Why do we not take more time to observe and really see someone? We glance over a person’s face but then one hour later we can’t remember enough features to recognize them again when we see them on the street. We give everything and everybody what I call, the “big picture snapshot.” We don’t take the time for a focused observation to really look at the details which characterize one tree from another tree, one person from another person, one sunset from another sunset. We always act as if we are at 20,000 ft with a look time of 1/100 second and then our writing (and our knowing) is bland, neutral, and featureless.

I’m sure you have figured out the line “I See You” by now; it is the greeting of the Na’vi, the people of the planet of Pandora from the AVATAR story. Because, they really “saw” the person they were greeting; they noticed every detail and linked their whole being to each other.

How can you appreciate the uniqueness of God’s creations if you don’t focus on the minute features of them? If you don’t link to them and really See Them, not just Look at Them?

Try this “Really Seeing” exercise shown to me by Linda Beaureguard; all you need is a strawberry, your journal and to actively engage all of your senses.

1. Hold the strawberry at arm’s length. Look at it; notice green leaves, red color and globular shape. Turn it around and look at all of its sides. This is our normal viewing position except we are devoting more time to it. Write down in your journal your first impressions.

1. Bring the strawberry in to 12” away. Look at it now; notice shades of green leaves, shades of red color, some white color. Indentations or segments. Seeds on segments, color of seeds, shape. Write down in your journal your first impressions at this range.

1. Bring the strawberry in to 3” away. Look at it now. Rub your finger over it and record its texture. Smell it. How many leaves? Stem? Segments? Tip? Write down in your journal your first impressions at this range.

1. Take a very small bite. Taste it; what is its texture? Color of the hole left.  Smell it. Swallow it. Write down in your journal your first impressions after this observation.

1. Take a larger bite. Any differences? Write those down in your journal.

1. Eat the entire strawberry (not the leaves). Write down what you feel about this step; eating the whole fruit yourself.

1. Journal what you felt or learned about this entire observation experience after reading all of your writing passages.

The next time you are talking to a person or observing a flower or viewing a landscape, try Seeing and then Journal your observations the first chance you get.

© Copyrighted 2010. All Rights Reserved.

By Bud Katter

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.” – Ben Stein

The major source of a decay of personal energy in journal writing is caused by a lack of commitment to what we want. Most of the time we neglect writing down our SMART goal for our journaling effort and commiting to achieve that goal.
A SMART goal is one that is:
• Specific,
• Measurable,
• Attainable,
• Relevant and
• Time-bound.
Writing down your SMART goal is required to formalize those five elements. One way to do that is with the form I have provided below; you can just check-off most of your choices.

                 MY JOURNALING CONTRACT

Starting ___/___/___, I commit to journal every day for the next __30 days __60 days___More (specify)

I am going to journal each day (minimum) __ 5 mins __ 10 mins __ 30 mins ___ More (specify)

I am going to journal __ Within 30 mins of getting up __ Within 1 hour of getting up __ Within 1 hour before going to bed ___At a set time (specify)

I am going to journal __At home __At work __________At another place (specify) __Various (while waiting)

I am going to use this method to journal __Daily record of events __Reactions to events __Dialogues __Prayer __Interpret Bible verses _______________________Other (specify)

The tool I am going to use for my journaling is __Journaling software on computer __Wordprocessor on computer __Notebook __3X5 File Card _______ Other (specify)

The top three goals I want to achieve from my journaling are:
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
I am going to be accountable to _________________________ every _______________ for this contract.
My Printed Name ________________________________________
My Signature____________________________________________
Date _____________________

© Copyrighted. All Rights Reserved.

Why another journal and a totally different type of journal keeping, you say? Well, I’ve started so many journals before that I’ve never finished. During the day, there are lots of short times during the day that I could use to journal if I would just write two sentences. That journaling is not complicated and a very manageable task. I find it is like jotting down the small pieces of your life puzzle and later, at the end of the week when you reflect on the daily two sentences, you can discern the big picture, the meaning of it. Read More→

What does a “group” have to do with a singular activity like journal keeping? I maintain that a group is the best format to study journaling, share the entries in member’s journals and support each member in their journaling journey. The members of the group will motivate each other to enhance their journaling and each member will be available to hold the other members accountable to their journaling discipline. Read More→

Journals, pen strokes on paper or keystrokes on a computer, allow us a safe way to explore topics with ourselves. They are, in fact, a reflection of our soul on the mirror of life.

 Spiritual Journals give us a place to record our honest and vulnerable journey with God. We can record what God’s been doing in our lives and we can spiritually share ourselves with Him and examine ways for spiritual growth. Journaling is one important spiritual discipline to employ to achieve a grace-centered life. Read More→