The Journaling Experience

Do you have a book inside you? What if your story could become somebody else's inspiration?

I believe everybody has a story worth telling. Not every story needs to become a published book, but the wisdom, experiences and lessons we've gathered throughout our lives deserve to be captured.

In this solo episode of The Journaling Room, I'm sharing the extraordinary story behind The Man Behind the Seams: A Life in British Fashion, Leadership and Legacy, the biography I had the privilege of writing for my 91-year-old fashion mentor, David Jones.

FROM WORK EXPERIENCE TO WRITING HIS LIFE STORY

I first met David when I was just 14 years old, completing my school work experience at his fashion consultancy.

Little did I know that decades later, the man who helped shape my career in fashion would become the subject of my first biography!

David witnessed extraordinary changes in British fashion, from post-war clothing and traditional garment production to the rise of modern fashion retail.

When I suggested he write a book, he told me his hands were too shaky to write anymore.

My response? "Well, I can!"

And so began the beautiful process of capturing his story.

GIVING SOMEONE THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY'RE STILL HERE

One of the most moving moments was sitting with David for five hours and reading his life story back to him.

It felt like giving him his flowers, one at a time.

We talk about why it's so important to capture the stories of our parents, grandparents, mentors and elders before those memories are lost.

YOUR STORY COULD CHANGE SOMEBODY'S LIFE

I also reflect on my own publishing journey, including how my first book, Finding Divine Flow, connected me with Christian entrepreneurs around the world and opened doors I never imagined.

You don't always know who needs the wisdom you carry.

We explore journaling, writing your first book, finding your audience, preserving family history and building a legacy that outlives you.

I also introduce FLOW Stories CIC, my community interest company dedicated to intergenerational storytelling and connecting the wisdom of older generations with younger people.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

1. What experiences have shaped the person I am today?

2. Whose story in my family or community needs to be captured?

3. If I wrote a book about my life, what would I want the next generation to learn?

BOOKS MENTIONED

The Man Behind the Seams: A Life in British Fashion, Leadership and Legacy — David Jones
https://amzn.eu/d/0bzGj7ZM

Finding Divine Flow — Camelle ilona
https://amzn.eu/d/002Ub3h3

MY JOURNALING APP

Day One: https://dayoneapp.com

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY

A community for journaling, personal growth, writing and publishing your story.

https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#TheManBehindTheSeams #DavidJones #WriteYourBook #MemoirWriting #Legacy #Camelleilona

What if the wisdom you grew up hearing could become the legacy you leave behind?

In this episode of The Journaling Room, I'm joined by author Simone S. Smart to explore her book Life Lessons Learned: The Journey from Girlhood to Womanhood.

From family sayings that didn't make sense until adulthood to life-changing experiences with illness, career transitions, relationships and personal growth, Simone shares how the lessons of yesterday helped shape the woman she's becoming today.

THE WISDOM WE INHERIT

Simone takes us back to the words of her grandmother: "Give the world the sunshine, tell Jesus the rest."

Her mother would remind her, "The longest road has a turn."

And her father taught her the importance of staying one step ahead.

These weren't just sayings. They became guiding principles that carried her through some of life's most challenging seasons.

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

After years working in the legal profession, Simone began exploring a new direction while navigating debilitating endometriosis and a difficult recovery from surgery.

What should have been 12 weeks of recovery became 12 months.

We talk about reinvention, discovering your creative voice and recognising that your experiences may hold wisdom someone else needs.

THE DIARY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Now THIS story had me smiling!

While writing her book, Simone became stuck on a particular chapter. Then she unexpectedly discovered an old diary in a box that had been sitting in a car.

The extraordinary part? The diary documented the exact period she was trying to write about!

We explore why journaling is such a powerful way to capture your life, preserve your memories and create material you can draw upon when you're ready to tell your story.

DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE. BECOMING WHO YOU ARE.

Simone explains the two-part structure of her book and shares her personal process of learning, unlearning and rebuilding.

We talk about self-worth, relationships, authenticity, boundaries and why you're never too old to learn, be corrected or begin again.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

1. What wisdom from my parents, grandparents or elders has shaped my life?

2. What experience from my past holds a lesson I could share with someone else?

3. What layers do I need to release to become the person I'm growing into?

And from my journal The Flow Beyond Burnout, here's another question:

Where do I feel pressure to be perfect?

