The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said, “life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards.”As Kierkegaard suggests reflection gives us clarity and can help us make meaning of our experiences. Writing can provide us with the space to set intention for reflection. The follow writing practices can help guide this process.
- Write down three personal commitments for physical, personal, professional and spiritual wellness monthly.
Map this out visually, if you can. Creating tangible goals in each dimension allows you think holistically and goal-setting is a proven key to long term success. If you like create a vision boardto help visualize the process.
- Keep a gratitude practice in a journal.
Keeping a gratitude practice in our routine has a profound impact on our psychological, physical health and even self esteem. Every day write down what you were gratitude for.
- Track worries in one section of a journal. Track alternate thoughts on the other side of the page.
Tracking worries can help improve quality of life and get you through the toughest moments. Tracking alternate thoughts to worries can help you shift negative, unproductive thoughts and implement practices that tune into alternate ways of thinking about difficult situations.
- Create a quote book. Read and reflect on these quotes in the other side of the page.
Keep a book of favorite quotes and get into a practice of jotting down these quotes as you come across them. Whether they be from books, movies, songs, or things friends and family say, keep a book of words, thoughts and inspirational messages that move you.
- Track intentions and daily practices for these focuses.
Set a daily intention. Ranging from compassion, to presence, to saying no and setting boundaries—intentions give us a change to clarify our focus. Journal your intentions and write down how you put this into practice. For instance if you practiced saying no, what did that look like? Did you say no to extra projects, tracking these practices help us see our progress.
If you’d like to talk about other practices that may be good for you, seeking professional guidance can help with clarifying personal goals. Please reach out here to discuss moving forward with therapy or coaching for long term personal fulfillment.
Stay well and kind!
Delia Berinde, MS, LPCC
Looking Forward Counseling