JournalTalk | Write4Life

You can hear my enthusiasm in the intro of this week’s episode, because it’s a profound pleasure to have Joyce Chapman finally appear on JournalTalk.

Joyce’s history and wisdom in Journal-writing goes back further than anyone else I’ve met. And she summarizes all of it in single sentence: “Journal to know yourself.” She’s convinced that sticking with the practice will always lead you back to “who you want to be when you grow up.”

A teacher, author of multiple books and workbooks, keynote speaker, and a personal coach, Joyce has loves to infect others with her aura of magic in the possibility of possibility itself. I enjoyed hearing how she speaks with children about journal-writing, and her simple (but profound) journal writing prompt for all ages.

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  Joyce has made available this free download, entitled “Tap Into Your Inner Knowing”, — a chapter from her book, Journaling for Joy — as her gift to you, and an invitation to learn more about her work. (JournalTalk, Episode #80, July 27, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

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My guest this week asks us to consider that perhaps our journals are not really private. Maybe the pages we write are a collaboration with a universal spirit, a co-author in our life experience.

Join me in an open-minded dialogue with Maryann Patalano, a religious science practitioner and author of the book, Journal Like God, as we explore the mindset and possibility that we aren’t just venting into our journal-writing, but we are actively and continuously creating.

Maryann shares an interesting perspective on prayer, and offers some creative co-creating exercises we can use to help us focus our attention and manifest the things we wish to experience more of.

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  In this episode, Maryann explains a powerful journal-writing exercise — a method of affirmation through prayer, and has generously offered this free download as a worksheet to creating your own. (JournalTalk, Episode #79, July 19, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

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Part three of our series in fantasy journaling features Anne Marvin‘s concept of finding truth in fantasy — finding out what you really want, by exploring the worlds of fantasy and make-believe.

Anne has a background in federal nuclear weapons policy, but confesses she also enjoys “deep thoughts while reading vampire porn.” Her blog is loaded with tips that help us detach from the mundane day-to-day, and re-connect with stories that elicit passion and inspiration.

Many paths can help us access the fantasies from our deeper subconscious. In this conversation with Anne, we discuss how fictional characters and situations can guide us along those paths. If you are an avid reader or movie-goer, you’ll enjoy the journal-writing techniques Anne shares in this interview. (JournalTalk, Episode #78, July 13, 2016)

For more journal-writing tips inspired by the world of fiction, please be sure to check out my interview with Danielle Hanna in episode #46.

Special Offer:  Try the (free) 5-day Journaling Through Transition challenge. Develop your intuition and internal guidance system during times of stress and change. An audio workbook and five sample prompts guide you to consider your present milestones and transitions. Get details here. 

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

The post Fantasy Journaling (Part 3 of 3) first appeared on Write4Life.

Have I got a story for you.

In the previous episode, I introduced the concept of “fantasy journaling” — writing in a private diary, about events that never actually took place, as if they had.

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend, “Janet-from-another-Planet” as I share about the most interesting and extreme version of fantasy journaling I could find: A stay-at-home housewife and mom of four sons is writing letters to her high-school sweetheart, in order to keep in touch, and to help her cope with an oppressive marriage.  Only, she never sends the sends the letters; she burns them every week.

If you need a little inspiration for keeping a journal, this might be the most haunting and bizarre example. Yet it demonstrates just how journal-keeping can serve as a ladder to help elevate people from being stuck in their circumstances. (JournalTalk, Episode #77, July 6, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

The post Fantasy Journaling (Part 2 of 3) first appeared on Write4Life.

Sweeping through my boxes of old journal books, I happened upon a passage that I wrote in college — a detailed account of a semi-erotic interaction with someone on whom I had a secret crush.

Wait a minute, I thought, as my neurons raced to retrieve my inner journal logs for comparison, I don’t remember this ever happening!

After reading a few pages, and with a giant grin, I realized that I had written out a fantasy. And it made me stop to consider the value of such an exercise, which I share in this three-part series of JournalTalk.

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  For a limited time, Nathan is offering JournalTalk listeners a full week of customized journal-writing exercises, tailored for their unique concern or situation. Get details here. (JournalTalk, Episode #76, June 29, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

The post Fantasy Journaling (Part 1 of 3) first appeared on Write4Life.

You don’t have to believe that Dorothy Gale was a real Kansas farmer’s niece, or acknowledge the existence of a magical Munchkinland in order to gain insights and inspiration for finding your own (yellow-brick) path home. Similarly, you can draw upon a number of powerful images and stories to deepen your spiritual journey, without committing to a belief in their scientific truth.

My guest this week, Julianne Victoria, offers a variety of domains, rich with symbolic references, from the animal kingdom to a deck of tarot cards, as potential sources for reflection, and the prompting of our inner wisdom. Julianne is author of The Butterfly Journal, both a book and a yearlong course designed to guide one through the magic of personal metamorphosis. I enjoyed many components of this fascinating discussion with Julianne:

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  Julianne has generously recorded a free, guided and personalized video introduction to her book, The Butterfly Journal, as a special thank-you for listening to this episode. (JournalTalk, Episode #75, May 17, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

The post Metaphors for Spiritual Growth first appeared on Write4Life.

