Welcome back to our NEW SEASON! This is the second episode of our New Journaling Foundations Series of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 4, Episode 2).

If you've not listened to Episode 1, I'd highly recommend tuning into that first before giving episode 2 a listen.

Today, I'm answering probably the second most asked question about Journaling... EVER! What sort of Journal should I use? - Spoiler Alert ‼️ The best sort of Journal is the one that gets written in... it's as simple as that!

This week's Mission is this:

Open the front cover. Write today’s date. Write your name. And underneath it…

Write one sentence. “This is where my journey begins.” And if you want to continue writing, please do. If you don't, it's ok, because you've started!

Remember, this is NEW for this season, I have extras for you over on Substack. Included in those extras are:

• Bonus audio that never made it into today's podcast 🎧
• Deeper reflections on my first Journal 💙
• The full assignment written down
• Bonus reflections

This is all over on the Substack channel which you can find HERE.

The full link is here - https://substack.com/@thejournalingguy

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Do get in touch with any questions you have and of course your feedback is really important too. Email me - [email protected]

Remember, there are loads more extras over on Substack for you, so you can really get into Journaling and begin to realise what a difference it can make to your life.

Please share this episode with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, if you get a moment, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

As Always... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Welcome to a BRAND NEW SEASON and the first episode of our New Journaling Foundations Series of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 4, Episode 1).

Today, I'm answering probably the most asked question about Journaling... EVER!

In this first episode of the New Journaling Foundations Series, I explain all about the Surprising Benefits of Writing Things Down into a Journal.

Even though this is episode 1, I still have some prompts for you. Remember, you only need to answer one of the following questions. I'm just trying to get you started, not solve everything before we've even got going.

1. Why am I interested in journaling?
2. What would I like more of in my life?
3. What do I hope journaling might help me understand?
4. If I could better understand one area of my life better, what would it be?
5. How would it feel to know myself a little better?

Have a listen to the episode to hear these explained in full! Plus, and this is BRAND NEW for this season, I have extras for you over on Substack. Included in these extras are:

• Bonus audio from today’s episode 🎧
• Deeper reflections on my own journey into Journaling 💙
• Additional resources and links to courses to help you get started 🖌️
• And the full Journaling prompts from this episode, plus extra info to guide you 📔

This is all over on the Substack channel which you can find HERE.

The full link is here - https://substack.com/@thejournalingguy

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Do get in touch with any questions you have and of course your feedback is really important too. Email me - [email protected]

Remember, there are loads more extras over on Substack for you, so you can really get into Journaling and begin to realise what a difference it can make to your life.

Please share this episode with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, if you get a moment, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

As Always... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 15), I'm talking about Why Most People Stop Journaling and How to Make It Stick.

Most people who start journaling, Stop! Not after years. Not after months, it’s usually after just a few days. So, how do we make it stick?

There are 5 Main Reasons why people stop Journaling; many of us will have fallen into one or more of these categories at some point:

1. WE EXPECT TOO MUCH, TOO SOON
2. WE THINK WE’RE DOING IT WRONG
3. WE WAIT TO FEEL INSPIRED
4. WE ONLY JOURNAL WHEN LIFE FEELS DIFFICULT
5. WE MAKE IT TOO BIG

Have a listen to the episode to find out how you can make this fantastic habit, STICK!

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Next week, we're starting a BRAND NEW SEASON. SEASON FOUR!

I'm calling this series, The Journaling Foundations Series. And over the next 7 Episodes, I'm going to walk you through everything I wish someone had taught me when I first picked up a JOURNAL.

Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 14), I'm talking about What Needs To Change in Your Life and How Journaling Can Help?

If you carried on living exactly as you are right now, where would you be this time next year? This is a BIG episode and one that you may need to listen to more than once.

Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is The Change Audit! Here is your 5-step Prompt.

1. What isn't working in my life right now?
2. What have I been tolerating for too long?
3. If nothing changed over the next 12 months, how would I feel?
4. What would "Future Me" thank Me for addressing today?
5. Finally, What is one small change I can make this week?

Change doesn't begin through Motivation, Change begins through Awareness. If you can learn that and engrain it into your Journaling Habit, you'll be able to figure your life out much sooner.

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 13), I'm talking about What You're Really Avoiding that's probably run under your nose.

The truth about Avoidance is that it is CLEVER. It rarely announces itself, it turns up in disguise. It's disguised as being busy, being tired, or even as doom scrolling.

Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is called - FACING THE TRUTH!

1. What keeps showing up in my mind lately?
2. What am I distracting myself with instead?
3. What emotion am I trying not to feel?
4. If I was being brutally honest with myself, what would I admit right now?
5. What is one small thing I could face this week?

One email. One conversation. One appointment. One difficult truth written honestly on a page. Those small acts of honesty can change your life.

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 12), I'm talking about Breaking Old Habits Through Journaling. We're only human after all, which is why we repeat old habits and behaviours, even when we genuinely want to change.

Habits aren’t logical, they’re emotional. We like to think habits are simply about discipline or willpower. But they’re not. Habits are responses!

Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is - Breaking The Pattern.

1. What habit or behaviour do I keep returning to?
2. When does this pattern usually appear?
3. What does this habit temporarily give me?
4. What is a healthier response instead?
5. What would help me notice the pattern earlier next time?

Don't attempt to break habits through self-criticism; Shame rarely creates sustainable change.

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 11), I'm talking about carrying out a Self-Audit in your Journal. Most people don’t have bad intentions, they're just stuck in their ways. If you listen to today's episode, it will help you figure out how to become unstuck and to see yourself in a different light.

Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is - “The Self-Audit Framework"

As I say during the episode, PLEASE take your time with this exercise:

1. What am I doing well right now?
2. Where am I repeating patterns that don’t serve me?
3. What tends to trigger those patterns?
4. What would a better response look like next time?
5. What is one small change I can commit to this week?

Please listen to the episode for a little extra guidance and clarity around these questions.

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 10), I'm talking about The Conversation You’re Avoiding and how Journaling can help rectify that.

You’ve been putting off THAT CONVERSATION forever; telling yourself that now’s not the right time, or it’s probably not that big of a deal. I'm here to tell you the truth, the more you avoid it, the bigger a deal it will become.

Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is - “Say it on Paper First”

1. What is the conversation I’m avoiding?
2. What do I actually want to say?
3. What am I worried will happen if I say it?
4. What might happen if I don’t say it?
5. What would a calm, grounded version of me say?

Please listen to the episode for more detail and clarity around this set of prompts.

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 9), I'm talking about Decision Making. We can often spend way too much time thinking about decisions. However, if you use Journaling to help with this process, those decisions can become remarkably easy!

Your Journaling Prompts for This Week are:

1. What is the ONE decision I’m trying to make right now?
2. What are my options?
3. What am I afraid of with each option?
4. What feels right, not logical, right?
5. What would I advise a friend to do?
6. What is the next small step, not the final outcome?

Please do listen to the episode though, as it will help those prompts make more sense.

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, Keep Deciding and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 8), I'm talking about Overthinking! We've all been guilty of it, letting thoughts loop around and around our minds. Yo go over it. Turn it around and around and looked at it from every angle - but still, nothing is clear!

Journaling has a lovely way of bringing clarity to our thoughts!

Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is this: “Breaking the Loop”

1. What exactly am I thinking about right now?
2. What decision or outcome am I trying to control?
3. What do I actually know for certain?
4. What is one small next step I can take?
5. If I couldn’t think about this anymore today… what would I do?

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Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.

Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.