Take Action: 4-Step Daily Journaling Exercise

Do you know what you want out of life? Deep question. I know. But what motivates you? I didn’t always know what I wanted – sometimes, I’m still trying to figure it out. I went through a time of confusion and felt very lost. I had a job I hated, a friend group that made me feel more stressed than happy, and a relationship that wasn’t going anywhere. I really needed a change because even though I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted, I did know that I wasn’t happy with my path. So, I did something about it. I talked to a Psychic, and she gave me a journaling assignment.

There are plenty of different types of journals; daily journals, future self journals, gratitude journals… the list goes on. But in my case, my Psychic told me to write down what I want, what’s holding me back, and one step I can take to move in the right direction.

TBH, I wasn’t thrilled with her guidance. I just wanted answers about my future, not homework. But I decided to take her advice (so glad I did!), and looking back now at my journal entry, nearly everything I wrote down has happened or is in motion. All because I took action on my own life. Do you want to give it a try? Here’s how it works: 

Find Your Journey with Journaling  

Get in a comfortable, quiet space, free of distraction. I did this in my bed right before lights out. Hold your journal in your hands, take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and think about what you need. You can even call on your angels or spirit guides to look over you as you write. 

Step One – Format Your Journal Entry 

On a blank sheet of paper, make three columns. From left to right, give each column a header – What I Want, What’s Holding Me Back, Next Action. 

Step Two – What I Want  

Your first column What I Want, is space to down your dreams, goals, and aspirations. Long-term or short-term, there are no rules for what you put in this column. For me, my short-term goal was to make new friends/meet like-minded people, and a long-term aspiration is to write a book. While there are no rules or limitations, I did find that less is more and focusing on my MVP of goals helped me stay focused in my next actions. 

Step Three – What’s Holding Me Back 

Kids, money, job, life – what’s holding you back from going after your wants? In the second column, What’s Holding Me Back, jot down the roadblocks preventing you from going after your goals for each bulleted want. For example, I want to make more money, but my no room for growth job holds me back. Focus on the #1 thing that’s delaying your progress. If you could change that one thing, then the door would open. Because there will always be other factors in the way, but by making small changes or switching up your routine, perhaps those “other” factors can make room for your ambitions.

For me, I wanted to meet more like-minded people. Many things in my mind were holding me back from this – anxiety, uncertainty, other relationship priorities, etc. But the #1 roadblock for me was time. Between a full-time job, a new baby, a spouse, a home to care for, finding the time to get involved in a new community seemed unreachable. 

Step 4 – Next Action  

This is where we get into future self journaling! Ask yourself what action do you need to take to reach your want or get the wheels in motion? Really think about this one. What would be an attainable next step you can take? For a long-term goal, such as writing a book, my next action would be to gain more writing experience. Perhaps by blogging more or taking on a freelance writing opportunity. Bigger goals often require steps and personal growth before you’ll be ready to achieve them. By taking smaller actions, you can build it up, and when the timing is right, everything will fall into place. Focus on the now. What can you do tomorrow to build momentum on short-term and long-term wants? 

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Into Your Journey 

It’s easy to write things down. The hard part is showing up. Now that you have a list of next actions, the next step is to actually act on them. Stepping out of your comfort zone can feel scary, but it is necessary for growth. This doesn’t mean run out tomorrow and do everything at once. Take a breath and start slow. And if you need guidance or are questioning the validity of your “want,” I recommend talking to an Empath to go deeper into your thoughts and emotions or a Clairvoyant reading to see what this future outcome may look like. 

It’s Your Path!  

In this life, you'll be presented with many paths. And sometimes, an experience will inspire you to look at things differently or move in a new direction. After I had my son, I considered seeking out education to become a lactation consultant. I know that my purpose is to help people, and the idea of supporting a vulnerable new mom in her journey of motherhood ignited a fire within me.

However, my goal is to write a book. And while writing and a medical career are two different paths, perhaps they'll intertwine somehow. Even though being a lactation consultant seems far off from my original plan, I still wrote this down in my journal as a want. My point is. Don't be rigid. You have the power to create anything you set your mind to. Who knows? Maybe one day, I'll write a book about motherhood.  

Get Supported 

If you’re uncertain about your path or need intuitive direction, talk to a Psychic about it! I suggest trying this journal exercise and then calling your Psychic and talking about your goals. For me, I asked my Psychic if they see me writing a book in the future. Actually, I asked a few Psychics about this because I was curious if there would be consistency in their answers. In their own words and wisdom, they all told me to start small. The word “blogging” was brought up multiple times. This confirmed that I am on the right path, and my actions are moving me in the right direction. Are you ready to find yourself? Go for it! 

Xo.  
 
Samantha 

References: 

https://www.lifehack.org/410830/5-tips-to-journaling-your-way-to-life-purpose-and-meaning 

https://www.everythingabode.com/journal-prompts-reconnect-purpose/ 

Read more articles by Your PathForward Blogger Samantha.

“If you’re feeling inspired, I recommend chatting with a Psychic who specializes in this area of expertise. And remember, YOU are smart, strong, and capable of anything you set your mind to!” – Your PathForward Blogger Samantha