Last week my friend Chella posed a question on Facebook: What are you doing to bear this anxiety? I can’t remember if I answered her question, but I’ve certainly thought about it.
Let’s face it–life can be hard, but 2020 has taken hard to a seemingly unbearable level. The year has presented a perfect storm of anxiety-inducing madness. There are things I’ve always done to deal with anxiety, stress, and the general disappointments and heartache that life brings: Pray. Meditate. Journal. Walk. Create. Though this hasn’t changed since we entered this tumultuous year, my activity in these areas has ramped up quite a bit since March.
I thought I would kill the proverbial “two birds with one stone” and get a few short blog posts out of my answer to Chella’s question. I’m not answering in any particular order. It’s all important and part of my spiritual practices and soul journey.
If I don’t write, I feel like I’m not breathing, so I journal.
I journal every day—in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening if I don’t crash first. I have literally seven [or is it eight?] journals going at once; they serve different immediate purposes, but they all work to save my sanity.
Weekends, though, provide freedom to journal without worrying about schedules and tasks. I can spend hours journaling without disruption. Today, I’m adding something new to my practice–a guided journal.
I rarely have a shortage of words, so I’ve never needed journaling prompts or guidance. I don’t think I’ve ever done a full guided journal before, but since my friend Dee [Delores James of Keep It Tight Sisters] wrote one, I am doing one now.
It’s nice to sit down this Saturday evening with her latest publication, It’s My Time: A Guided Journal to Deeper Self-Love. In addition to plenty of writing space, the book includes affirmations, quotes, motivation, lists, writing and thinking prompts, and contemplative exercises to guide the self-care journey. Bonus: It’s purple! 🙂
If you’d like to learn about the therapeutic [and other] benefits of journaling and some simple approaches to journaling, see my July 2016 post: Journaling: Unleash the Magic. If the idea of a completely blank page is a bit daunting, a guided journal like Dee’s is a great place to start!
Note: All the images in this post are from It’s My Time: A Guided Journal to Deeper Self-Love. Even though this sounds like a sponsored post, it is not. 😀
Pics and Posts 
Ooh this looks good. And I love purple. I need more writing in my life of all kinds.
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Yes. I think you would LOVE it. It’s only $7.99 too, so not hard on the pocket! I’m going to buy another one, so I can tear it up and place the pages in my art journal. 🙂
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Purple power! Enjoy! 🙂
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Power to the purple!
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I love this – learn to “breathe”.
We truly indeed need this. 💯
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It is so healing to get it out and write it all down. I hope you have a beautiful week ahead. Stay safe out there and we will get through this year, it is almost over. You are right, it has been a tough one.
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Yes. Almost over. Praying fervently for a MUCH better 2021.
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It is enormously healing to take what is “in here” and put it “out there.” Thanks for this timely reminder.
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“For sure.” Thanks for reading, friend!
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Thats a good way to cope, Chandra. I am glad you discovered this source. I noticed I did never so many online classes (mainly from Carla Sonheim) as this year to have another joyful counterpart for my medical work besides my artist’s work. Colors and joy I would like to send to you!
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Beautiful! I, too, took advantage of the many online classes and seminars to make the most of this “unpleasant” moment. I’m glad I did because now busyness reigns! I’m looking forward to catching up on your blog. The winter holidays can’t come fast enough!
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