Susan Borkin joins me once again, to share a therapist’s viewpoint on the journal-writing benefit of improved self-esteem, and walk us through a few tips from her book, The Healing Power of Writing.

Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I don’t seem to hear about the importance of a positive self-image anymore. When I was growing up in the late 70’s and 80’s, all the top motivational speakers spent their time convincing teenagers that the key to any worthwhile accomplishment was a firm, inner belief in themselves. Today, the concept is not quite lost, but it certainly has its share of competing messages.

Susan and I describe some specific writing exercises that can “train your brain” to appreciate your strengths and forgive your weaknesses.

Your turn to answer: Have you found that journaling helps strengthen your friendship with yourself? When you use your journal-writing to “look in the mirror,” do you see someone valuable and lovable looking back? Post your responses in the comments section at the bottom of this webpage, or join the fans, followers and friends in the JournalTalk community, to share your unique perspective and tips regarding the question-of-the-week.

You may email your own journaling question to be featured on a future episode of JournalTalk. Or, pick up the telephone and leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280. When your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #44, May 10, 2016)

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

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A key distinction that sets journaling apart from all other forms of creative expression is privacy. In this episode, we take a step beyond. My guest, Doug Foresta, believes firmly in the benefits of private journal-writing, and yet also urges us, “the world needs our voice and our gifts.”

Producer and host of Creating Change on Empower Radio and The Coachzing Show on iTunes and Stitcher Radio, Doug has been a podcasting mentor to me and thousands of others who yearn to share their message and transform lives. 

In a particularly poignant moment of our conversation, Doug asks, “Why do you suppose that we find human beings scribing their stories, as far back as the Cavemen?” Indeed, what is it about our species that craves the telling and retelling of our experiences? 

Doug has developed a five-step method he calls Transformative Journaling, and in this episode, he shares one key prompt idea that he uses to get “un-stuck”. I always appreciate his perspective, and the theme of sharing our gifts with others, which he weaves through all his work in the world.

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  If you are curious about what it might take for you to start a podcast series, or if you are exploring ways to further market your brand, Doug has made a very generous offer to everyone in the JournalTalk community. If you email Doug directly and mention that you heard him on JournalTalk, he will schedule with you a free, 30-minute coaching conversation to help you identify whether podcasting could benefit you, and some steps to get started. (JournalTalk, Episode #74, May 3, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

The post Beyond Journaling: The World Needs Your Message first appeared on Write4Life.

Anonymous callers are so much fun, and ask such close, personal questions. This one asks, “Can a journal help someone with anger management issues?” I’ve got some thoughts of my own on this, but I’ve invited back back Susan Borkin, to include a therapist’s viewpoint. Her book, The Healing Power of Writing,is a great resource for questions like this.

I’m not sure whether people actually still recommend using punching bags (or pillows) to release feelings of anger or frustration. But in my experience, I’ve found writing to be a more effective first step for emotional release. Giving myself permission to “say” everything I need to get off my chest in a private place also helps me to focus on which of my thoughts are worth further processing, and which deflate and wither after they lose their power.

Your turn to answer: Have you ever turned to your journal after losing your temper? Is writing an effective way to release or process feelings of anger? How can your journal help you move past upsets, and move into effective thinking and action? Post your responses in the comments section at the bottom of this webpage, or join the fans, followers and friends in the JournalTalk community, to share your unique perspective and tips regarding the question-of-the-week.

You may email your own journaling question to be featured on a future episode of JournalTalk. Or, pick up the telephone and leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280. When your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #43, April 12, 2016)

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

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I’ve often said on this program: Journaling is a process, not a product; a journey not the destination. This week, meet Jami McQuivey, an author, coach and speaker who is on that perpetual journey of self-discovery, constantly realizing new dreams. 

Her first book, Stop Drifting, Start Living containing twenty-two lessons from her travels in China, is being updated and revised. Meanwhile, she has written another, God-Centered Sensational Sex, which is also a course she teaches onboard a cruise ship. Get your tickets right here!

An active member in her church and community, Jami shares how a journal-writing ritual has helped her to connect with her teenage son. She compares journaling to yoga and meditation, for getting clarity and courage to walk the path to which you are drawn. Sometimes that means creating a new path, instead of living up to cookie-cutter expectations. 

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  Jami and her husband are going cruising to the Caribbean for some God-centered sensational sex. Anyone who books the same cruise can attend her course for free. Mention Nathan Ohren or the JournalTalk podcast and you will receive a discount of $200 per person ($400 per couple). Come learn how to create and enjoy sensational sex (the way God intended) on Norwegian luxury cruise with your sweetheart while enjoying world class entertainment, delicious food and sunny beaches. (JournalTalk, Episode #73, April 17, 2016)

To Join our Community: Please post comments and questions below, to further the dialogue. And connect with other JournalTalk friends in our private Facebook group. 

To Subscribe to JournalTalk:

For Coaching with Nathan Ohren: Click here.

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