoughts and feelings at a particular time.  Write sideways, upside down or backward, or use your left hand. Be open to possibilities of self-expression.

Joy

Journal those things that bring you true joy: people, places, events, things, times of day, etc. Reflect on why these things bring you joy.

Centering Ritual

Develop a centering ritual associated with your journaling. This can strengthen your journal practice and create openness to self-nurturing. This centering ritual can include enjoying a cup of tea, listening to music, breathing mediation, centering prayer or reading a favorite quote before or after journaling.

General Reflection

Think about a general reflection before journaling such as: What am I feeling right now? or What ‘s been on my mind? or What is stirring in me at this time?

Think about recording the day, time, and place when your journal.  This may help to understand the context of your thoughts and feelings at a later date.