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Spiritual Journaling
Author: Catherine Franz

Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just wantto add your
spiritual postings in your regular journal, youwill want to read this.

Personal journaling supports our development and growth.But spiritual
journaling goes deeper. Spiritual writing isa reflection of our soul.
Like personal journaling it toois a tool for self-discovery, aids
concentration, is asafety valve for emotions, a training ground for
improvingthought to paper processing, and builds self-esteem
andconfidence.

Spiritual growth is not just about religion, it concerns alllife --
time, goals, relationships, work, politics, and ourinner life.
Spiritual journaling is a process where thepart of us that connects
with God, or our higher power,expresses itself. It is a process of
where selfishness canbe transformed into caring, rebellion into
obedience, anddespair into hope. It is with this connection that
personaldevelopment occurs.

Journaling is just one discipline to a greater path ofgrace. Prayer
and fasting are the other two. Thisdiscipline is a response to grace
not an alternative. It isalso an adventure in joyful freedom.

Have you ever been listening to your pastor or priest andyou zone out
briefly, hear something profound, and thensuddenly snap back? It's
there and then gone.

What about a time when you started crying and there wasn't areason?
The tears could have been triggered by words, aphrase, a visual from a
conversation, television program orcommercial, movie, or radio
broadcast. Apparently, therewas an emotional pull, do you remember
what it was? Did youever think of what actually trigger it?

It is my believe that these and other ways we receivesubtitle
messages, either from your inner spiritual self ora higher connection,
are guidance. God and the universetalks to us all day long but because
of our busy lives wedon't listen very well or stop and take notice of
what"really" just happened. Usually, we just push our way rightthough
the message, shrug it off to being tired, dismiss itas irrelevant, or
not having any time to address it.

But these do have meaning and it is important to recordthese, even if
on a napkin, and spend some quiet time withthem later in your journal.
Then ask our higher power forguidance and understanding. When was the
last time you didthis? Maybe you have never asked. Maybe its time to
renewthe experience.

In order not to repeat past events we study them. But do westudy our
day so that we don't repeat certain experiencesagain? Usually not.
What if you asked: "What occurred intoday's events that seem out of
the ordinary?" "Whatmessages appeared that were quickly tossed that
werespiritually based and could have additional meaning?"

For this very reason, not to repeat our mistakes and toimprove our
future that we should stop and ask. Throughouthistory we've been told:
"An answer cannot be received,until first we ask." I know this last
sentence must be aquote from somewhere but I couldn't find the source.

Do you read material that spiritually enlightens you? Agreat exercise
is to journal before you read the material.This will allow your soul
to reconnect with your mind, body,and spirit and enhance the reading.

What about journaling after or during the reading? Writingallows the
meshing of thoughts -- the authors, yours, andthe higher power. It is
a powerful connection. It is thebest way we can begin to see our path
and our purpose.

Dear Higher Power letters are my favorite. I feel like I'mtalking with
my best friend and trusted father When was thelast time you wrote to
him or her?

Many people tell me they only journal when they need to dumptheir
negative emotions. Yes, journaling can be a great usefor this,
however, journaling is actually so much more. Ifyou do find that your
entries are more focused on negativeaspects of life, I highly suggest
you change it. Since likeattracts like, you are opening the
opportunity to theuniverse to send the exact type of energy back to
you. Andwho wants more negative energy in their life?

If you must post journal entries that are negative, let mesuggest that
you don't stop there. Continue writingflipping to the positive side.
This maybe difficult atfirst but as it changes so will your attitude
about life.

Normally, people who don't journal often tell me that theydon't do so
because it is always negative. Who wants toreturn to something that is
negative? I surely would not.

Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.

Catherine Franz is a life and business coach living in Northern
Virginia. She has presented journaling workshops over 20 years.
Catherine has authored two great books on tips and techniques of
journaling. Copies available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com/Store/main.htm