Create the life you deserve

Really knowing what we want from life, is something many of us can struggle with. A great place to start our journey of discovery is by getting to know ourselves better and allowing ourselves to be guided by our strengths, passions, dreams and aspirations. In turn, this can enable us to find direction, achieve goals and really make time for what matters most - three guiding principles that are central to creating what we want in life. 

Some tips to get you started:

• Listen to your inner voice and believe in yourself. The creation of empowering beliefs and removal of self-limiting beliefs is vitally important to move you forward. Often, people don't even know they have self-limiting beliefs because they remain buried under the surface - but these obstacles can be a real hindrance to moving forward and fulfilling your potential.

• When you learn to prioritise and focus on what’s important – you feel satisfied and fulfilled. Time should be of service to you, not a drain and constant pressure. The more you engage with who you really are, the more you engage with the life you want.

• Goals, aims and aspirations help us to make progress. Whether they are big or small, they provide structure and lead us towards our objectives and things we want. Understanding how to set goals that are specific, meaningful, clear, realistic and timely are important.

Creative journalling offers the perfect way to explore all of this in a fun, relaxed and interesting way. It's a highly effective technique and when combined with creative visualisation, this powerful mix allows us to tap into our imagination to explore feelings, create direction and make changes. You could be forgiven for thinking that we all instinctively know what we think and feel, but many of us can lose sight of this in the hubbub of a hectic life, doing things by habit or living our lives in ways we do, because we feel we must. Creative journalling makes a space for thought and allows us to 'just be' and make time for discovery. 

Usually, when people think of a journal, they think of a diary or book of words, but a creative journal combines different mediums, words, pictures, doodles, graphics, textiles - anything you like that can be included in a scrap book. The actual process of creative journalling is therapeutic in its own right too - it can be done alone, but the dynamics of journalling with others is also great fun and very supportive. 

You can learn creative journaling in a workshop, but if you would like to have a go on your own, you might like to check out Shakti Gawain's book, Creative Visualization, which provides lots of tips and information. And here are a few things that I find really useful with my own journalling: 

Date it:

• So that you know when you thought and felt what you did.
• You will be able to reflect and recognise how things have evolved/changed.
• You will find it very interesting…especially as things change or possibly don’t!
• It’s a great way to keep track of your past and think about your future.

 Spend time with your journal, your thoughts:

• Sometimes, when things just aren’t happening for me, I’ll sit with my journal and simply ‘be’ with it. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how comforting and special that is.
• Recognise what has happened, what is happening or how things are changing.
• Give yourself a pat on the back.

 Be patient:

• Even five minutes of conscious positive creative journalling can balance out hours, days, even years of negative patterns.
• It has taken a long time to create your world the way it is now, so it may not necessarily change instantly... give yourself time.
• With proper understanding of the process and perseverance, you will succeed in creating what may seem like miracles in your life.

New Year/special occasions:

• I personally find this a strong and meaningful end to each year - a great close to the year gone by and a great start to the year ahead.
• Make it your own little private celebration; I accompany my session with a glass of wine, followed by a really nice meal, very close to the end of each year.
• Do a page or two on ‘what I’ve done this year’ and/or ‘what this year has been about’.
• Create another page or two ‘what I want from this year’.
• This can also be very strong at other special or significant times.

 Will you make 2017 the year you create what you want in life?