JOURNALING AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

with the Talking Joy Team! Pam sent a journaling prompt every morning for 7 days to the Talking Joy Podcast team before they met for this recording. On this episode we gathered the graces of this meaningful spiritual practice. Here are some suggestions: Jo-Ellen Darling in her book, Journaling as a Spiritual Path says, “make a commitment to try to journal every day even if you only have a couple of minutes, and even if you can only muster a sentence or two. Record the date and anything you notice upon waking, or from your previous day, or what lies ahead today.” To learn more visit: www.talkingjoy.org

Journaling as a Spiritual Path. A new book by Jo-Ellen A. Darling who joins Pam to talk about the benefits and many reasons for journaling. One is to have a ritual that provides us with grounding and stability. Another is to create a place to confide our thoughts, and feelings, our hopes and joys, our struggles, fears, and disappointments. Maybe we journal to have a time to dream, confess without judgment, and contemplate all things….Yet another aspect of journaling is to show us our growth and the lessons we’re learning in any number of these areas of our lives.

Here are some suggestions from the book: make a commitment to try to journal every day even if you only have a couple of minutes, and even if you can only muster a sentence or two. Record the date and anything you notice upon waking, or from your previous day, or what lies ahead today.

If you are new to journaling, or if you have attempted journaling before but it never stuck, you may want to simply write about the happenings of your day or previous day, both significant and insignificant, in chronological order.

Afterward: Go back and read the entry—notice what stands out and what draws your attention.

Remember that it’s not about how well you write but the nuggets of truth in what you have written that is of value.

www.talkingjoy.org

Heather Ruce joins Pam to talk about having "Conscious Relationships" with the people in our lives. She says being conscious is a spiritual practice that we must tend to with intentionality, attention and awareness. Heather works with individuals in Wisdom Spiritual Direction and facilitates wisdom practice circles, groups, retreats, and wisdom schools. She offers teaching and guidance in various wisdom and mindfulness practices including Centering Prayer, Christian meditation, sacred chanting, lectio divina, conscious work and embodiment. She has a M.A. Marital and Family Therapy from Bethel University. Find more information about Talking Joy and/or connect with Heather www.talkingjoy.org

Anne Sussman founded Mindfulness Meeting Place to lead mindfulness training for individuals and organizations motivated to find a better way of being. The scientific research is now undeniable, the benefits of mindfulness and meditation are proven to change your brain, your emotional wellbeing and provide tangible tools to manage stress. Take a listen to Pam and Anne talk about this life changing practice. www.talkingjoy.com

Paula D'Arcy, noted author and spiritual leader shares how we might bring a powerful source of compassion into our personal relationships and the broader context of the world by getting around our original mindset to a place where we can see things a little differently than before. Some of ways are letting nature be our teacher, encounters with other traditions and looking for signs to feel God's presence in your life. For more information about our conversation visit www.talkingjoy.org

Inspired by Anne Sussman’s book, the Bliss Buddy Project, How Sharing Gratitude Increases Joy, our podcast team paired up to try this gratitude practice. Take a listen and see how sharing your everyday joys with someone helps keeps you accountable and can make all the difference in your quest for joy!. We weren’t always consistent and that’s ok—it is all part of the practice. For resources mentioned visit: www.talkingjoy.org

Pam and Wisdom teacher, Marcella Kraybill-Greggo discuss four conscious prayers for Advent. The invitation this season is to "catch" yourself and see how many times you notice crossing a threshold and perhaps allowing yourself to sink through the level of initial chatter of your mind and discover the rhythm of the work you are doing. These are the ways we re-member or recollect while baking, wrapping and celebrating in the weeks ahead. Always coming back to our breath and feet. For more information or to connect with Marcella visit: www.talkingjoy.org

Join the Talking Joy Team for a Guided Visualization Meditation followed by a great discussion! Seven Women Exploring the Spiritual Life Together!

Wondering what spiritual direction is really all about? Teresa Blythe a spiritual director, educator and author joins Pam to talk about her popular book Spiritual Direction 101: The Basics of Spiritual Guidance. You'll learn what spiritual direction is, and what it is not. They touch on her other great “how-to” book 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times. For more information www.talkingjoy.org

KIM SHAPIRA is a registered Dietitian with a background in Human Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition from Boston University. She helps people heal their relationship with food. Kim has spent the last 24 years helping people lose weight and keep it off. With a giant emphasis on keeping it off.  Her method has morphed into 6 rules. Kim shares with Pam these rules that help people journey into a normal relationship with food. Kims says we are in an obesity crisis. Diets don't work. Our health is deteriorating and she can really help. www.talkingjoy.org