In praise of putting pen to paper

Woman in blue sweater sat on her bed writing in her leatherbound journal

In recent years, our global society faced unprecedented challenges as the pandemic disrupted our lives, confining us temporarily to a world of isolation. While we savour the return to authentic human experiences, the echoes of that trying period linger. As we reclaim normalcy, now is the ideal time to carry forward lessons—best achieved by putting pen to paper.

Creativity is vital to our existence, whether expressed through gardening, cooking, reading or music. The joy of producing herbs, crafting recipes, composing music or reading inspirational stories is undeniable. Writing, especially journaling, provides a unique outlet that also amplifies our inner voice. Do you keep a journal?

male hand writing in notebook with pen

Why journaling?

Journaling, often considered a lost art form, might be cast aside as a relic of the past—a practice relegated to childhood. Yet, dedicating meaningful time to this age-old technique proves invaluable for mental well-being and fostering a deeper connection with oneself.

Putting pen to paper allows you to organise and clarify your thoughts, untangling the clutter of the mind and sharpening perspective. This can be an extremely cathartic and therapeutic experience.

Beyond serving as a mere record, a journal transforms into a repository of personal growth. In the years to come, reading and reflecting on past entries unveils behavioural patterns and tracks progress. These insights empower continuous self-improvement.

If you’re wondering what you should write about, Yoga For Good Foundation has some suggestions.

Write about gratitude

Start on a cheerful note and list two or three things you’re grateful for. Journaling gratitude shifts focus to an optimistic mindset. By reflecting on and acknowledging all the good things in your life, you enhance your overall perspective and nurture a more constructive approach to challenges.

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude has been associated with lower stress levels. Appreciating the positive aspects of your life actively creates a mental space that counteracts pressure and worry, contributing to better overall mental well-being.

Your gratitude is a tangible reminder, affirming your resilience in the face of obstacles. It amplifies your perspective by accentuating the positive and distinguishing it from the negative parts of life.

Man forcefully rolls the big rock on mountain

Record your challenges

Life is inherently complex, with its share of stress and problems – some beyond our control and others not. Nonetheless, journaling provides a healing avenue to clear your mind of worries and relieve any tension they may cause. When documenting challenges, it’s essential to avoid dwelling on them. Instead, use the process to purge and release.

With time, the documentation of your challenging experiences evolves into a valuable reflection, providing profound insights into your growth, strength, resourcefulness and the successful patterns employed in navigating difficult situations.

In your journal, instead of framing challenges as insurmountable obstacles, shift the narrative. You’re in control. Use language that focuses on solutions, lessons learned and potential areas for growth to empower you moving forward.

Woman enjoying nature

Set goals and affirmations

Set clear goals to anticipate and work towards. Achieving them will bring a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. Consider your desires for the day, week, month, year and even five years ahead and jot them down. A goal only becomes tangible when written. Then, develop a concrete plan outlining how you will attain your goals.

Affirmations are powerful statements that reflect positive beliefs about ourselves and our potential. They are concise, self-affirming phrases that will remind you of your strengths, goals and the changes you want to make.

Journaling goals and affirmations provides a private space to nurture confidence, foster a positive mindset and track personal growth and progress. This practice is simple but can be extremely transformative over the long term.

Celebrate the highlight of each day

One of our favourite practices is recording the highlight of each day. This not only teaches us to appreciate the often overlooked simple things but also creates a treasure trove of positive memories. Whether it’s a heartwarming conversation, a personal achievement or a kind deed from a stranger, chronicling our best moments helps us transcend the mundane.

The key to personal development can be found in our highlights; these snippets will reveal patterns of joy and progress.

Imagine flipping through the pages of your journal years from now, each entry holding a poignant reminder of precious moments. Life is a journey of progress and change; children grow, and loved ones may depart. That’s why our daily highlights transform into timeless treasures and profound legacies.

