How to Rock Your Journal Sessions

I love journaling. I always feel better after doing it. But sometimes, I let life get in the way and I avoid doing it - sometimes for or several weeks. It's a bit like going to the gym. I never regret getting it done but sometimes, I find it difficult to get started.

I shared this with my friend, Kristen, and she suggested a few tips to help me become more consistent with my journaling habit. If you also struggle with consistency, consider trying some of these ideas…

Create a Template

Kristen explained that she had created a template for her journaling time. It meant that when she sat down to write, she didn’t have to wait for inspiration or try to come up with something new to say. A few of the questions on Kristen’s template include:

·         What am I grateful for today?

·         Who did I show kindness to?

·         What I did learn from yesterday?

·         How am I feeling?

·         What’s one thing I want to do now?


My template is a bit different since I journal for a different
purpose. But I find that having some predetermined
questions  that I ask each time really helps get my thoughts
flowing.

Make It Fun

Kristen told me to make my sessions fun. “When it’s fun, you’re naturally drawn to an activity, so make it easy and enjoyable.”

For me, this means brewing a cup of my favorite tea each time I sit down to journal. I savor the tea in my favorite mug and the warm liquid helps me to relax before I begin to write.

Play Music

Another way to make it fun is to play music. Some people, like me, do their best journaling if they have their music blasting. Other people find music is too distracting when they’re trying to write.

If you enjoy listening to music when you’re working on a project, you might be one of those people who finds it inspiring to listen while you journal. Experiment with different kinds of music until you find the one that makes journaling easiest for you.

Have a Special Journal Spot

I like to journal from the comfort of my front porch during the early morning hours. I sit in my rocking chair and sip my tea, often getting out early enough to watch the sunrise.

Kristen has tried to do the same thing but didn’t find the environment stimulating enough. She likes to be surrounded by people and the hum of conversation. So, she decided to make the local Starbucks her journaling spot and finds it works much better for her.

Schedule It

Kristen encouraged me to schedule each journaling session like I would a doctor’s appointment or other event. “By scheduling time to journal, you’re more likely to do it,” she explained.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to make it a daily habit. Kristen enjoys journaling each morning but I find that is too frequent for me. So, I changed my schedule and now journal twice a week.

Journaling might not feel natural at first, but don’t give up on it too fast. Instead, try some of the tips above. Pay attention to what works best for your personality and inspires you to write.

Which Journal Style Is Right for You?

When it comes to journaling, there’s no wrong or right way to do it. Journaling is a creative activity so you can relax and simply do what works for you. But if you’re stuck and not sure what type of journal you need, ask yourself these three questions…

What Do You Want More of in Your Life?

Karen was a real estate agent and single mom. She was busy raising three teenagers and often felt overwhelmed by all the demands on her time and energy. When she thought about what she wanted more of in her life, the answer was clear: peace. Inner peace.

So, Karen started a meditation journal that she used each night before bed. She wrote down positive affirmations she wanted to embrace. She recorded how long she meditated for each evening as well as anything that was troubling her.

As time went on, Karen noticed it was easier to sleep at night because she had taken the time to process the noise of the day. Now, she wakes up feeling peaceful and refreshed and more able to focus on her children and her business.

How Would You Like to Grow?

Cristina’s marriage crumbled after thirty years when she discovered her husband had cheated on her. Her children were already grown and Cristina realized she was alone for the first time in her adult life.

This realization was scary but also exciting. Cristina began to think of the ways she’d like to grow and realized she’d always wanted to travel. So she bought a camper with a goal of exploring every state in America.

Along the way, Cristina kept a travel journal. She recorded what she was learning about herself, who she’d met, and what she was seeing. The trip gave her the chance to seek out new experiences and consider what she really wanted from the next phase of her life. Recently she shared her writing with a friend who encouraged to turn the stories from her adventure into a book.

What Would You Like to Change about Your Life?

Susie had struggled with her weight her whole life. When she was a child, she was obese and other kids bullied her. She frequently binged on junk food like ice cream, candy, and cakes to distract herself from her dysfunctional home life.

When Susie thought about how she’d like to change her life, her health was her top concern. Susie’s therapist knew that giving up junk food meant Susie would need to deal with her emotions, rather than stuffing them down.

