Finding Joy in Your Sketch Journal
The purpose of this blog is to write about something that inspires you and me and anyone else that wants an ounce or more of creativity in our daily chaotic world. Why do you journal? For the fun of it? For the daily rhythm it provides? Or for the clarity that your soul seeks? What kind of journal do you use — a lined or blank paper journal… Sketch journal… Scraps of paper later taped to pages? Most importantly, what do you write about when you journal? Do you write about love, relationships, gratitude or health? What motivates you to journal on a regular basis? And what drives you to return to your journal when you have let the dust settle on its pages for weeks or months? Obviously, these are some things to journal about.
Last week, my best friend and business cohort, Anita Larson (http://www.arthonoringlife.com/) asked me to think about and then write a blog post about the different kinds of journals. I immediately thought about why people journal – and came up with the answer, “obviously they write for different reasons.” And then I thought about the kinds of journals. Oh my… in just a few minutes I came up with over 85 different kinds of journals you could write or use as part of your fun, rhythm and clarity. I won’t bore you with the 85+ types of journals that I listed last Thursday night in my journal, since it will give me an opportunity to provide you with more blog posts in the future – about journaling! Since I have been creating hand-crafted journals, writing about journaling, journaling myself and teaching classes and courses on the subject, I know there are many kinds of journals and many reasons for journaling.
When I wrote my 2nd book, “How To Live and Work Your Passion,” I designed the chapters so that you would journal your thoughts on numerous prompts centered around finding your passion, identifying your blocks of why you don’t live your passion and understanding what it means to truly live and work your passion – everyday! When I returned to my roots in 2001 and faced the challenges of the northeast culture (after living in Colorado for 20 years), journaling got me through many rough days and months that have now turned to the last 10 years of my life! Journaling became important to me, so much that when I moved to Pennsylvania, I purchased personalized license plates that say “JOURNAL.” Often people will ask me, what is the meaning of your license plates? My response today (and the day I ordered them) is, “to remind myself to journal everyday and to inspire others to do the same.”
For years I did morning pages, wrote during the day, jotted words that triggered a thought or inspired me to expand on an idea. Many nights I wrote in my gratitude journal (doesn’t everyone do this?), I kept a food journal (identifying food sensitivities and allergies) and a business journal filled with mind mapping; I have a special journal for writing ideas and article/newsletter and/or book titles. I always have a sketch journal in the works, since that is how I personally perfect my day via art. But the one journal that holds near and dear to my heart is my Joy Journal.
For years I wrote about happiness – defining it, identifying it, understanding what it really means to be “in the moment.” When I discovered it was joy that I was seeking and not happiness, I started a Joy Journal. It’s a small, wire bound book with a beautiful rose on the cover. Only measuring 5”x5” with lined paper, the entries have a very special meaning in my life. Therefore, my entries are not daily. My first entry was the inscription on the inside cover that reads, “Joy – a will of my soul and an act of my heart.” Periodically, I will read through my Joy Journal entries. I read these entries more than any other journal I have ever kept.
Sometimes, inspiration is a tall order. And the act of journaling can be overwhelming for some. I’m hoping this post will inspire you to create a special journal for yourself. Maybe it’s a “Joy” journal like mine, or maybe it’s a “Travel” journal – a special place that you write about your travels thus far and the places you hope to visit one day. Or … possibly it is a “Sketch” journal that captures your day in pictures. My recent hand-crafted Journals lends the opportunity to capture your day in words or pictures, sketching using pen, pencil or paint. I always carry a sketch journal with me and have pencil or pen handy no matter where I am. For short trips away from home, I also like to carry watercolor crayons, since I can use a small brush and a little water sitting in my car or on a bench. A Sketch Journal can be an absolute delight – sheer joy in the true sense – regardless of your skill level. Focus on your subject and sketch away… write a few captions… journal your thoughts… draw your emotions… Sketch and experience Joy! Hopefully, this post inspires you to create a few artistic endeavors through words, pictures or thoughts.
In the Spirit of Love and Light…
Rosemary Augustine
