JournalTalk | Write4Life

This episode is dedicated to my brother Dan, and his Number One Reason for not taking my journal-writing suggestions. He’s my biggest fan, but admits, “I hate writing!”

Kim Ades with Frame of Mind Coaching joins me with a response to Dan (and all those who say “thanks but no thanks” to journaling). The key is to stay focused on the practical accomplishments and desired outcomes.

Your turn to answer: Do you like the idea of journaling, but can’t seem to force yourself to write? How do you bring yourself to the blank page? What are the most inspiring goals you have for yourself right now? Post your responses at the bottom of this webpage, in the comments section.

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 #34, October 27, 2015)

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This week’s journal-writing expert brings a rich, wide spectrum of tools and experience to the table! Dr. Linda Peterson-St. Pierre is a Medical Psychologist who spent 35 years teaching at the University of Nevada Medical School. At the same time Linda held a full time clinical practice and testified for military families in the court system. Stressed by the University’s “publish or perish” mindset, Linda found personal insight/peace when writing in her private journal, without any rules. She has a passion for helping others find their own inner wisdom, through writing, EMDR, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Native American Healing Circles, Guided Imagery, and Feng Shui. Linda is certified as a presenter for the Progoff Intensive Journal and Kay Adams’ Journal to the Self, which form the basis for her two books: Write Out Loud! Reconnecting Military Families; and Clear Vision: The Power of Story to Heal. She is married to an Air Force combat veteran and pilot who has improved PTSD, using EMDR!

In this episode, we discuss several issues related to the psycho-social and emotional effects of combat on soldiers, their families, and on the American psyche, with comments on the movie American Sniper. I am so delighted to share how journal-writing can assist with post-traumatic stress disorder. I stated back in Episode #4, why I am convinced journaling is a low-cost, effective ancillary treatment for PTSD.

Dr. Peterson-St. Pierre is one of two journal-writing therapists who volunteered at last year’s Independence Fund Retreat. The Indy Fund (a non-profit dedicated to helping wounded warriors regain mobility, receive treatment and more) contacted Write4Life to find journal-writing experts to volunteer to work with wounded veterans and their caregivers. (JournalTalk, Episode #61, October 13, 2015)

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  In this episode, Linda shares excellent advice for anyone wanting to use journaling to work with those who have faced life-or-death situations, or put their lives on the line. She also offers a six week workshop developed through the Therapeutic Writing Institute, called “Write Out Loud!” which she will make available to JournalTalk listeners who email her directly.

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Mari Adkins from Journaling Journey asks, “What do you do when you’re burned-out from journal-writing, and how do you get going again?”

After some personal discussion about project management, and some Wings Life Coaching from my co-host Jayde Gilmore, we share our strategies for this familiar feeling of being overwhelmed or stuck in our journaling practice.

We each share our best tips for moving past resistance, gently-yet-directly, to learn more about what’s happening when we don’t want to write anymore. We discuss techniques, such as using famous quotes, movie summaries, lists, and simply allowing yourself to take a break.

Jayde and I share our favorite and proven ways to prime the pump of creativity, and gently draw ourselves back to our journal-writing habit. The silver bullet we kept returning to was the use of simple, yet engaging prompts.

Your turn to answer: When do you feel burned out on writing? How do you cope? What ways do you bring yourself back to the journal? Post your responses at the bottom of this webpage, in the comments section.

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 #33, October 6, 2015)

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Daughter of two bookworms, Jenna Mayhew cofounded an international counseling clinic called Write As Rain. She treats clients all over the world, using evidence-based methods of written word therapy. In other words, she is something like a Pen Pal Therapist!

Warning: This conversation is another of those which became fun to the point of giggly! Jenna and I weaved through the interview discussing our personal writing practice, the importance of consistency, keeping true to your goals without sacrificing sanity, Craigslist ads for coaching, digital journaling, and believe it or not, therapy sessions via instant messenger and SMS texting! 

Jenna was among of the first participants in the 30-Day Digital Journaling Challenge sponsored by Easy Journaling. She is one of the many people who completely changed her journal-writing habits because of it. (JournalTalk, Episode #60, August 18, 2015)

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  In this episode, Jenna makes a special offer to JournalTalk listeners. Get a copy of her evidence-based goal achievement program (pictured here) along with a thirty-minute coaching session, completely for free!  (Together, a value of over $80.00!)  Listen to this week’s episode for instructions to take advantage of this generous offer.

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We’ve heard the 101 reasons to keep a journal, and all the benefits of journal-writing: mental clarity, emotional balance, even physical healing. Today’s question addresses HOW journaling can provide all these benefits.

Kim Ades from Frame of Mind Coaching helps me deconstruct the journaling process, and identify what it is about capturing thoughts that makes journaling so powerful. In short, we agreed that trapping our ideas into an inescapable storyline helps us to frame our experience in a useful way.

This episode was the inspiration from which I wrote a chapter that got published into Jack Canfield’s newest book, “Soul of Success”. The chapter is titled, “The Secrets of Expressive Writing,” and explains why journaling helps people grow. You can order your copy of “Soul of Success” here.

Kim also advised how important journaling is to the results of any coaching relationship, and made a bold guarantee for her Frame of Mind Coaching program. For taking an online coaching assessment, you will receive a free coaching session that she guarantees will produce results. Let Kim know you heard about this on JournalTalk!  (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #32, August 4, 2015)

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The post Q&A: “What Makes Journaling So Powerful?” first appeared on Write4Life.

Did you know that journal-writing can be used to further your career and develop valuable leadership skills?

In this episode, meet Gina Rae Hendrickson, a friend and colleague whose company, Genius Leadership Tools, helps bring out the genius in you and your team. Together, we interview the Santa Barbara Chief of Police, Camarino Sanchez.