So she encouraged Susie to buy a journal to give herself a safe space to explore her emotions. Susie started a health and wellness journal where she began to record how she felt instead of snacking to escape. She began to recognize painful situations that triggered her feelings and how to cope with them.

Don’t feel like you have to commit to one journal style right away. You can start journaling and figure it out as you go. So for now, just relax and enjoy the journey

Would You Like Ghostwriting?

If you like writing, you may have entertained the idea of becoming a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter writes on spec for other people, usually without credit. The person who contracts the writing is usually credited as the author. That fact is often a stopping point for many writers who dream of fame and riches. They like seeing their name on a byline and feel sick thinking of doing all that work and not getting credit.

For others, that idea sounds great. Get paid to do something they love and stay in the background, awesome. Many introverts love the idea of ghostwriting. But, you don’t have to be an introvert either to love ghostwriting. Let’s look at some pros and cons of working as a ghostwriter so that you can decide for yourself whether you’ll love ghostwriting or not.

Let’s start with the cons of ghostwriting and get those out of the way shall we:

You Won’t Get Credit

This can be both a blessing and a curse. It can be hard to work on something using all your skills and then get no credit. But, did you know that this is not uncommon? It’s not theft. It’s not wrong. It’s very common. There are ghostwriters in every single field and it’s totally acceptable. There are even ghost designers.
If you are a designer and work for a big fashion house and design something, it’s credited to the house, not you. If you write software for Microsoft or Apple guess what, it’s not credited to you, it’s credited to them. There are writers for NASA who get no credit for their work other than payment. This is how the world works and has always worked. If you get paid enough, do you really need credit?

It’s Not Always Books

Sometimes you won’t get to write books. This is a con to some people. Sometimes the writing you do will be…should you think it…boring? It may be technical writing. It may be blog posts about a topic you find mind-numbing. Of course, you don’t have to take on topics you don’t like writing about. However, by learning to write well about something you don’t enjoy, you will improve your writing exponentially.

Finding Clients Can Be a Challenge

It’s hard to get testimonials as a ghostwriter. Mostly because people don’t typically admit that they used a ghostwriter. However, there are cases where someone will give you credit and a testimonial. You should make it a habit to ask every single time you work for someone to either give you credit with a discount or to provide a testimonial of some kind.

You’ll Have Strict Deadlines

When you are a ghostwriter you’ll be working on deadlines. These deadlines usually are strict and usually cannot be changed. That means you’ll have to be disciplined in your writing timelines and get work done on time. This is a con but it’s also a positive. If you want to learn how to write on spec on deadline ghostwriting will train you to do that. This can only pay off for you because the faster you can get work done the more clients you can take on. Additionally, it will help you when you are writing for yourself too.

You’ll Have a Boss (sort of)

When you are a ghostwriter you work for yourself. You are a business owner. You can think of yourself as the owner of a ghostwriting firm. In fact, if you get enough work you can hire other writers too. But, you will have people who are paying you that are like a boss. Your clients will expect certain things in certain ways at certain times. You’ll have to answer to them and that can be hard sometimes.

Researching is Part of The Job

Many people like to write but they don’t like to do research. As a ghostwriter creating content around someone else’s idea you’re going to have to do research. In fact, sometimes the research part takes longer than the writing part. If it’s a particularly boring topic for you it may be more exhausting than something you like. But, if it’s something you enjoy you may get sucked down the rabbit hole and spend too much time on research. Set time limits.

You Have to Let Go of Your Ego

Sometimes you’ll write something for someone else that is truly amazing, and you may feel some pain at letting it go. But, try to get pleasure out of the fact that people will still get value from it whether you get credit for it or not. You are going to get paid, and that is a type of credit. You’re also getting the experience and knowledge which is also an important factor to consider.

Now let’s move on with the pros of ghostwriting:

Most Authors Don’t Get Rich

The truth is, most traditionally published authors never sell more than 3000 books. The likelihood of you selling enough books that you publish in your own name to make a living is low, and it’s much less likely that you’ll become rich. That’s not to say you’re not a great writer, or that it’s impossible – not at all – but if you aren’t already famous it’s almost like winning the lottery to truly make it big in today’s book market.

