I was recently listening to an interview with Joan Borysenko, PhD, a respected author, teacher and wellness expert. During this interview, she said..."Gratitude is a fundamental character strength that is most highly related to indexes of well-being including happiness, health, and functioning well in daily life." In short, this emphasizes that gratitude is key to ... Read More >>
Like most people, my life has had its ups and downs over the years. One thing that stayed constant amidst all the change and uncertainty was the reliability of journaling. It was always something to return to without any fear of being judged or criticized. This single activity has served as my therapy, guidance, and ... Read More >>
This is a guest blog post from IAJW Member and Life Coach, Vicky DeCoster As a little girl, Dawn Beckler became accustomed to change. While growing up within a military and then missionary family, she lived in many different places that included the Philippines where she spent most of her childhood. While embracing and loving what ... Read More >>
Question Can you put together a number of daily blogs into book form? How do you do this? Barbara Minkoff, Member of our Journal Writing Tribe Facebook Group Answer by Sheila Bender, IAJW Journal Council Member & Writing Teacher It is certainly possible and has been done but the blog entries themselves do not make ... Read More >>
Every month I facilitate a Writing Alone Together Circle within our IAJW Membership Community and last month our writing prompt was: I DARE TO... Here is the writing I did while in our circle as a sample from the pages of my journal: I dare to care out more time to write my memoir. I ... Read More >>
What do you do? Recently, I was sitting beside someone on an airplane (I travel a lot to facilitate workshops, speak at events, etc.) and she asked me, "what do you do?" I responded, "I am a Writing for Wellness Coach and I teach people how to use writing to improve their health, prevent burnout, ... Read More >>
Why I write, is to be with you Listening deeply, in true Why I write, connecting heart Loving presence, self-care part Why I write, unravelling from within Tangled threads, fibres unpinned Why I write, just to walk in hand With self, through inner land Why I write, to hear my soul Divine whispers immensely whole ... Read More >>
This blog post is for you if you are in transition. Perhaps you are retiring from a long career, leaving a job you loved, a job that defined you. Perhaps you have left a long term relationship due to separation, divorce or death of a spouse. My situation is this – a few years ago ... Read More >>
The Experience of a Journal Writing Group Journaling is something I’ve done since I was a young teenager. It was only in mid-2019, however, that I started searching online rather intentionally for a like-minded community to join. As some of my interests (like niche socio-politics) fall within a highly charged territory, I instinctively gravitated towards ... Read More >>
Making Room for the Muse We need not be afraid. A thousand gifts will flood the void when we loosen our grip and let our hands fall open. Too easily we fill our minds, our hearts, our homes, with frantic chanting on TV, crowding jumbo cans from warehouse stores onto shelves squeezed tight and flustered. ... Read More >>