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Simone S. Smart is the author of Life Lessons Learned: The Journey from Girlhood to Womanhood, a personal exploration of the experiences, relationships and inherited wisdom that shape our lives.

Get Life Lessons Learned on Amazon:
https://amzn.eu/d/0dGLppA3

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#SimoneSSmart #LifeLessonsLearned #PersonalGrowth #Journaling #LeavingALegacy

What if the most significant chapter of your life is still ahead of you?

What if your 60s, 70s or even 80s aren't the beginning of slowing down, but the beginning of something extraordinary?

In this episode of The Journaling Room LIVE, I'm joined by author, widowhood coach and speaker Paulette Morgan, author of Woman... Arise! Pearls of Wisdom for Woman Power.

We talk about grief, widowhood, finding purpose after loss, writing your story and stepping into what Paulette calls your SEASON OF SIGNIFICANCE.

GRIEVING SOMEONE WHO IS STILL HERE

Paulette shares her deeply personal experience of caring for and losing her husband after 15 years of illness.

For the final four years of his life, she could no longer hear his voice. Her children now struggle to remember what their father sounded like.

We explore living grief, the kind of loss that begins long before someone dies.

This conversation is especially meaningful to me because I also experienced living grief during my mum's long journey with Alzheimer's and dementia.

THERE IS NO TIMETABLE FOR GRIEF

Paulette became a widow at 49. Today, she supports widows and widowers through coaching and a weekly support group.

She reminds us that grief isn't linear. You can laugh one day and cry the next. You can experience anger, guilt, sadness and joy without any of those emotions cancelling out the others.

We talk about navigating the first birthdays, Christmases and anniversaries without a loved one, and why people who are grieving need compassion rather than pressure to move on.

YOUR SEASON OF SIGNIFICANCE

Now THIS part of our conversation had me excited!

Paulette challenges the idea that women have less to contribute as they get older.

She believes women in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond carry wisdom, experience and stories that the next generation needs.

Her message?

YOU STILL HAVE A BATON IN YOUR HAND.

Someone is waiting for you to run your part of the race and pass it on.

Paulette shares how she published books, completed a university degree and began embracing new possibilities later in life.

It's never too late to begin again, discover a new purpose or make a meaningful impact.

FROM AN ANTHOLOGY TO BECOMING AN AUTHOR

Paulette and I first worked together through the Navigating Life anthology project.

Her contribution, In Sickness and in Health, explored her grief journey.

That experience helped her bring another book to life: Woman... Arise!

We reflect on the publishing journey, the importance of capturing our experiences and how writing can become part of the legacy we leave behind.

JOURNALING THROUGH CHANGE AND LOSS

I also share from two of my guided grief journals, Healing Through the Storm and The Silent Goodbye, and we finish with a journaling tip about documenting new experiences.

Because every new experience is only new once.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

1. What emotions am I avoiding right now?

2. What wisdom have I gained that somebody younger needs to hear?

3. What dream have I put aside that might be ready for a new beginning?

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Paulette Morgan is an author and coach supporting widows, widowers and women navigating new seasons of purpose and significance.

Get Woman... Arise! on Amazon:
https://amzn.eu/d/00HIKolp

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

WATCH THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE PODCAST
Every Monday at 9pm UK time
https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#PauletteMorgan #WomanArise #LifeAfter60 #Widowhood #GriefAndHealing

What if resilience is one of the most important gifts we can help our children develop?

How do we raise children who can face setbacks, navigate disappointment, recognise their strengths and keep moving forward, even when life doesn't go according to plan?

In this episode of The Journaling Room LIVE, I'm joined by my dear friend, educator, speaker, author and resilience advocate Chantel Brooks, to talk about her book The Resilient Generation: A Parent's Guide to Raising Unstoppable Children.

But as always, we're going beyond the book.

We're talking about the story behind the story, the power of writing, finding your purpose and building a legacy that changes lives.

FROM ONE GCSE TO INSPIRING A GENERATION

Chantel shares how leaving school with just one GCSE became part of a journey that eventually led her into education.

After approximately 24 years working in the sector, she's using her experiences to encourage young people, support parents and help schools recognise that success doesn't look the same for every child.