You Can Do Both

What’s awesome is that if your goal is to make an income with your writing, ghostwriting can be that career for you. Many ghostwriters make six figures a year doing what they love. Plus, it doesn’t stop you from pursuing your dream of making it big as an author either. In fact, ghostwriting can free you up to become the famous author you always dreamed of being. Not to mention the fact that your writing will improve while getting paid up front for it.

Ghostwriters Are Multitalented

If you are good at writing, listening, project management and understand the publishing industry you’ll make good money in the ghostwriting field. You may even be able to get work with an agency. But, even if you have none of that there are plenty of bloggers, internet marketers, and others who need ghostwritten content. Enough of them that you can make good money writing if you can write at the 10^th grade level about a topic.

Make Money Without Giving Up Your Dreams

If you like making money, like writing, and enjoy being of service to others and helping them make their dreams come true you’ll likely love ghostwriting. This is especially true if you’re an introvert who just likes writing but would rather let other people have all the attention. But, as mentioned above, that’s not really a necessity because being a ghostwriter can finance your bigger dream to become a famous writer.

Hone Your Craft While Earning Money

In many ways being a ghostwriter can allow writers to gain the freedom to hone their craft and become better writers. No matter what your goal is there really is no downside of being a ghostwriter despite the cons you read above. Whether you hope to make a consistent living, become a better writer, or someday publish your own work it’s all possible with ghostwriting.

You Can Leave the J.O.B. Behind

One thing that often gets in the way of realizing a dream is a job that keeps you stationary working typical hours for someone else. Often not even doing anything close to what you wanted to do. If you have a job that has nothing to do with what you want to do with your life it can cause you to lose hope. But, when you have a job that is working in the area you need to improve, such as writing skills, you’ll be able to make everything you do count.

As you can see there are quite a few things you need to think about if you have a dream of being a ghostwriter. You know yourself best, after all. Write down in your mind the good and bad points of ghostwriting, determine a potential niche, and give it a try. You may find that you love it. You may find that it’s not for you. But, at least you tried.

With my new ebook, Get Started in the Ghostwriting Business, you'll get a deep dive into what it takes to become a ghostwriter, how to find ghostwriting jobs and much more.
Here are some of the topics you'll find in the report:

• Pros and Cons of Becoming a Ghostwrite
• Hot Niches for Ghostwriters
• Specialized Ghostwriting Topics that Pay More
• Groups and Organizations that Support Ghostwriters
• What Your Ghostwriting Website Needs
• Creating a Social Media Presence for Your Ghostwriting Business
• How to Get Paid as a Ghostwriter

You'll also receive a Launch Prep Checklist so you don't miss a step along the way and a Promotion Checklist to get the word out about your new business.

Becoming a Ghostwriter is within your grasp! Click here to get started:

Different Types of Journals

When it comes to journaling, your first thought might be of a diary with a lock and key. Maybe you kept one as a kid that you guarded from your sister or perhaps you’re a free spirit who’s never seen the point in keeping a journal.

No matter which category you fall into, you should know there are many different types of journals. In fact, you can create a journal for just about any activity you do. And depending on your business, you can use them as fodder for marketing content! Here are some of the most common ones…


Travel Journal

A travel journal is the perfect way to capture all of the adventures you’re having. You can journal about which cities you’ve visited, which hotels you stayed out, who you met, and what you did on your trips.


Using a travel journal can help you remember important events that you don’t want to forget like how amazing you felt when you learned to surf or how much fun you had when you finally mastered the art of skiing.


The network marketing company I am part of has a travel division.  So this is a natural for me when I am looking for inspiration for content.  But it also helps with my overall content.  Nothing like a few well-placed travel "lifestyle" posts to pique curiosity and spark some engagement!

Daily Life Journal

Some people like to record their daily life in a journal. This might include writing about current projects, a fight with your spouse, or a kind act a stranger did for you on the subway system.

You may also find yourself drawn to a daily life journal during an important season in your personal life like an engagement, a new baby, or the home-buying process. These events can bring up a lot of emotions and it can be helpful to process them in the privacy of your journal.


This is exactly the type of journaling I was doing when I had the revelations mentioned in my previous post on journaling.

Prayer Journal

If you consider yourself religious or spiritual, you may like the idea of keeping a prayer journal. Many people who participate in this practice will record what they prayed for as well as the date of their request.

