The wisdom gained
There is power in reflection. Why I read back into past journal entries. And you should too.
Perspective. Authenticity. Healing. Through trauma, I have gained all of these traits. They strengthen my life decisions and allow taking all perspectives and mindfully deciding what door to step through.
Writing down and setting intentions has been a powerful tool. Writing these intentions to follow through on and checking back in. Reviewing my journal from a year ago. Noticing the shifts.
I will look back on these intentions and follow through, watching them come to fruition.
Journaling and reflecting back on past journal entries has allowed me to jumpstart my path to perspective shifts and gaining wisdom from past experiences. Here are 4 strategies that are underestimated and have untapped power!
- Boundaries! Setting them and taking action in clarifying them. Reflecting upon them and curating them to support your well being and growth. Take into consideration when you’ve set a clear boundary with another person. About a phrase, a behavior or overall respect. When they get defensive or aggressive with your boundary, recognize this is their ego. Their ego is shouting from the rooftops. It alerts them of a change. Clear Communication using clear and respectful language to repeat the boundary calmly can be a powerful support.
- Journaling and reflection: Brain dumps or “soul writing” allows us to further process our triggers and gain more clarity of what is working and what has been met with limitation or obstacles. Reflecting back upon past journal entries to notice trends, what was supportive in completion of setting boundaries shifts in perspective of your thought pattern changes. I like free writes. Using bullet point journal techniques can also be supportive.
- Awareness and emotional awareness. In the moment reflection of discomfort in your body. What sensations are you aware of. What is your heart rate and breath rate telling you? How do these impact your emotions? Identify what triggers feelings of distress or discomfort in your home, workplace and relationships. Noticing what circumstances trigger these distress or discomfort feelings and write about them. Become your own detective. Reflection is powerful to support perspective shifting here.
- Setting up for success. Setting up your physical space and finding a supportive community. Identifying what relationships support and continue to ignite the fire from within. Which put the fire out? Physical space with additional visual clutter may trigger a distressed feeling resulting in procrastination. Could there be timers set to declutter and ground prior to a work session? This has been a tool supportive for focus and clarity. Allowing my processing to be clearer as my space and mind are clearer.
When we intentionally reflect, we grow. When we intentionally choose our values and strive to live by them, we grow. When we set clear boundaries and expect respect from those around us, we grow. When we initiate clarity of space and mind, we grow.
Through growth and self analysis, comes wisdom. It’s powerful. It’s so supportive for large decisions in our lives and feeling most confident in making them. It is profound to have these deep understandings and act with integrity. I recommend these 4 tools to support growth, use of journaling as a powerful shifting tool and the pathway to clarity and wisdom.
With gratitude,
Bethany Michelle
