Throughout my adult life I’ve had a love hate relationship with journaling.
I have tried several types of journals - prompts for everyday - free verse - stream of consciousness - lists - unsent letters just to name a few. I’ve used lined journals, blank page journals, mini-sized journals, and fancy leather bound journals.
Through all of this I’ve learned a couple of lessons, first I find handwriting my journal works better and yet when I’m on a roll I can’t read my writing because I think faster than I write. Secondly, developing a consistent style and time for journaling just isn’t my thing. Now in my late 60s I’ve come to recognize what works for me. Periodically creating a stepping stone journal entry.
My interest in journaling became more acute when I worked with individuals who were presently incarcerated. I started to explore different strategies, and different styles. Through that exploration I found a book that has been very helpful to me and others - Journal to the Self: Twenty-Two Paths to Personal Growth, Open the door to self-understanding- by writing, reading, and creating a journal of your life. By Kathleen Adams, M.S.
In it Kathleen shares several ideas to “...facilitate holistic mental health and self-reliance…” Like almost everyone who writes about journaling, Adams references Dr. Ira Progoff who debuted his Intensive Journal Workshop™ in 1966. In particular I have found the Stepping Stones journal to be one that I can do periodically to better understand myself. As Dr. Progoff said “Steppingstones are indicators that enable a person to recognize the deeper-than-conscious goals toward which the movement of his life is trying to take him.”
Stepping stones are significant points along life’s journey, the markers of times your life path paused and perhaps moved in a new direction. Stepping stones just are - they are neutral in nature, neither painful, or pleasurable, nor do they indicate progress or failure. They are the facts of life. Stepping stones are clearer when you pause and look back and seldom remain the same. You can create a journal entry today and next week life may have shifted, your focus may have changed and the entry will be different.
Here's How
Start by listing 12 significant life markers. You can begin randomly and revise to chronological order after. Use short phrases or sentences. Start with 1. I was born
What perspective you take is up to you, you can come from your heart/emotions “I felt loved and secure.”
You may focus on your thoughts/mind “I changed my way of thinking about behavior.”
Your intuition/spirituality, “I became a member of the church counsel.”
Or maybe you want to focus on your physical/sensate “I felt fat.”
The most important step I find is to review your list and look for themes or rhythms of your life. Was there a lesson you learned, or was there a lesson that keeps being repeated? Adams recommends using the phrase “It was a time when ….” to help you explore your stepping stones. Starting with this thought may bring back strong memories. Pay attention to how they manifest in your mind, body and soul.
Try using color, art, pictures, songs (create a playlist of your life) to represent your stepping stones.
Here is my list TODAY:
- I was born
- I lived a secure life in Friendly Hills
- I attended school in Germany with political attache families
- I belonged to & started a sorority
- I taught in multilingual diverse schools in the U.S. & abroad
- Married & moved back to Minnesota - started a family
- Became immersed in research on change & education
- Learned & studied Perceptual Control Theory
- Wrote several books
- Traveled the world as a consultant
- Taught Life Skills in a jail & prison
- Became a grandmother
- Worked in a private school as a pedagogical coach & counselor
Okay - so I did a farmer's dozen. I grew up selling my grandfather's sweetcorn to neighbors and he always taught me - a good salesperson gives more than they promised.
Ask me next week and the list may change. When I wrote this list images,memories and emotions came along with each item. You’ll notice I didn’t put my divorce on the list and it is rather focused on my career. A few years back when my children were younger I’m sure the list would have looked very different. It also didn’t include foreclosure of my house, even though at one point in my life I saw this as major stepping stone. Doing this exercise periodically is a good reminder that with time, distance and perspective our life journey can appear very different.
So start your list
1. I was born!
Additional Resources:
On Episode 4 Season 1 of Soulitude we share our person life journeys.
Here is a great video resource for further exploration: https://youtu.be/Lh7hfUMvzIA
Disclaimer this resource is intense with reference to drug and alcohol abuse - https://youtu.be/dArgOrm98Bk
Follow me in Instagram @miamiedguru on Twitter @miamiedguru. Listen to me on spotify @soulitude
Credits:
Created with images by drewrawcliffe - "Line of Circular Stepping Stones" • MarekPhotoDesign.com - "share your story word abstract in letterpress wood type with an antique journal, business, education, communication concept" • chotiga - "Newborn baby and parents putting their hands together with stack of hands . Newborn kind and Love symbol" • nopparat - "close up of Home agents holding house or home model in hand,real estate and property concept." • Artur - "Writing note showing New Mindset New Results. Business concept for Open to Opportunities No Limits Think Bigger Female human wear formal work suit presenting smart device" • Rawpixel.com - "Diverse religious shoot" • Vadym - "Overweight woman in sportswear drinking water after outdoor workout. Healthy lifestyle, hydration, weight loss, activity concept" • bedya - "Close up hands of female artist holding brush and palette with oil paints. Blurred background with easel in sunflower field" • Piman Khrutmuang - "Corn cob with green leaves growth in agriculture field outdoor" • dizain - "RESOURCES word cloud, business concept"