What's more timeless than journaling?
This intimate practice of putting pen to paper has been a companion to humanity for centuries. Journaling dates back to ancient civilizations, with some of the earliest forms appearing in 10th-century Japan through pillow books and travel diaries. The practice evolved through medieval times with personal diaries and ship logs, but it truly flourished during the Renaissance when keeping a personal journal became a mark of an educated, reflective mind. By the 18th and 19th centuries, journaling had become a cherished practice across all walks of life; from famous writers documenting their creative processes to everyday people recording their hopes, dreams, and daily observations. What began as a luxury of the literate few has transformed into a accessible practice that continues to help millions process their thoughts and emotions today.
Where My Story Begins
Now, let's fast forward to my childhood. I can still picture my first journal; the one that started it all. My mom placed it in my hands: the cutest little book with a lock and key, adorned with pretty flowers that seemed to dance across the cover. Something about it just called to me, made my fingers itch to fill those blank pages with secrets and stories. Of course, I've been hooked ever since.
The Pandemic Pivot
Fast forward to the pandemic. Like many of us, I found myself with time to observe, to reflect, to create. I watched creators making journals with unicorns and pickles splashed across the covers, and a thought struck me: I could do better than that. Not because those designs weren't fun, but because I knew something important about the images we invite into our daily lives.
After over three decades as a mindfulness meditation coach, feng-shui consultant, and energetic alignment coach, I've witnessed firsthand how the images we surround ourselves with impact our psyche and shape the energy we carry through our days. It's not just aesthetics; it's intentional living.
So I asked myself: What images would I want gazing back at me from a journal or day planner? What would be both calming and motivating? What would carry spiritual meaning? What message would these images convey? Would they be positive? Would they inspire action toward meaningful goals? I got to work and designed with intention for those of us who want more than cutesy.
Designing with Intention
I chose three powerful symbols for my journal covers:
The Lotus Flower stands as nature's beautiful reminder of victory. Its life story tells the journey of goal achievement—rising through murky waters, pushing through darkness and obstacles to bloom in radiant beauty. I wanted the lotus flower's journey to inspire you toward your own success.
The Bumblebee symbolizes dedication and persistence in accomplishing goals. Despite what aerodynamics might suggest is impossible, the bumblebee flies anyway. Let this journal serve as a beautiful home for the words and moments in your life's journey toward manifesting your dreams.
The Smoky Spotlight The limelight stands as a beacon calling your soul to shine. What used to be a heated cylinder of lime now stands as a spotlight for those who are meant to be share their calling as the center of attention.
Uh oh…The Blank Page Problem
I kept the inside simple with clean lines, open space. But then something interesting happened. As I posted daily journal prompts for my community, a common theme emerged: many people found the blank page intimidating, regardless of the prompts I provided. The pristine expanse of empty lines felt like pressure rather than possibility.
This feedback sparked a revelation. My own journaling practice wasn't about spending an hour pouring out pages of prose. I didn't have an hour, or even half an hour most days. My practice needed to be sharp and simple, yet still meaningful. So I redesigned the guts of my journals to reflect how I actually compose my daily writings.
The Three-Part Daily Practice
I divided each daily page into three intentional sections:
1. Gratitude: "Thank You For..."
Three prompts, three expressions of thanks. I discovered my own pattern: my first thank you is always for food. "Thank you for helping me make the best damn matcha latte anyone has ever made. It was sooo good."
The second thanks a human being. "Thank you for my bestie. She gave me great advice last night, and boy, did I need it."
The third captures synchronicity. You know, those magical moments when the universe seems to wink at you. "Thank you that getting on the earlier train didn't work out, because I never would have run into my old colleague who ultimately wants to reconnect to collaborate on a project."
2. Thoughts Abound: Two-Minute Free Write
This is your space to let it all out. Set a timer for two minutes and write without worrying about grammar, spelling, or making sense. Write your feelings and thoughts about something in your personal life. Absolutely not about work! This isn't the place to vent about deadlines and deliverables. (We have work journals for that. More on those in my next post!) Just let your heart speak to the page.
3. Three Daily Priorities
After your free write, move to the final section: three lines for your personal priorities for the day. Just three. They can be beautifully simple: "I will walk one block further than yesterday," "I will smile at a stranger," or even "I will not give my sister my opinion unless she asks, even though I know she's running into that fire head-on!"
And Then You're Done
In less than 20 minutes, you've expressed yourself. You've put pen to paper. Done consistently, every day or even every other day, this practice will shift something in you. You'll notice changes in your disposition, in how often you accomplish what you set your mind to, in how you move through your days.
What's Next?
Did I just hear you ask where can you get these magical journals? Well, you can stop by The Empire Pen Show and visit our table this weekend. The show is at the NY Hilton Midtown on Saturday October 11-12. If you can’t make it there feel free to pick them up from our Amazon page and coming soon to our Shop page! We will have a wealth of other writing tools for your to purchase which will light up your soul and urge you to start writing in your journal.
In my next post, I'll break down how I created the Work Journals, why I call them work journals (hint: it's not just because you use them at work), and how they'll transform your workday.
Stay tuned for announcements about my upcoming handwriting self-guided e-course and modern calligraphy dip pen e-course. Because there's something magical about the connection between hand, pen, and paper—and I can't wait to explore that magic with you. We'll dive deeper into how this simple act of putting pen to paper impacts mental health and wellbeing.