Her story is a reminder that where you start doesn't have to determine where you finish.

FROM A JOURNAL TO A BOOK, THEN A PODCAST

This part of our conversation is especially close to my heart.

At Chantel's 40th birthday gathering, I gave her a journal, not knowing that she'd already felt prompted to write her first book.

That book became The Pursuit of Success.

We talk about the accountability, consistency and courage it took to write and publish her story, and how that first book opened doors for school assemblies, workshops and speaking opportunities.

Then came her second book, The Resilient Generation, and a podcast that allows her to have even more conversations with parents, educators and community leaders.

One story. One book. Then another. And an expanding platform for impact.

HOW DO WE RAISE RESILIENT CHILDREN?

Chantel shares what raising resilience looks like in her own family, including the different challenges her two sons have navigated.

We explore the importance of:

• Creating a home where children can speak openly without fear of judgement.

• Helping young people see setbacks as opportunities to learn rather than permanent failures.

• Recognising that children learn differently and need different pathways to succeed.

• Building strong relationships between parents, schools and young people.

• Encouraging children to develop confidence, purpose and the ability to keep going.

We also discuss whether schools should offer more vocational opportunities for young people whose strengths aren't purely academic.

YOUR EXAM RESULTS ARE NOT THE END OF YOUR STORY

Chantel shares some encouraging advice for students finishing their GCSEs and the parents supporting them.

Her message is simple: rest, enjoy the break and remember that even if your results aren't what you hoped for, there are still opportunities ahead.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

1. What setback in my life has taught me something valuable about resilience?

2. How can I help the young people in my life recognise their strengths?

3. What story from my own journey could encourage someone else to keep going?

I also share a prompt from my New Chapter Journal: 100 Journaling Prompts on Navigating Change and Growth:

"How can I remind myself that fear is just a sign of stepping into something new?"

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Chantel Brooks is an educator, author, speaker and advocate for raising resilient young people.

Get The Resilient Generation on Amazon:
https://amzn.eu/d/0dH6olxi

Explore Chantel's work:
https://raising-resilience.co.uk

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

WATCH THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE PODCAST
Every Monday at 9pm UK time
https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#ChantelBrooks #TheResilientGeneration #RaisingResilientChildren #Parenting #TheJournalingExperience

Is your mind so full of thoughts that you don't even know where to begin?

Maybe you're overthinking, feeling overwhelmed or carrying emotions you haven't had time to process. Perhaps you've been telling everybody you're fine, but you haven't stopped to ask yourself how you're REALLY doing.

In this solo episode of The Journaling Room LIVE, I'm sharing something I say all the time:

GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS SOMEWHERE TO LAND.

Because sometimes what we need isn't another answer, another plan or another person telling us what to do.

Sometimes we simply need somewhere to THINK.

3 SIMPLE JOURNALING PROMPTS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR DAY

I share three prompts that I originally introduced at a women's event. Weeks later, a lady told me she'd been using them every day to help her get out of her head, interrupt spiralling thoughts and find clarity.

And they're beautifully simple:

1. HOW AM I REALLY DOING?

Not the automatic "I'm fine" that we give everybody else. How are you REALLY feeling? What have you been carrying, avoiding or putting off processing?

2. WHAT IS MY PRAYER FOR ME TODAY?

We're often thinking about what everybody else needs. But what do YOU need today? What is your prayer, desire or request for yourself in this moment?

3. LORD, WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU SEE ME?

This is one of my favourite journaling prompts in the world!

It's an invitation to sit with God, listen, reflect and allow your thoughts and prayers to flow onto the page.

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

This is the framework behind so much of my work.

When we give our thoughts somewhere to land, we can begin to think more clearly, recognise what we're feeling, process what's happening and find a way forward.

We also talk about mental clutter, emotional wellbeing, honest conversations, journaling as prayer and why the page can be a place where you write without judgement.

FROM JOURNALING TO PUBLISHING

I share how years of journaling helped me write my first book, Finding Divine Flow, and how a conversation about someone who appeared happy while privately struggling became the inspiration for another of my books, Smiling Through Depression.

I also share how I use the Day One journaling app, voice notes and conversations to capture and process my thoughts.

