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On our continuing journey of taking care of ourselves emotionally and psychologically, we spoke before of how important reading is, not just reading anything but reading books of depth and merit, books to grow on and help us come into our own, books to make us laugh and forget if just for a little while about our 24/7job. Just as important as reading is writing: writing about feelings, emotions, whatever stumbling blocks we may be experiencing. All comes out when you write.

Many women do write in a diary or journal on a daily basis. Usually, these entries reflect the emotions of the day. Journaling is a great way to enrich your life and to learn more about yourself. There are other methods to use while keeping a journal.

First, an idea I had just recently, in this computer age, is to send yourself e-mail. Do you use positive affirmations, or better yet, do you need to use positive affirmations? Then schedule some e-mails to yourself.

Perhaps find another e-mail address to use, one you don't use regularly, to send the messages to, like a web-based e-mail service. Go back every so often to 'pick up' your mail. Use the computer and the time you spend anyway to read and write e-mail to keep a journal.

Some other ideas for journal keeping come from a book I have enjoyed entitled "If Only I Were a Better Mother" by Melissa Gayle West. In the back of the book she tells of different ways of getting in touch with one's self, and one's own motherhood through activities such as journaling. The ideas: Tell stories in your journal about your childhood, etc. Another idea is 'timed writing'. You pick a topic and write for 20 minutes on that topic without stopping and censoring yourself. This is a great stream of consciousness activity. I did this in an English Composition class several years ago and it was really interesting what appeared. Record dreams in your journal. If you are on a spiritual path, perhaps write about what that means to you. Draw in your journal. No one will see if you can draw a straight line or not. Use the computer! Ask questions to be answered at a later time. Write letters to those who have hurt you; you don't have to send them. There is no one way to create a journal; it is as unique as you are. You don't have to be Shakespeare, you just have to be you. Write as you wish. Write often. Write, write and write again to learn from mistakes, to comfort your worries and sorrows, to scream and vent, to shout for joy, to be the best you that you can be not only for you but for those that depend on you.

Deb Frantz, mom of three girls, 8 1/2, 7, and 2.
The greatest power we possess is the power to change our mind....A Course in Miracles
ICQ#8864667
dfrantz1@csi.com

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