Chief Sanchez shares how journaling has helped him keep emotionally balanced, focused on what’s important, gain clarity and insight, deal with different people and difficult situations, and more. The Chief has been an icon of leadership in the California police force for several decades. He also explains why he encourages his entire staff to keep a private journal.

This interview is one snippet of a larger workshop series that Gina Rae and I are conducting on Journaling for Managers later this year. You are welcome to join us to learn powerful yet simple exercises that promote healthy leadership skills, including decision-making; prioritization; and crafting a message with authenticity, collaboration and trust. (JournalTalk, Episode #59, July 28, 2015)

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The traumatic student shooting in Columbine, Colorado (April 1999). Racial tragedies such as those in Charleston, South Carolina (2015) and Ferguson, Missouri (2014). The Los Angeles race riots of 1992. The World Trade Center collapse of 9/11.  Events so profoundly sad and far-reaching inspire many people turn to their journals for reflection, prayer, grieving, and hope. Is it possible that journal-writing can offer healing on a community level? This precious question came from a member of Kay Adams’ Journal-to-the-Self community. For those who advocate a healthy journaling practice, how can one use their knowledge and training to bring strength and peace to entire communities of people in their time of need?

Jayde Gilmore and I discuss several ideas and resources, such as James Pennebaker’s Writing to Heal, John Evans’ work, and Lynda Monk’s Writing Alone Together. I am delighted that there are people both skilled and caring enough to bring this work to communities of people, and this episode will hopefully encourage more to prepare to do the same.

Your turn to answer: How can journal-writing be offered to communities who have suffered? Or, to mend the relationship between two groups of people? What ways have you shared the healing of power of words on a community level? Post your responses at the bottom of this webpage, in the comments section.

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 (only normal toll charges may apply). When your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #31, July 21, 2015)

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JournalTalk has offered me the pleasure of interviewing some interesting people. People who have developed a habit of asking themselves tough questions, listening to the voice(s) within, and staying present to the answers that unfold. This week’s guest is a great example of such a guy.

Thai Nguyen writes with a candid, authentic voice. His articles about personal growth and development have been featured in MindBodyGreen, the Huffington Post, and other popular sites.

Thai’s life has taken many interesting turns. His family fled from Vietnam after the war, and made it to Australia. He’s been a 5-star chef specializing in nutrition-rich menus, an international kick boxer and personal trainer, and he attended seminary school with a drive to help people on their spiritual journey. While earning a Masters degree in Psychotherapy, Today Thai writes for his own authentic news site, TheUtopianLife.com.

Our conversation explores several topics, but what felt most profound to me was our agreement that our words and our stories matter — the more we seek to understand ourselves, especially if we want to be a positive influence on others, the more important it is to listen for and give attention to constructing the words of our personal journey. (JournalTalk, Episode #58, July 14, 2015)

Free Webinar:  In this episode, I share how to attend a free webinar about authenticity in your business communications. In this 60-minute video, “Words That Mean Business,” I share tips on building trust and collaboration with your colleagues, to give you an advantage in sharing your ideas and creating a productive work environment.

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In the first session of every journal-writing workshop I teach, we spend a little time sharing (and debunking!) the myths and rumors we’ve all heard about “the rules” of proper journal-keeping. So when I saw this question online, I knew I had to make an episode about it.

Should I start a certain way? Does each entry need to be a minimum length? Do I have to use pen and paper? Do I have to write every single day? I think people ask these questions because they want some structure, and want to hear some of the “best practices” that have worked for others — not because they want to be boxed-in.

Starting from my favorite pet answer, “there’s no wrong way to write,” Jayde Gilmore and I work backwards into a select few guidelines for best results, including: dating your entries, practicing complete honesty and exploration of feelings.

Your turn to answer: What journal-writing “guidelines” have served you the best? In what ways do you “break the rules” in your journal? Post your responses at the bottom of this webpage, in the comments section.

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 (only normal toll charges may apply). When your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #30, July 7, 2015)

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Journal-writing can’t get any easier than this.

Checking in with your feelings — being aware of what’s alive inside you — is the Ground Zero for living a life of passion, clarity and purpose. In this episode, I interview Jim Kleiber, a leader in helping people do just that.

Jim has quite a few inspiring stories to share, and when you hear him speak, you’ll likely notice the power of authenticity that he exudes. Jim trained himself to routinely acknowledge his own emotions using an app he designed for himself, called iFeelio. By mastering that one simple skill, he has learned so much about himself and his own world, that now he’s being invited, literally, all over the planet, teaching the art of emotional self-defense, helping people of many nations sew together the threads in the fabric of world peace.

You may know I manage two websites, Write4Life.com is about tips and techniques for journal-writing, and EasyJournaling.com shares the electronic tools of the trade. I enjoy teaching best practices with journaling apps for your desktop computer, tablet, or even smartphone. Although iFeelio is not exactly a journal-writing app, I’ve never seen a more clever tool for recording your feelings. It asks two simple questions: “What am I feeling, in this moment right now?” And, “What’s happening?” In thirty seconds (or less), you can compose a complete journal entry.

I recommend giving it a try, especially if you are one of those people with absolutely NO TIME for keeping a journal, and yet you’re smart and aware enough to understand the value of “checking in” with yourself on a frequent basis. (JournalTalk, Episode #57, June 30, 2015)

Exclusive Offer for JournalTalk Listeners:  In this episode, Jim offers a free fifteen minute telephone conversation, to discuss any topic or issue of interest regarding iFeelio, or his Emotional Self-Defense workshops. Listen to the podcast to get instructions for contacting him directly, and please let him know you heard him on JournalTalk.

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