Journaling is an exciting, inspirational way to share you! There are NO rules to journaling, so read through, find what inspires you and go for it!
Writing, drawing, painting, and journaling are all great ways to express yourself. Journaling doesn’t mean diary, unless you want it to. Maybe you prefer idea book or art portfolio? Perhaps diary strikes a cord or maybe just simply calling it your notebook? Whatever you want to name it, it’s simply about expressing you in a way that feels right for you!
Everyone is different so you might consider: painting, poetry, collages, free writing, scrapbooking, diaries, bullet journals, vision boards, and vision books.
Inspiration 1 – Begin
Select (purchase or create) an album, notebook or medium of your choice. What would you enjoy working with? This is meant to be a fun and uplifting adventure and whatever you enjoy is perfect!
The first page might include a current photo and brief bio after all, this page is all about YOU.
You could Include your full name, today’s date, and why you are creating the project.
Sparks of Inspiration!
- Free writing about how you feel about journaling. where you live, what you love, why you created this project.
- What are you thankful for today?
- Grab what colors of paint jump out at you and cover your page with them! (Be sure to let it dry before closing the book or moving to another page). How did that feel? What did you like?
- Flip through a magazine and cut out images and words that inspire you and put them on the page.
- Write a poem about something you love.
- Doodle – Do you love to doodle? Me too! Simply let the pencil go and then for fun you could fill in the spaces with color and/or words, thoughts, or quotes.
- Bullet Journaling is more than just using bulleted lists. To learn more about it I’ve included the link to the book below.
Inspiration 2 – What’s in a Name?
Simply create a fun page all about your name. You could do your first, middle, last or nick name or all of the above! Also, you could also include any family names that are handed down through the generations. Did your surname change when your ancestors came to America or as the generations handed it own? Because of so many languages when people were coming to America, many surnames changed in spelling pronunciation or both. Are you aware of anything like this in your family history?
- Who named you?
- Why did they name you that?
- Where did your middle name come from?
- Are there any names handed down? Is your name difficult to pronounce – spell it phonetically for future generations?
- Do you have a nickname?
- Did you get to name anyone (your child or anyone else)?
This would be a good time to include your signature. Yes, your signature!
Here is an example of journaling a name:
Name: ESTHER
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Jewish, French, Biblical
Pronounced: ES-tur (English), es-TER (French) [key]
Possibly means “star” in Persian. Alternatively it could be a Hebrew form of ISHTAR, the name of a Persian goddess. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia, who saves many Jews from persecution. (taken from www.behindthename.com)
Another idea is to spell out your name and use fun words that describe you.
ESTHER
E – Energetic, Enthusiastic
S – Sympathetic, Sweet, Skilled, Scrapbooker
T – Tender Hearted, Talented, Thoughtful, Treasured, Teacher
H – Helpful, Humanitarian, Happy
E – Easy Going, Engaging
R – Rational, Responsible, Realistic
Other ideas:
- Use WordArt to create and print your name in really fun ways to put on your page
- Write your name in big block letters and then inside of the letters write all of the amazing attributes that make you so wonderful! Add colors and sparkles and whatever feels good to you!
Inspiration 3 – MY Favorite Things
Just like in that fun song, name your favorite things!
My Favorite Things
Raindrops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
- Tell me about your favorite quiet place.
- Where do you go to relax and breathe?
- What inspires you?
- Your best gift ever.
- What do you love to collect and why?
- What are your favorite things?
- Favorite color?
- Food, drink, recipe or restaurant?
- Music, band, concert?
- Hobby or pastime?
- Movie, actor, play, production?
- Sport
- Team or coach?
- Author or book?
- Pet, furbaby, animal?
- National park, state, country?
- Season?
- Vacation, staycation, getaway, hideaway, home away from home?
- Most impactful book?
- Most amazing birthday, birthday party, birthday gift? Family get together?
- Recall the time you laughed the hardest, journal about it.
- Describe what you love to do, share how it makes you feel.
- What is your favorite accomplishment?
- Something that you did that makes you smile every time you think about it?
- Who do you admire and why?
- What would you love to learn and why?
- What’s stopping you from learning it? Why?
- What is your favorite thing about you?
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