By Catherine Franz
Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just want
to add your spiritual postings in your regular journal, you
will want to read this.
Personal journaling supports our development and growth.
But spiritual journaling goes deeper. Spiritual writing is
a reflection of our soul. Like personal journaling it too
is a tool for self-discovery, aids concentration, is a
safety valve for emotions, a training ground for improving
thought to paper processing, and builds self-esteem and
confidence.
Spiritual growth is not just about religion, it concerns all
life time, goals, relationships, work, politics, and our
inner life. Spiritual journaling is a process where the
part of us that connects with God, or our higher power,
expresses itself. It is a process of where selfishness can
be transformed into caring, rebellion into obedience, and
despair into hope. It is with this connection that personal
development occurs.
Journaling is just one discipline to a greater path of
grace. Prayer and fasting are the other two. This
discipline is a response to grace not an alternative. It is
also an adventure in joyful freedom.
Have you ever been listening to your pastor or priest and
you zone out briefly, hear something profound, and then
suddenly snap back? It’s there and then gone.
What about a time when you started crying and there wasn't a
reason? The tears could have been triggered by words, a
phrase, a visual from a conversation, television program or
commercial, movie, or radio broadcast. Apparently, there
was an emotional pull, do you remember what it was? Did you
ever think of what actually trigger it?
It is my believe that these and other ways we receive
subtitle messages, either from your inner spiritual self or
a higher connection, are guidance. God and the universe
talks to us all day long but because of our busy lives we
don't listen very well or stop and take notice of what
"really" just happened. Usually, we just push our way right
though the message, shrug it off to being tired, dismiss it
as irrelevant, or not having any time to address it.
But these do have meaning and it is important to record
these, even if on a napkin, and spend some quiet time with
them later in your journal. Then ask our higher power for
guidance and understanding. When was the last time you did
this? Maybe you have never asked. Maybe its time to renew
the experience.
In order not to repeat past events we study them. But do we
study our day so that we don't repeat certain experiences
again? Usually not. What if you asked: "What occurred in
today’s events that seem out of the ordinary?" "What
messages appeared that were quickly tossed that were
spiritually based and could have additional meaning?"
For this very reason, not to repeat our mistakes and to
improve our future that we should stop and ask. Throughout
history we've been told: "An answer cannot be received,
until first we ask." I know this last sentence must be a
quote from somewhere but I couldn't find the source.
Do you read material that spiritually enlightens you? A
great exercise is to journal before you read the material.
This will allow your soul to reconnect with your mind, body,
and spirit and enhance the reading.
What about journaling after or during the reading? Writing
allows the meshing of thoughts the authors, yours, and
the higher power. It is a powerful connection. It is the
best way we can begin to see our path and our purpose.
Dear Higher Power letters are my favorite. I feel like I'm
talking with my best friend and trusted father When was the
last time you wrote to him or her?
Many people tell me they only journal when they need to dump
their negative emotions. Yes, journaling can be a great use
for this, however, journaling is actually so much more. If
you do find that your entries are more focused on negative
aspects of life, I highly suggest you change it. Since like
attracts like, you are opening the opportunity to the
universe to send the exact type of energy back to you. And
who wants more negative energy in their life?
If you must post journal entries that are negative, let me
suggest that you don't stop there. Continue writing
flipping to the positive side. This maybe difficult at
first but as it changes so will your attitude about life.
Normally, people who don't journal often tell me that they
don't do so because it is always negative. Who wants to
return to something that is negative? I surely would not.
Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Catherine Franz is a life and business coach living in Northern Virginia. She has presented journaling workshops over 20 years. Catherine has authored two great books on tips and techniques of journaling. Copies available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com/Store/main.htm