And here's something I've discovered through years of journaling and working with authors:

Sometimes the answers we're looking for are already inside us. We just need the space to hear ourselves think.

YOUR JOURNALING INVITATION

Grab your journal, your phone or whatever you use to write.

Give yourself a few minutes with those three prompts. You don't need perfect words, beautiful handwriting or a carefully structured entry.

Just start where you are.

BOOKS MENTIONED

Smiling Through Depression

Stan Store: https://stan.store/Camelleilona/p/smiling-through-depression

Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/0bJoHQCg

Finding Divine Flow

Stan Store: https://stan.store/Camelleilona/p/finding-divine-flow

Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/06QlnJBW

FROM THE JOURNALING ROOM

This episode was originally recorded for The Journaling Room LIVE, the conversation series that grew into The Journaling Experience Podcast with Camelle ilona.

The Journaling Room was where we gathered. The Journaling Experience is what we're taking into the world.

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

WATCH THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE PODCAST LIVE
Every Monday at 9pm UK time
https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#JournalingPrompts #Overthinking #JournalingForClarity #Camelleilona #TheJournalingExperience

What do you do when you've prayed, trusted God, believed the promise... and you're STILL WAITING?

What happens when you thought you'd finally reached the end of your waiting season, only to find yourself starting again with a broken heart?

In this episode of The Journaling Room LIVE, I'm joined by Gozen Soydag, psychotherapist, speaker and author of Wife in the Waiting: 31 Days to Healing the Heart, Holding the Hope.

And this conversation goes far beyond waiting for a husband.

We're talking about heartbreak, healing, identity, purpose, surrender, the power of journaling and learning to trust God when life doesn't look the way you imagined.

WHEN THE WAITING HURTS

Gozen shares the deeply personal experience behind her devotional, including the heartbreak of an engagement that ended when she believed her prayers had finally been answered.

Sometimes the hardest part isn't waiting for something you've never had. It's starting again after you thought the waiting was over.

HEALING BEFORE THE NEXT CHAPTER

She explains the three foundations of her Wife in the Waiting ministry: healing, identity and purpose.

We also talk about the pressure single Christian women can experience, the importance of honest conversations and why simply telling someone to "trust God" isn't always enough.

What does trusting God actually look like when you're disappointed, hurting or wondering whether He's forgotten you?

THE POWER OF JOURNALING

Now THIS is a subject we both love!

Gozen has been journaling since she was 14. She describes writing as a lifeline, a way to express the feelings she couldn't always say aloud.

Today, she uses writing and other forms of expression to help people process their experiences in her therapeutic work.

We discuss why journaling doesn't have to be perfect, why asking ourselves deeper questions matters and how putting our thoughts onto paper can help us discover what's happening inside.

FROM PERSONAL PAIN TO A PUBLISHED DEVOTIONAL

I had the privilege of helping Gozen bring Wife in the Waiting into print.

Interestingly, this wasn't the book she originally planned to write.

But she recognised that before teaching women about preparation for marriage, she wanted to create space for the healing so many women needed.

The result is a 31-day devotional filled with personal reflections, scripture, honest prayers and journaling prompts.

A book for the woman whose heart is tired of waiting.

LEGACY, PURPOSE AND SURRENDER

We finish by exploring Gozen's vision for stronger marriages, families and communities, and what she's currently learning about herself.

Her answer? Deeper levels of surrender.

Because becoming who God has called us to be can require releasing the very things we're trying hardest to control.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

1. Where in my life am I struggling to trust the timing of God?

2. What disappointment or heartbreak do I still need to acknowledge and process?

3. What might surrender look like for me in this season?

You don't have to pretend the waiting is easy to be honest with God about where you are.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Gozen Soydag is a psychotherapist, speaker and author of Wife in the Waiting: 31 Days to Healing the Heart, Holding the Hope.

Get the book on Amazon:
https://amzn.eu/d/06EykEhF

Explore Wife in the Waiting:
https://www.wifeinthewaiting.com

FROM THE JOURNALING ROOM ARCHIVES

This conversation was originally recorded for The Journaling Room LIVE, the interview series that grew into The Journaling Experience Podcast with Camelle ilona.

The Journaling Room was where we gathered. The Journaling Experience is what we're taking into the world.

