A Boomer's Footprint

Tag: journaling

  • 2016 – If not NOW, WHEN?

    Set Sail for the Time of Your Life
    Set Sail for the Time of Your Life

    Many of us have UN……….……….s.

    Unfinished projects and business

    Unfulfilled relationships

    Unreached goals

    Unrealized dreams

    Fill in your own UN……………………………………………..

    The funny thing about the UN……………..s is,  they don’t go away.

    They may be hidden in our subconscious or stare us in the face every time we look at a stuffed closet, crowded counter top, a person’s face, a magazine picture, website, book, make the drive to work or any number of triggers which bring an UN…………..…. to our conscious level.

    (Did you ever notice how easy it is to look at something and not really see it? Like last year’s goal list hanging on the refrigerator door for over 365 days.)

    Now is the perfect time to make a big change in this New Year. Several weeks have passed since January 1 so we haven’t broken a New Year’s resolution yet.  That curse, remembrance of past failures is not relevant.

    Listening to radio, television, internet media, I am encouraged by all of the positive press about opportunities and the encouragement to take action in 2016.  Are these new opportunities?  NO, but our attitudes may be.

    This is NOT the time to be influenced by the recent stock decline.  Yes, we should always pay attention to our investments but we should not use the market to talk ourselves out of improving our personal situation.

    I feel very hopeful that change can happen in 2016. If not NOW, WHEN?

    To get started, make your bucket list. Your deadline is this Sunday – four days away. Really think about what you want to accomplish in life.

    What will you do this year?

    What will you accomplish in 5 years?

    What are life time goals?

     

    Pull out or buy a new journal for this process , use words, phrases, or pictures to describe your goals and dreams. Use the journal throughout the year to keep track of your progress. We will be referring to it often.

  • 2013 progress review

    Two more weeks until we have completed a full year of setting goals, adopting new habits, creating more positive thinking, overcoming obstacles and especially making our dreams come true.

    This week, let’s review our progress.

    I know I did not succeed in achieving all of my goals, but there is one I am most proud of.

    My background is in finance and math. For me to commit to a writing program was a Hugh challenge.

    For months, I struggled with writing this blog every week. But I am proud to say, that of the 52 weeks, I wrote for 49 of them.
    That is a big WOW. I am happy. I feel like a more confident writer and gained so much personal knowledge as I read and studied about how to CHANGE. Because this is what it takes to achieve new goals and dreams.

    This week’s process works best with your journal. Go back through your notes. What did you try? What worked? What did not? What did you learn? What can you improve?

    What lessons will you keep working on? What goal did not give you the result you were looking for?

    Don’t worry if you do not give yourself high marks? Change is a life long journey. Even when we achieve our dreams, it is time to commit to new ones.

    Make this exercise count. It is the basis for future.

  • Keeping a Journal

    Journaling is a powerful tool to help you achieve your dreams. You have the right to the best possible life you can lead! When you start journaling, you begin to take charge of your life, your plans and dreams.

    Journaling is simply the act of writing. When you write down thoughts, it makes them real.

    Our mind is so cluttered, full of thoughts and outside input. How can we believe that keeping our plans and dreams in that mix will actually make them happen?

    For example, we can walk into a room and immediately forget why we went there.

    So, let’s not trust our mind to be responsible to implement the vision and goals we have. A few benefits of journaling are to:

    -1- Map out a dream
    -2- Free your mind from replaying the same tape loops
    -3- Solve problems
    -4- Gain a different perspective on a issue
    -5- Use a third party perspective to analyze a problem
    -6- Separate statements which are emotional, rational, from reality
    -7- Keep track of  progress
    -8-  Self expression
    -9- Brainstorm
    -10- Tell stories
    -11- Reveal your fears and doubts
    -12- Acknowledge your success

    To get started with your journal –

    First, choose and decorate a journal, notebook, or tablet. Make it yours. Enter your name and date in it.

    This is my binder cover for worksheets.
    This is my binder cover for worksheets.

    Second, set up a comfortable writing space where your journal lives.

    Third, Commit to a time to write.

    Fourth, remember, there is no grade, no critiquing, no correcting necessary.

    Fifth, let your words and ideas flow freely in your book.

    And finally, use your journaling experience on your path to achieving your dreams.

    Next week, we will create our biggest dream.