Ask More Questions – painting by Michelle Allen Studio via Instagram, used with permission
It’s a new year, actually a whole new decade! I have high hopes that this year and the coming decade will be filled with dreams coming true and hope for the future blossoming in new generations. But when I think of all the things I want to create I get a little overwhelmed. There are so many projects I want to continue to work on, to start working on or finish, to plan out, to share with you, to make or come up with in the coming months… But since I simply can not do all of it at once, or even work on two projects at the same time, I need to take a deep breath and do as I usually do. Take one step at a time. Right? It’s all you can do, and we all know it even though we keep trying to do it all at once at times…
We need to start, probably today, and do one thing, take one step, think one thought through at a time.
I recently finished a book that was about time, and our perception of time. How we often think that time is running away from us, that we have too little time or no time at all. Time is always lacking, in our mind. But the author stated that this way of thinking is not true. It is simply not true that we don’t have enough time. There is always more time, every hour is followed by more hours!
Time is not lacking, it is abundant. I love that thought, and I will try to incorporate it more this year. Thinking that I have plenty of time to do all the things I want to do, although still just one thing at a time.
One thing that I want to use my time for is journaling…
Starting a New Diary (video)
As my ongoing diary is now filled, I decided it was high time (time!) to start a new diary for the new year. Here’s how that happened (more about the pdf of printable journaling questions below):
If you can’t see the video watch it on YouTube: Starting in a New Journal – and while you’re there please subscribe & give the video a thumbs up. Thanks.
The pen I’m using to letter the quote is a Japanese pen called Fudenosuke Tombow Brush Pen, in case you want to check it out. I forgot to mention it in the video even though I tried to show it. :-) The color of my new Moleskine is called Willow Green. Yum!
Do you take time out of your day (or week) to journal? It’s good for you, you know.
Ask more questions
What kind of things do you write about in your diary/journal? And do you dare to ask some (hard) questions in it? I think that answering questions is the key to self development. It helps us notice and see what we don’t want to see or notice, and maybe, just maybe – to deal with some of the things.
I’ve written about this before: Journaling practice: Ask Questions
Printable Journaling Questions
Sending out my first Newsletter for the year now, with the PDF with my printable questions. Hopefully you’ll find them in your inbox in a jiffy. If not, please feel free to sign up for my Newsletter – and you’ll hear from me soon.
Hi Hanna, it’s not a new century, it’s a new decade! Love your post, it’s really made me think :-)
Ali aka @bedsitdiary
I knooow my dear, and I changed it now. It’s the English language that confused me. 😝
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and video with us! I used to keep a diary faithfully, but now only write in one every once in a while. Sometimes I miss the practice of writing in it daily, but currently it has given way to other creative practices like card making and meditation. But my diary still sits on my craft desk, ready for me to pick it up and jot down a thought at any time.
Congrats on filling your previous diary! What a good feeling it is to finish one and get to work in a new book. Bittersweet, sure, as you’re leaving one to start another, but still a little exciting.
Looking forward to hearing and seeing more of your creative projects this year! I love that we have enough time to do whatever we truly want to accomplish, we just have to decide what to focus on. Step by step we can accomplish what we set out to do. Thanks for the reminder!
Thank you Hanna for being so inspiring! Last year was that first year in a very long time that I was really able to put my creative thinking to work and create art. One of the things I did to help me accomplish this was to narrow down the size and format of what I wanted to create. I used to create only a few pieces of art a year (these were large wall sized pieces) but then decided that in order for me to be more creative/productive and to have less UFO’s, I needed to be more focused. I started writing/journaling on an index card a week and for each week I had pre-written a “prompt” word or sentence to journal about. This year I want to be even more focused with my art and be more creative so I purchased the spiral bound 4×6 index cards and plan on filling out an index-card-a-day with creative ideas and plans for making smaller pieces of art. My goal for this year is to create at least one piece of art per week (52 pieces!). I LOVE creating and making art and want to stay focused on one or two projects at a time until they are completed (no more UFOs). Another one of my goals is to be part of a mail art exchange, with at least one or two exchanges of art per month! Thank you again, Hanna, for keeping Art moving forward into the future and for sharing your thoughts and helpful hints!! Keep Making Art and having fun!
So much happy journaling inspiration! It reminds me to focus a bit more on the writing/journaling aspect and the fun of having things to journal “around” because it makes it more approachable. Cheers to a good year of art + writing, Hanna!