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

WATCH THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE PODCAST LIVE
Every Monday at 9pm UK time
https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#GozenSoydag #WifeInTheWaiting #ChristianSingles #TrustingGod #Journaling

What if the thing standing between you and your purpose isn't a lack of ability, opportunity or potential... but FEAR?

Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointment. Fear of what PEOPLE might say!

In this episode, I'm joined by author and coach Valerie Kudjoe, affectionately known as Aunt Val, for a conversation about her book Step Out of Fear: The World Is Waiting for You to Start Living.

Valerie shares how fear followed her through different seasons of life, held her back from opportunities and delayed things she knew she was called to do.

But here's what I love about her story. She didn't wait until she stopped feeling afraid.

She started moving.

FEAR DOESN'T DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT.

One of the biggest lessons from our conversation is that overcoming fear isn't necessarily a once-and-for-all experience.

Sometimes you have to confront it daily. Sometimes in every new season.

The question is whether you're going to allow it to keep you standing still.

FROM FACEBOOK JOURNAL ENTRIES TO A PUBLISHED BOOK.

Valerie tells us how a series of public journal entries she began sharing during lockdown eventually became the foundation for Step Out of Fear.

She'd already spent years writing, reflecting and documenting her experiences. When the time came to write her book, she had something powerful to work with: a record of her journey.

We talk about why journaling matters, how writing helps you recognise your progress and why your personal experiences could become the encouragement somebody else needs.

YOUR BOOK COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BIGGER.

After publishing, Valerie developed her website, delivered workshops and expanded into coaching, helping people recognise their gifts and take practical steps towards their purpose.

And I particularly loved what she shared about coaching. Rather than simply giving people answers, she's learning to draw out what's already inside them.

Because sometimes the very thing you're searching for is something you already carry.

I'M STILL BECOMING.

When I asked Valerie my signature question, "What are you currently learning about yourself?", her answer was beautiful.

She's still discovering who she is, what God has placed inside her and what she has yet to become.

And isn't that true for so many of us?

We don't have to have arrived to appreciate how far we've come.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

Grab your journal and give these questions some thought:

1. Where has fear been making decisions for me?

2. Whose opinion am I allowing to hold me back?

3. What is ONE step I can take this week, even if I still feel afraid?

And here's another question from my journal Rebrand, Rebuild, Refine:

"What challenges did I face in my previous business or work, and how did I overcome them?"

Look back. Recognise your growth. Then consider what you're ready to step into next.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Valerie Kudjoe is an author and coach who helps people recognise their gifts, overcome the limitations of fear and move towards purposeful living.

Book: Step Out of Fear: The World Is Waiting for You to Start Living

Book: https://amzn.eu/d/0acVYidc

Website: https://valeriekudjoe.com

FROM THE JOURNALING ROOM ARCHIVES

Originally recorded for The Journaling Room LIVE, the conversation series that grew into The Journaling Experience Podcast with Camelle ilona.

The Journaling Room was where we gathered. The Journaling Experience is what we're taking into the world.

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

WATCH THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE PODCAST LIVE
Every Monday at 9pm UK time
https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Journal. Publish. Leave a Legacy.

#ValerieKudjoe #StepOutOfFear #OvercomingFear #Journaling #TheJournalingExperience

Worship Therapy Devotional on Amazon:https://amzn.eu/d/0g3EPqiE

Worship Therapy Podcast Series with Latoya & Camelle:

https://www.youtube.com/@LatoyaGraceMusic/podcasts

What if worship is more than the songs we sing? What if it's a way of living, healing and becoming whole?

In this conversation, I'm joined by Latoya Grace, gospel singer, worship leader and author of Worship Therapy: The Transformative Key to a Life of Wholeness, a 30-day devotional exploring the power of worship beyond music.

Latoya has been leading worship for over 10 years, but as she began writing her first book, she discovered something deeper. Some of the experiences she'd captured privately in her journals were becoming the very stories God was asking her to share publicly.

And for someone who describes herself as a VERY private person, that wasn't necessarily comfortable!

WORSHIP IS MORE THAN MUSIC. Drawing from John 4:23, Latoya talks about worshipping in spirit and in truth. Music may be an expression of worship, but worship itself is about our connection with God, our honesty before Him and what happens when we develop that relationship beyond Sunday morning.

