Hello again from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! In this Mindful Path post, I want to tell you about three writing exercises you can do to create more joy in your life by practicing mindfulness. The good part is that the exercises are easy to do. The challenge is to remember to do the first two exercises on a daily basis, and the third exercise on a weekly basis. Eventually, if you get in the habit of doing the exercises, they will become a welcome part of your regular routine.
To help us explore this topic, I’m referencing details from the wonderful book, “The Joy of Appreciative Living” by Jacqueline (Jackie) Kelm.
Doing the Exercises
The first exercise is to write a Daily Appreciation List where you list three things for which you are grateful. The second exercise is to answer the Daily Question, which is “What one thing could I do today, no matter how small, that would increase my joy?” The Weekly Visioning Exercise is the third part, where you tap into your vision to imagine that you have achieved your ideal, joy-filled life. Once a week, spend fifteen minutes writing down all the details you can identify that represent this ideal experience.
A few years ago, I began a practice of completing exercises one and two on a daily basis. I’ve found this reflection to be very useful because it enhances my awareness of what I’m experiencing, helping me to be more mindful. It makes me feel more grounded and less reactive to what I experience in the day. Since I’m a morning person, I do this shortly after I wake up while I’m drinking a cup of coffee. However, you could complete the exercises at any time of the day that would work for you. The key for getting the most out of this is to do it on a daily basis.
I prefer to write in a small notebook. However, there are other ways to capture your thoughts. For example, you could use a computer. Or, if you’re creative, something that could work for you might be capturing your reflections in an art journal.
My challenge to myself is to make time this year to also do the weekly visioning exercise, since that hasn’t been part of my current mindfulness practice. I think that would enhance the benefits I get from doing exercises one and two, increasing my ability to effectively make more mindful choices throughout each day.
Who Can Benefit from This?
Finding more joy isn’t just for individual adults. This experience could be introduced to children or teens by parents or teachers. It could also be used in settings such as business, especially where organizations are promoting mindfulness. Consider how you might use it for yourself and share it with others.
Here’s a link to find out more about “The Joy of Appreciative Living” book: https://ow.ly/wI1Mv
For more resources, you can visit author Jackie Kelm’s web site here: www.appreciativeliving.com
If you have any questions or feedback about this post, please either post a comment here or you can contact me directly at mindfulpath@outlook.com .
I look forward to sharing more ideas and resources with you soon.