Later on, they can go back and add how that request was answered. This can be a wonderful way to grow closer to God or the Universe, depending on your beliefs. It can also be a source of comfort when you look back later to see how many situations turned out for the good.

Business Journal

Another type of journal that you might enjoy keeping is a business journal. With your business journal, you can record your work projects, plan new products, or brainstorm new ways to market your services.

It can also be useful for generating ideas or coming up with solutions to problems you’re facing. You can also use it to consider what new goals that you might want to pursue and how you could accomplish them.

Bullet Journal

A bullet journal is a special type of journal that allows you to track many different areas of your in life in one convenient space. Inside of it, you can keep lists, make notes, and create plans. The idea is that you write down short phrases or “bullets” to help you remember important dates, manage your to-do list, and keep you on track with your goals.

The advantage of using a bullet journal is that it can be customized for your life. So if you want to keep a list of the books you’re reading, how many steps you took today, and what knitting project you’re working on, you can easily do that.

Bullet journals can take a few minutes to set up. But there’s plenty of inspiring ideas on social media sites like Instagram. Just look up #bulletjournal or #bujo and you’ll discover all of the ways you can decorate a bullet journal.

The wonderful thing about journaling is that there are no rules. You can create the journal you want and customize it to fit your life.

Create the Life You Want through Journaling

I love my life. I have a supportive husband, great kids, and adorable grandkids. I live in my dream home that my husband and I are slowly renovating. I am active in my community and feel connected to a large network of friends.

But lately I've been restless. My business is growing steadily.  We have the time an money to travel and do the things we've always wanted. Still, I sometimes wished for something more fulfilling. I just didn’t know what that might look like.
 

Journal for Personal Growth
 

When I finally voiced this thought on Facebook, a friend told me to begin journaling daily. At first, I struggled to journal. Then I began to describe my restlessness and desire for something with more substance. I journaled about the jobs I've worked over the years, describing which tasks had made me happy and which I avoided.
 

The more I wrote, the more I discovered I wanted something more creative. At the same time, I also noticed the times I was most happy was when I was surrounded by others, learning and teaching. So, I dusted off the old "It Should Be a Dog's World" endeavor and am once again designing merchandise for that ecommerce site. I have also started painting.  No dreams of becoming a great artist!  This is purely for pleasure!  But it satisfies the creative part of my soul. And within a few weeks of starting this process, I knew I'd found the new path I wanted to pursue—bringing women together for growth, development, building relationships and FUN!
.

Journal for Self-Discovery
 

Journaling can improve your life in so many ways. But one of the most important benefits is that it helps you discover yourself. You learn more about what you like and what you don’t. You begin to understand how you’re wired and what you want to create more of in the world.

But that’s not the only thing that journaling is good for. It can also help you set new and exciting goals. Maybe, like me, you’re stuck in a rut and wondering what the next step is. Maybe you feel overwhelmed and want to get clarity before you make your next move.

Journal to Brainstorm Solutions
 

You may already be clear on what you want to create more of in the world or know your goals. But you’ve encountered obstacles when you’ve tried to pursue what you want or you’ve faced a significant setback.
 

Journaling can still be helpful for you. Often, writing out what you’re experiencing can lead to new breakthroughs that you hadn’t considered before. This is because journaling encourages you to see your situation in a new light.
 

Use journaling to chart a different course, adjust your sails, or lean into a new adventure. You just might discover something new about yourself or the world around you!

What My Parents Taught Me About Money

"Money doesn't grow on trees." 
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
"Go to school, get a good job.  That's how you make a good living."

                             --Lessons from my dad

"It's impossible to keep to a budget when you don't make enough money."
"People like us just aren't meant to be millionaires."
                             --Lessons from my mom


If there is one thing I learned from my parents, it was how to be poor.  We were.  Poor.  Like potato soup for dinner poor.  Having to choose between heat and food poor.  And it wasn't because they didn't work.  Granted my dad had a problem with his vision that prevented him from ever driving or being able to do many jobs.  But he did work.  And if overtime was offered, he was there.  I remember many days of him walking miles to work, putting in a double shift, and then walking home.


And my mom worked.  Not as hard as my dad, but she still made okay money. 


The reason we were poor was simple.  Neither one of them knew what to do with money. 