Connect with your true self through the transformative power of yoga

Each of us needs to spend quality time on ourselves. Whether through journaling or meditation, it all requires practice. The key lies in focusing and withdrawing from outer stimuli to discover your private inner space.

At Yoga For Good, we know journaling is an invaluable tool that promotes self-discovery. If this is new to you, start with just ten minutes a day. The number of insights you’ll gain will be surprising.

In a world rebounding from a global event, now is an opportune time for self-mastery and building confidence for the future – whatever it holds.

Connect with your true self on a regular basis by attending our free community classes.

For additional insights on journaling, as well as other valuable tools for self-connection, explore our Yoga For Good Foundation articles.

Community yoga classes

We are passionate about sharing the joy of practising yoga and offering you an opportunity to connect with your true self on a regular basis.
View previous classes or book now for our next class.

Free
3rd February 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm Sydney Time (9am WA time)

Nicky Smith – Dynamic Relaxation Yoga Community Class

Online Yoga Community Class Link

Meeting ID: 834 8185 1566
Passcode: 326861

Join Nicky to experience the Dru Yoga difference, finding the stillness within. Dru Yoga is a fresh approach to nurture your entire being, balance the nervous system and leave you feeling deeply connected and calm.

Stay cool and calm this Summer with Energy Block Release 7 or Dynamic Relaxation. This sequence is perfect for those hot days when you want to practice some slow yoga. Dynamic Relaxation is well suited for those with a busy mind and who have trouble settling into the stillness of relaxation. The focus is on the coordination of breath and movement in slow, subtle mindfulness, leaving you refreshed.

Nicky is a Dru Yoga Teacher, Dru Meditation Teacher, Dru Breath Coach and Mental Health Aware Yoga Teacher. Her business is True Equanimity Yoga, and her practice focuses on mental health and wellbeing or “innercise”. Nicky lives in Dalyellup, Western Australia and loves to spend her time walking in nature and fostering rescue kittens.

Free
13th March 2025 - 11:30am to 12:30nn

Melina Murphy – Loving Kindness Restorative Yoga Community Class

Online Yoga Community Class Link

Meeting ID: 838 7373 9503
Passcode: 767969

This loving-kindness yoga class is an extended version of Melina’s insight timer class, held weekly at 7 a.m. at the weekend and sponsored by YFG. The asana sequences are based on traditional yoga and guide our awareness to be super kind and loving to ourselves as we move through this restorative yoga practice.

We fall into Self-love as we move and stretch to open the body, mind and spirit to flow and dive into the deep well of happiness within.

Melina presented at our Annual Retreat 2024, where her joy brought us joy and laughter. She is a healer with thirty years of experience helping people create joyful wellbeing through counselling, herbal medicine, nutrition and yoga.

Melina fell in love with yoga as a teenager, and her passion is going strong. She has been teaching yoga since 2005 and has taught at festivals, in halls and rooms, at her local gym, online, and in her Natural Health Clinic on Djangadi Country.

Testimonials

Our sole mission is to create opportunities to do good for others through yoga.
And we’re making an impact.

A huge thank you to the Yoga For Good Foundation...

…for their incredible contribution to our Life Now Yoga and meditation programs!

This generous donation will mean we can buy new yoga equipment, run a new yoga class in Broome, and enhance our meditation program for cancer patients and their primary carers.

Cancer Council Western Australia

Sending out gratitude to the Yoga for Good Foundation.

Their grant is enabling me to offer FREE trauma informed therapeutic movement and relaxation to frontline mental health and social services staff in Bega.

Participants are really valuing the time out for themselves and experiencing integrated poly vagal theory. And I get to be in a teaching space, yay!

PremKranti Counselling

The generous grant we've been awarded from the Yoga For Good Foundation...

…allows us to reach more underserved and vulnerable community groups who can benefit from a trauma-informed yoga and embodied mindfulness practice at zero cost to the participants.

Some of the community groups we’ll be serving in the current months include 000 Foundation, Men’s Walk and Talk and WAGEC.

Yoga on the Inside