Feel free to use these exercises in your own personal journal writing. You may choose to cut and paste them into your own Word document for a computer archive or print out one of these pages and keep them in your journal.

e often make decisions based on shoulds, unspoken assumptions about ourselves, and the advice of others. Changing your career and identity requires self-inquiry. It comes from the inside out.

Conversations with Wisdom
by Sue Meyn

Most of us are much wiser than we realize. I have a wise part of myself that seems to know things that the rest of me doesn't know - or forgets that I know. Sometimes I get really afraid about things like why my son isn't home yet or how we are going to find the money for a few extra large bills. What have learned to do is to try and get to the heart of my concern by asking my wiser self for information. By doing that often experience a shift in attitude that helps me move to a better place. You can do it too. Want to try?

First of all, think about any concern that you have currently: work, money, relationships-all that regular stuff that creates trouble for all of us at times. Choose your topic and write down your question. (You can use anything to write on and may find that you want to keep your journaling together in one notebook. Those three-ring binders are great for organizing loose papers and napkin notes. Make sure you date what you write so it makes sense to you later.)

If you are wondering about your choice of career, for instance, you may want to ask, "What is it that is most significant for me to be aware of today as I pursue my career?" Don’t try to be too specific and allow your questions be open ended. You may want to add, "Is there anything keeping me from moving forward."

Before you begin to write, close your eyes and imagine that you are turning to a great wise teacher·inside yourself. Close your eyes and breathe gently. Listen to your breath and tune in to your internal rhythm. Enjoy the freedom of putting your concerns on hold for the moment and feel the peacefulness of your wise and gentle teacher. As you imagine this wise figure before you, ask your questions and listen to the answers. Now, pick up your pen and WRITE! Set your timer for five minutes and open your wisdom door. Allow the wisdom to come pouring out. You will be surprised and impressed with your wisdom.

This exercise is a wonderful tool for relaxation and stress management.

Each of us has so much wisdom, creativity, and energy within. All we have to do is to practice tapping into it. Try it often. If you carry a tablet in your purse or briefcaseæor have a laptop, you can turn to your wisdom whenever you recognize the need. With steady practice one can gain insight, guidance, increased self-confidence and more of what one wants in life!

Pretty cool. And it doesn't cost a cent.

1. Frame the question. 2. Relax, breathe gently. 3. Ask your inner teacher the question. 4. Recognize what you have done, what you do know. To visit Sue Meyn’s Journal Magic or to subscribe to her weekly Journal Companion, click here.

Giving and Receiving
by Sue Meyn

There is something quite magical that happens when several people gather together to do journal writing. Of course writing alone is great, too, but a group seems to deepen and enhance the experience for everyone.

Yesterday a small group of us met and began our group by describing our lives----as though we had special glasses that allowed us to see only the up side, or more positive aspects, of what is going on in our lives. It was an interesting experiment, intended to shift consciousness and create an altered view of our lives. Tears began to emerge as we talked about our experiences.

Our next exercise came easily from this already softened place. The exercise was to imagine that you had only one gift that you could give and only one gift that you could receive. Who would you gift? And from whom would you want to receive a gift?

Our little group had profound thoughts come from this questioning and we all shared a quiet, thoughtful, love-filled time. It was as though we moved back to the simplicity of "how the world and it's people should be".

I hope you will consider these exercises---and if you have someone to share them with, even better.

Ive talked with a number of people, some of you on this list included, who use your journals as part of your business regime. I want to explore that dimension more. It is my belief that as we all search for ways to be more WHOLE that the journal---or whatever other name we can give it---can be of enormous help.

For those who havent yet tried it, let me suggest that you do a POWER FOCUS for about five minutes at the start of each day---which will help you to be more grounded andfocused. Try one when you return from lunch and whenever you find yourself distracted. What to write about? Keep it simple. Try writing about what you feel, whats pulling you from your work, just---whats going on? Take a moment to notice your increased attentiveness when you are finished---it will help you WANT to do the next one. The other suggestion I would have is to do a brief summary at the end of the day, again for just about five minutes.

You can do this in your planner, on your computer (use a disc) or in a regular journal. I call these Working Pages which are very different from Julia Camerons Morning Pages. They are at the opposite end of the spectrum in that they are quick, focused and interspersed during your day.

Busy Business
by Sue Meyn

I am in the middle of constructing an article, and from that a workshop, about using journaling in ones business. I wonder how many of you use your journal to support you at work? Often the journal is viewed as a soft kind of tool, suitable for home or coffee shop, but not really tough enough for the world of business.

I wonder if we arent overlooking a great addition to our world of work. We can start our day by doing a timed writing---for four or five minutes---and measuring how we feel as we get underway. As we greet our selves and honor our "inner" life, perhaps we will be more attuned to our feelings as we move through our day.

My life is eased, frankly, just by knowing that my journal is available. Its a great friend and offers me wisdom that is hard for me to "grab" when I just sit and think. It helps me to make decisions, to set aside worries and to creatively brainstorm. At the end of the day I can reflect on successes and disappointments and irritationsand it seems like I have plenty of those.

My suggestion for you today is to dialogue directly with your journal. Tell it what you need, how you feel and ask for some support. You could get specific and ask for some direction as far as using it in your daily work. Im going to do that now. (My hunch is that work and "life" arent really distinct, but weave themselves togetherand it is all grist for the mill.)

I hope that you try this dialogue and work at deepening your relationship with your journal on even another level. I would love to hear personal accounts of how your journal helps YOU with workand life, or what your journal says to you in your dialogue.

back to journaling exercises...

To visit Sue Meyn’s Journal Magic or to subscribe to her weekly Journal Companion, click here.