My dad was a bit better at managing than my mom.  But because of his disabilities, he had been told for so long that he was slow, he believed it and so gave his paycheck to my mom every week.  And as long as she gave him some to spend on a few beers after work or a cup of coffee in the cafeteria, he never questioned what she did with it.


My mom couldn't manage money at all.  Not because she was incapable.  She was very intelligent.  I have no idea why she did the things she did. 


I think the best example was when she received a sum of money for a legal settlement.  The house needed repairs.  Bills needed to be paid.  The car needed work.  So what did she do with it?  Bought my daughter a registered English Setter.  Bought another dog for my sister.  Bought "antiques" for herself.  And took everyone - the entire extended family - out to dinner.


These are the role models I had when it came to handling money.  Work hard.  Spend what you make on whatever makes you happy.  Don't ask questions. 


Fast forward to the start of my entrepreneurial journey. 


I had to spend some money to get started.  That's to be expected.  But I had all these conflicting messages that had been drilled into me since birth.


"I need to spend money to make money.  But money doesn't grow on trees.  If this doesn't work, I will have lost that money.  A penny saved is a penny earned.  Besides, people like me aren't meant to be rich.  So what am I doing?  What if it doesn't work?  I'd better not buy the (training, coaching, tool, equipment...whatever) I need.  But now I feel depressed and a failure.  I think I'll go buy something for my kids or my husband to make me feel better.  Crap!  I spent the money anyway only now I don't have anything constructive to show for it.  I guess I better buy the (training, coaching, tool, equipment, whatever) I need after all.  I need to make up for what I just foolishly spent.  I know the bills are due.  But I can catch up on them next month with all the money I'm going to make.  But wait...what if I don't make any?  People like me aren't made to be rich.  Maybe I'd better just forget it.  But I already bought the thing.  And while I was struggling to decide whether it was worthwhile to try to succeed, a month has gone by and I haven't made any money, and mom was right, and the bill collectors are calling, and maybe if I just get that book or that course it will make a difference but what if it doesn't.  I know, a new pair of shoes will cheer me up and now I have even less money...."


And on and on and on in a never ending cycle.


Sound familiar?  I'm willing to bet there are more of you that can relate to this than would care to admit it.  Many of us grew up being "programmed" with "unprosperous" messages.  Money is hard to get.  Successful people are just lucky.  Or smarter.  Or better.  Life isn't fair.  And many of us still subconsciously carry those messages with us today.


These messages can hamper our success.  We may want to start a business.  "Go to school, get a job", says the voice in our head.  We may want to invest in our own development.  Whether it's something as big as private coaching or as small as a book on something we want to know, the message in our head is the same.  "Money doesn't grow on trees.  A penny saved is a penny earned."  And besides..."PEOPLE LIKE US WEREN'T MEANT TO BE RICH!"


I've had to work hard at overcoming all of the negative programming I received about money.  It's hard.  I still catch these thoughts flashing through my mind from time to time.  They are immediately banished when I become aware.  But how much did they impact my decisions before I realized it?


So what do we do to combat our negative programming?  Here's some tips:


1.  Be aware.  That's the first step.  Acknowledge that you do it and make a note, mental or otherwise, every time you catch yourself.


2.  Identify where the thoughts are coming from.  For example, the "people like us weren't meant to be rich" comes straight from my mother and has no basis in fact.  There are people in my family that have done quite well.  Why can't I?


3.  Turn it around.  Whenever you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, replace it with the opposite.  "Money doesn't grow on trees" becomes "I am prosperous and have more than enough to meet my needs."  "People like us weren't meant to be rich" becomes "I am a 6-figure earner."  When I catch myself about to make a poor spending decision (like another pair of shoes or a dog!), I remind myself that I am not my mother and I now make smart money decisions.


The lessons our parents taught us don't have to become part of who we are.  Keep the good stuff they passed on.  Replace the negative.  Positive self talk and affirmations can help you reframe your thinking. 


Ready?  Repeat after me.


"I am prosperous and have more than enough to meet my needs.
"I am a 6-figure earner."
"I will make more money this month than last."
"I effortlessly attract abundance."
"I am finding new income streams."
"I use money to create a better life."
"I release my money worries."
"I am financially empowered."
"I enjoy making money."
"I will have zero debt."
"I look at my finances without fear."
"I make money while I sleep."
"I am going to make a crap-ton of money today!"
"I am smart when it comes to making important financial decisions."
"I have money making ideas all the time."
"I have wealth in all areas of my life."
"I am worth the money I charge."
"I have multiple streams of passive income."
"I am a rich, powerful woman" (Or man)

Revive and Thrive! Meet Lisa Price!