PRIVATE DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN SILENT. This part of our conversation really stayed with me. Latoya talks about the vulnerability of putting her personal experiences into a book. The stories she once kept to herself were now available for anybody to read.

But there's a difference between protecting your privacy and hiding your voice.

In her own words:

"My voice is necessary in all the places and spaces God sends me."

FROM JOURNALING TO PUBLISHING. We talk about how journaling helped Latoya recognise her spiritual and personal growth, remember what God had done and eventually turn those reflections into a published devotional.

And what happened AFTER the book was published?

New connections, ministry opportunities, podcast conversations, invitations to speak and the beginnings of a much bigger vision for Worship Therapy.

Because sometimes the book isn't the destination. It's the beginning.

WHAT ABOUT LEGACY? Latoya shares a beautiful biblical picture of stones of memorial, reminders of what God has done that future generations can return to.

She wants her book, her podcast and the other expressions of Worship Therapy to become those reminders.

That's why I love these conversations. We begin with journaling, but we often discover that the words we capture privately can become something that reaches people we'll never meet.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPT

Where in my life am I allowing privacy, fear or uncertainty to keep me silent when I have something worth sharing?

And if you've been feeling that pull to write, publish or speak, Latoya has some encouragement for you:

TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

You don't have to see the entire journey before you begin.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Latoya Grace is a gospel singer, worship leader, speaker and author of Worship Therapy: The Transformative Key to a Life of Wholeness.

Explore her 30-day devotional:
https://amzn.eu/d/0g3EPqiE⁠

FROM THE JOURNALING ROOM ARCHIVES

This conversation was originally recorded as the very first episode of The Journaling Room LIVE, the series that grew into The Journaling Experience Podcast with Camelle ilona.

The Journaling Room was where we gathered. The Journaling Experience is what we're taking into the world.

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY
Our free community for reflection, journaling and meaningful conversations.
https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

WATCH THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE PODCAST LIVE
Every Monday at 9pm UK time
https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

JOURNAL. PUBLISH. LEAVE A LEGACY.

#LatoyaGrace #WorshipTherapy #ChristianWorship #TheJournalingExperience #Camelleilona

What happened to that dream you once had? The business you wanted to start, the book you wanted to write, the idea you couldn't stop thinking about, or the thing you always imagined yourself doing?

Is it becoming a reality? Or is it still sitting somewhere in a notebook, waiting for you to pick it up again?

FROM DREAMS TO REALITY.

In this episode of The Journaling Experience Podcast, we're talking about the dreams we carry, the ideas we receive and what it actually takes to bring them into the real world.

A conversation with my auntie Rosie got me thinking. She said, "I can come to you with eggs, flour, butter and sugar, and somehow you're able to turn it into a cake."

I laughed, but I knew exactly what she meant. Sometimes we have all the ingredients of something wonderful, but we can't quite see how they fit together.

And sometimes all we need is someone to help us articulate what we're seeing, give it structure and begin moving.

THE DOWNLOAD. You know those moments when an idea arrives and suddenly you can SEE something? A business, a book, a solution, a project, a whole new chapter of your life.

What do you do with it?

You already know what I'm going to say. WRITE IT DOWN.

Capture it in as much detail as possible. Give the idea somewhere to land. Treat it like it's valuable, because it might just be.

THE SANDBOX. This is one of my favourite places! The space where I get to imagine, create, explore and PLAY.

When did we stop giving ourselves permission to dream like children?

Before you start worrying about everything that could go wrong, what if you gave yourself permission to explore everything that could go RIGHT?

What if the idea grew? What if it reached people around the world? What if it became something much bigger than you first imagined?

Sometimes we need to get back into the sandbox and stretch our imagination.

THE REALITY. Now, dreaming is wonderful. But at some point, we've got to DO something.

I share four stories of people who started with very different ingredients.

One woman had a vision for curated women's retreats but felt overwhelmed by all the ideas in her head. Another wanted to turn a painful personal experience into a book and a coaching business. Another wrote through a difficult season of her life and went on to publish THREE books. And another was building a play café but was terrified of showing up on social media.

Different dreams. Different challenges. Different first steps.

But something changed when they began to articulate what they were seeing, give it structure and TAKE ACTION.

