Our brains are designed to keep us safe from harm, therefore we reach a certain age (around 40ish for most of us) where instead of thinking what is ahead, we base our future endeavours on what we have achieved in the past.  Our past provides comfort and makes us feel safe.  As it is the brains job to ensure we stay clear of danger it likes us to stick with the familiar. 

The problem with this is, deep inside there is still that 20 something woman, saying "well, come on what’s next!"  That same person that got us through uni, found our life partner, decided having kids would be an adventure, started an exciting new career – she is still in there wanting to bust out. 

So, what happens is the protective brain kicks into gear and starts telling you things like, you’re too old to start something new, stay safe! You can’t possibly lose weight – you haven’t in the past, stay safe! Don’t follow that dream, just keep doing...

Keeping a journal is a fantastic way to get to know yourself.  It reveals your deepest thoughts and feelings, helping you to really connect with who you are.  You’ll discover things about yourself you never knew before and in turn this can help you to discover what you really want in life.

However, starting a journal can be pretty daunting.  It’s difficult to know where to start and how to use it for self-discovery purposes.  If you are struggling, here you’ll learn more about how to use a journal to discover yourself.

Writing down your fears and doubts

There are numerous ways you can use a journal for self-discovery purposes.  Using it to write down your fears and doubts in one of the best ways you can start.

The trouble with fears and doubts is, they can manifest into much bigger problems in your head.  When you bottle things up they can start to feel a whole lot worse than they really are.  So, writing them down not only gets...

As we begin the new year and people are preparing their new journals (ahh is there a better feeling than opening a fresh blank page in a new journal!) a lot of you are thinking about what you want to achieve in the new year.  We often like to allocate a word or phrase to the year that gives us some focus and sets our intentions for the 12 months ahead.  This becomes our Mantra. 

What is a Mantra?

The word Mantra is derived from two Sanskrit words—manas (mind) and tra (tool). Mantra literally means “a tool for the mind.”  Historical Mantra’s have been used during meditation to raise vibration through the repetition of the sound or phrase.

Your Mantra should be a word that resonates with you, an affirmation, a war cry or a go-to phrase to repeat when you are not feeling inspired. 

Do you need a Mantra?

Of course not, but once I tell you the benefits of having and repeating your mantra, you may be asking yourself how you...

We have discussed why a Gratitude Journal is a good place to start.  However if you are struggling to come up with three things that you are grateful for or your want to write more than a quick list, here are 30 Journal Prompts to help you on your way.

1. What made you smile today?
2. What’s your favourite colour – can you see something that colour? How does that make your feel?
3. Describe a friend you are thankful for – perhaps send them the description!
4. Has someone helped you this week – what did they do?
5. Name a place that makes you feel happy, describe how you feel when you are there.
6. The favourite aspect of my personality is…..
7. A task I enjoyed doing today is ……
8. Name a song that improves your mood.
9. Look around your room, what item brings you pleasure?
10. What are you thankful for today? List three things
11. What is your favourite food?
12. 3 things you love about your spouse/child/friend/yourself
13. I am thankful for my ability to …..
14. What...