I've been going through some stuff lately.  Health concerns with my grandson.  Mother-in-law who is recovering from a stroke.  And lots of travel for those as well as my business.  It's enough to make a girl crazy!  Which is why I'm so glad I have friends to keep me going.  Friends like Lisa Price.  She has been through some "stuff" of her own.  And she uses her experience to teach others how to revive and thrive!  Just what I need!  Everyone, meet Lisa Price!

 

 

1. Lisa, tell us about yourself.

 

I’m a ‘do-er’. I have a creative instinct which is a therapeutic way for me to focus.

 

I enjoy making things with skills I have developed over the years, especially since I was diagnosed with heart failure.

2. Tell us about your business

 

I create genuine gemstone jewellery that has physical and mental healing benefits. The natural elements within the stones contain vibrations from the earth with colour and pattern that make every stone unique. Jewellery containing natural gemstones is an attractive way to carry natural support for healing.

I wanted to take healing a step further and introduced coaching for women to overcome illness, to not let illness define you and to inspire women to pursue their dreams.

 

3. Why did you start your own business?

 

I began making jewellery as a pass time while I recovered from a heart attack a few years ago. The ability to lose myself when creating jewellery helped me to overcome my anxiety and depression.

 

I received admiration and requests to make jewellery for others too.

When I was made redundant I was not mentally prepared to face the stresses of work which I had previously experienced, and was too qualified for work that my body could cope with. I saw an opportunity to make circumstance work for me and took it.

4. How did you choose this particular niche?

 

I’ve been in the position of needing support following illness. It can be a hard step to seek counselling, but when you do it means you’re ready to talk. The down side is that there is a waiting list for counselling, first to receive your initial call of assessment to join the waiting list, and then another 10 weeks or so for the counselling process to start. This waiting period is frustrating as you’re ready to talk and no one is listening. With my coaching, you don’t have this waiting period. You receive three months of transforming support as soon as you’re ready.

5. What do you like most and least about being your own boss?

 

Working from home gives me freedom to start my day early and to work late when inspiration hits. It also means that if I’m having a period of excessive tiredness I can adjust my schedule, and pick up the pace on my better days.

 

Avoiding distractions can be tough though when you scheduled admin for the day and a jewellery design is bursting to leave your mind.

6. What personality traits and skills are needed to run a business?

Passion and motivation keeps you interested in what you are doing, while organisation helps with the detail stuff. I am empowered to use my experience with coaching as life immediately after illness is diagnosed is so unfamiliar and you can lose sense of who you are. With jewellery, style can be adapted to suit changing fashions and individual personality, which is why I love creating bespoke pieces.

7. What has been the most difficult part of being an entrepreneur?

 

Having clarity about what I share and who I am serving. For a long time this wasn’t clear and I struggled with direction.

 

I have felt much more comfortable addressing the troubling doubt of angst we feel since discovering that my niche is ‘overcoming illness’. I too have lived under that cloud of self judgement and I will happily share my experience to inspire other women to overcome their illness too.

8. Do you have any resources that you have used to build your business that you would recommend?

Join groups of like minded people and introduce yourself, join conversations, share experiences and create value. The lessons you learn will build your confidence and generate ideas and new ways of thinking.

9. Do you have any tips to share on promoting yourself?

Be the nice version of you and do not pretend to be something that you’re not.

10. What other advice would like to share with someone starting their own business?

 

Research your audience and give them what they want. Don’t fuss about the prettiness of anything, and don’t wait for perfection. Show up and deliver quality.

 

11. How can we contact you to learn more about your products and services?

 

Through my website...

 

I’m on Facebook talking about ‘overcoming illness’ at lisalureviveandthrive and explaining the benefits of healing jewellery at lisalujewellery.

You can also email me at lisa@lisalu.co.uk if you want to chat with me about any of these, I’d love to catch up with you there.

12. Is there anything else you would like to share?

 

You are amazing at what you do. Share your experience so we can all learn.