Journaling as a Tool for Change

Journaling is a great way to help yourself make positive life change. Journaling is as varied as personalities and does not have to be a prescribed means of putting pen to paper.

A journal is a great way to get all the busy ideas out of our minds, it is a place to work through challenges, a place to recount successes, and a place to clarify our path toward positive change. Engaging in a process that channels ideas and thoughts provides a platform for “actively thinking” and can provide insight that you might otherwise miss.

The frequency that journalers write is also as varied. Some people find that daily entries are a meaningful tool, others journal when they are facing a decision or some juncture in life. I have used this tool on different occasions, and find myself returning to it more frequently as I explore different and more creative variations of journaling.

Be creative, be true to yourself, and give journaling a try, you will be surprised what can come from it. Here are some brief ideas about creative journaling techniques.


Lists

A journal does not have to be written in sentence form with proper grammatical form. You do not have to create a “conversation” with your journal. Instead, try making a list of pros and cons about a decision. Or try making a list of possible barriers to making a life change. If you are trying to change your diet, list the things that could derail you. This
type of journaling works great for those who do not have a lot of time.

Scrapbook Journaling

A collection of clipped pictures or other memorabilia that represent your goals, your frustrations, or your plans can be placed on journal pages or even in a large sealable plastic bag with a date on it. The creative process of collection will allow your mind to work on the topic without the pressure of writing. This kind of “active thinking” works well if you are not fond of writing.

Drawing/ Sketching

For those who are drawn to artistic expression, a sketchbook can become a great journaling tool. Try doodling or expressing yourself by sketching objects or people. Try melding words and art together for new levels of expression or even try creating shapes with strings of words.

Letters

Write brief letters to yourself or pretend friend in a notebook or loose-leaf paper. In these letters include a few details about what is on your mind and why. Some like to create a running dialog, others jump about as new things pop into mind.

Looking Back

One of my favorite things about journaling is the ability to look back at where you were mentally and physically in the past. I happened upon a list of pros and cons from a decision I made 9 years earlier. In one way it felt like I was looking at the life of another person, so much time and so many things had passed since that time. That served as a great reminder of the power we have in the decisions we make. I made a positive change, moved to a new city, and have been delighted with the decision. It was pleasing to see that my decision making process was well on target and being on the other side of the decision made the reflection process very powerful.

Happy Journaling!

Sugar, Meet Your Replacement.

A troubling trend has developed in the US since the 1990’s, the replacement of sugar in processed foods with a chemically derived product of corn. This product, called High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been widely adopted as a cheap and manufacturer friendly replacement for cane sugar products.

The taste is similar, but the processing and possible health affects are vastly different than cane sugar. HFCS is produced from corn through a chemical and fermenting process and results in a fructose-glucose product. Corn used in the process may be genetically modified, a fact that is troubling to many healthy conscious eaters.
HFCS is abundant and nearly impossible to avoid. After taking a no HFCS dietary position, I became aware of just how hard it is to eliminate. Try looking for bread or crackers that do not have HFCS. You will find that nearly 99% of the baked, fruit products, even spaghetti sauces on regular grocery shelves contain it. And probably the biggest culprit, soft drinks.

Most American made soft drinks list HFCS as the second or third ingredient, meaning that the beverage is composed largely of the corn product. HFCS is also lurking in a lot of other beverages, such as “fruit juices” that are marketed for kids. Start looking out for HFCS, I think you will be surprised too.

Why does this matter?

HFCS has been a hot topic in nutrition and health communities. Experts are still evaluating the dangers, but research has indicated that HFCS can contribute to obesity, osteoporosis, and metabolic disorders including diabetes, and has even proven to increase triglyceride levels which can result in heart disease.

What can you do?

Take a stand against this masquerading villain that can attack your health. Look for products that do not contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and be sure to praise companies that do not go the way of cheap, unhealthy sweeteners.

If you have trouble finding products that are HFCS free, try visiting health food stores or looking in your regular grocery for the health food isle. If you can’[t find the products you want try asking your grocer to stock specific items for this reason. Also, don’t forget that groceries can be purchased online, a good choice for rural consumers who do not have access to health conscious retailers.