Because the dream doesn't have to be complete before you begin.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS. Grab your journal. We're going to explore three questions:

1. What is the dream, vision or idea that keeps coming back to you?

2. What ingredients do you already have, and what's missing?

3. What is the first tangible thing you can create, write or share in the next SEVEN DAYS?

Don't just think about them. Write about them.

And then choose ONE thing you're actually going to do.

Make the call. Do the research. Write the first page. Record the video. Have the conversation.

BRING THE DREAM OFF THE SHELF.

I also share why the sandbox reminds me of God's promise to Abraham, and why I believe we need to give ourselves room to imagine not just WHAT could happen, but WHO we might become when that dream becomes our reality.

Your dreams are valid. They don't have to be perfect for you to start.

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

And when the download comes... WRITE IT DOWN.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER. If you've got the ingredients but need help turning them into something real, I'd love to have a conversation.

https://coachingwithcamelle.as.me/

JOIN THE JOURNALING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY. Come into our free community, join the conversation and keep journaling with us.

https://www.skool.com/journaling-experience-academy-7092/about

THE JOURNALING ROOM LIVE. Join me every Monday at 9pm UK time on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/@camelleilona

What if the thing stopping you from showing up isn't a lack of confidence, clarity or ability?

What if it's PEOPLE?

What will people think? What will people say? What if they don't understand what I'm doing? What if they remember who I used to be? But here's the question I had to ask myself:

WHO ARE “PEOPLE”?

Welcome to another episode of The Journaling Experience Podcast, a space for meaningful conversations, powerful questions and the kind of reflection that can actually change how you live.

In this episode, I'm opening one of my own journals, Rebrand, Rebuild & Refine.

WHO ARE “PEOPLE”? There was a season when I kept thinking about what “people” would think if I showed up online, spoke about certain things or stepped into what I knew I wanted to do.

So maybe the question isn’t: What will people think?

Maybe it’s: Who are the people?

SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE AT THE BACK. I share something a coach once taught me about speaking to the person at the back of the room.

Sometimes we're so distracted by the noise on the front row that we forget about the person further back who actually NEEDS what we have.

Your voice has to travel past the fear, opinions, past the first awkward post, the first video and the first chapter. Because the first time might feel horrible. The second might feel slightly better. By the fourth, you might actually enjoy it. And a year from now you could be very grateful that you started TODAY.

YOUR PAST IS PART OF THE STORY. One of the prompts we explore asks:

How can I use my past experiences to connect with others?

Sometimes what you're building comes from your PASSION. Sometimes it comes from your PAIN.

The things you've lived through may have given you resilience, wisdom, language and perspective that now belong in the way you communicate, lead, write, build and serve.

That's where journaling becomes powerful because it gives you somewhere to go deeper before deciding what belongs in public.

SEE IT BEFORE YOU LIVE IT. 

We also talk about creating a vision board specifically for your brand, and I share the story of my MUSTARD CHAIR.

Years ago, I put an image of a mustard chair on a vision board because I imagined myself sitting there writing my first book.

Then one morning, while staying with a friend in Wales, I looked up from writing and realised where I was sitting.

A mustard chair. Coffee table in front of me. Beautiful view behind me. And I was writing my first book.

The picture had become my life. So here's another question worth taking to your journal:

What does the next version of what you're building LOOK like?

Not just your colours or your logo. And not just what ChatGPT says you should post.

YOU!! Your voice. Your message. Your people. Your values. Your experiences. Your next chapter. Because in a world increasingly full of artificial intelligence and manufactured content, people are still looking for something REAL.

YOUR JOURNALING PROMPTS

Take these back to the page:

• What thoughts come to mind when I think about being visible or being visible again?
• Who are the “people” whose opinions I am allowing to affect how I show up?
• How can I use my past experiences to connect with others?
• How can I create a vision board for my brand?

Don't just think about them.

WRITE IT DOWN.

This is The Journaling Experience.

THINK. FEEL. PROCESS. FLOW.

Join The Journaling Experience Academy, my free community, where we continue these conversations and journal together.

Join The Journaling Experience Academy

And join me in The Journaling Room LIVE every Monday at 9pm GMT / 4pm EST on YouTube.

Watch @Camelleilona on YouTube