Sep 11, 2023

Daily Journaling Teaches You to Reframe Negative Experiences into Positive Outcomes

I talk a lot about journaling the positives in life.

Gratitude

Wins

Happiness

It's all-around good stuff. You will find it all in my journal.

Do you know what else you will find in my journal? The negative.

A journaling habit is for the negative in your life, too.

I’ve learned to use my journal to remove the negative from my system and make room for the positive.

Once I get all the negative out, I ask myself how to reframe the experience positively.

I use these questions to change my mindset:

What lessons are there to learn from this?

What actions can I take now?

What can I be grateful for in the experience?

Every experience has a positive side to discover. The more you practice looking for the positive, the easier it gets to find it.

Susan Abel

Writing essays & newsletters on bringing gratitude & good into your life.

More from Susan

Nov 6, 2023

3 Strategies for Using Your Journal to Problem-Solve

Problem-solving is a skill we begin practicing in infancy. Problems never go away. Our strategies for solving them change with age and practice. Use journaling as a strategy for dealing with frustrations, problems, and negative emotions. Even if you don't journal daily, writing your thoughts gives you an opportunity to record them and revisit them. Whatever is on your mind,…

Oct 31, 2023

Effective Journaling Means Facing Your Dark, Scary Fears

When you choose your Halloween costume, which self do you show? Is it the fun, happy self who dresses like a pumpkin, pirate, or candy bar? Or do you face your fears of letting your inner goblin, demon, or Grimm Reaper show? The costume you choose is a lot like journaling. You should write about your fun, happy experiences. Positivity breeds positivity. You want more of what…

Oct 26, 2023

Creating a journaling habit depends on writing, not thinking.

You want a journaling habit, but journaling requires thinking. Thinking is hard work. You are wrong if you think creating a journaling habit requires deep thinking. Don't overthink what you write when you journal. You journal for yourself. No one else will read what you write. Journaling is getting your thoughts on paper. Not all thoughts will be ingenious, although you may…

Oct 20, 2023

How to Fit Your Daily Journaling into Your Packed Weekend

A serious daily journaler may have an extensive journaling routine. Three morning pages? They take 30 minutes or more, depending on writing/typing speed. A multiple-component journaling routine? My routine takes 20 to 45 minutes consisting of the following: gratitude, intent for the day, sometimes I need an affirmation (or two), and then there are 20 to 30 minutes of free…

Oct 18, 2023

You may be one step away from a daily journaling habit.

Do you dream of being a daily journaler? You may have the first two steps mastered, leaving just one more action to make your dream come true. Five years ago, I took on a job that required me to up my task management. I turned to Bullet Journaling. Each morning, I listed tasks to be completed. It worked like a charm. Fast forward three years. I decided to try journaling…

A little more from Susan.

More from Susan

3 Strategies for Using Your Journal to Problem-Solve

Effective Journaling Means Facing Your Dark, Scary Fears

Creating a journaling habit depends on writing, not thinking.

How to Fit Your Daily Journaling into Your Packed Weekend

You may be one step away from a daily journaling habit.

More from Susan

3 Strategies for Using Your Journal to Problem-Solve

Effective Journaling Means Facing Your Dark, Scary Fears

Creating a journaling habit depends on writing, not thinking.

How to Fit Your Daily Journaling into Your Packed Weekend

You may be one step away from a daily journaling habit.