“Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life - is the source from which self respect springs.”

~Joan Didion

In your journal, ponder today’s quote.  Is the source of self respect a willingness to accept responsibility for your own life?  Or is there more to it?  Does that willingness to accept responsibility for your own life play a role in self respect?  Do you agree that character is defined as the willingness to accept responsibility for your own life?  Why or why not?

Journal writing prompt bonus:  In your journal, list the qualities that a person has that you consider a person of character?  Are these qualities the same for everyone you consider persons of character?  Is it different, according to the person?  What is your internal definition of a person with character?

Happy Journaling!

“When a miracle happens, even if not to you, it’s nature is to naturally expand.  You can almost feel the warmth on your face.”

~Hugh Elliott

In your journal, consider the topic of miracles.  Do you believe that miracles really exist?  Or are they a folklore-ish remnant of days long gone?  What constitutes a miracle in your mind?  Is it something as extraordinary as one cell becoming a complete being, leaving a water filled environment and taking its first breath?  Or, does it have to be a sea parting or the dead coming back to life?

Daily journal writing prompt bonus:  Personally, I believe that there are miracles that happen around us every single day.  The problem is that we just don’t take notice!  In your journal, think about this idea - do you think there is some truth in it?  Have you ever witnessed a miracle? What was it?  If you haven’t, do you know someone who has claimed to have witnessed a miracle?  Write about that.

Happy Journaling!

“Blaze with the fire that is never extinguished.”

~Luisa Sigea

In your journal, consider today’s quote.  Have you experienced blazing with a fire that is never extinguished (I suppose, if we are taking this more technically, that would mean that you are still experiencing this)?  Have you ever blazed with a fire that *felt* like it would never extinguish, but, it did?  What were the circumstances surrounding it?

Daily journal writing prompt bonus:  While I believe all of us would love to experience blazing with a fire that would never extinguish (at least it sounds good, right?), what do you think the upside to that state would be?  Would there be a downside?  Whether you’ve experienced it in the past or not, would you want to experience it in the future?  If so, how can you go about bringing yourself to that state?

Happy Journaling!

“The secret of all success is to know how to deny yourself. Prove that you can control yourself, and you are an educated man; and without this all other education is good for nothing.”

~R. D. Hitchcock

In your journal, write about today’s quote.  Do you agree or disagree? Is success really all about denial and self control?

Daily journal writing prompt bonus:  Whether you agree or disagree with today’s quote, in your journal, reflect on your own success (in all areas of life) in light of today’s quote.  Does it “prove” or “disprove” the quote?  Is there more to it?

Happy Journaling!

“Every day we do things, we are things, that have to do with peace.  If we are aware of our life…, our way of looking at things, we will know how to make peace right in the moment, we are alive.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh

In your journal, recount your day (or recount yesterday if you are journaling in the mornings).  Look for little encounters throughout your day, and list them.  The list doesn’t need to be long - maybe 10 encounters or so.  These can be anything from going through the checkout at a local store, passing a co-worker, or talking on the phone with someone.  If you are struggling to come up with 10 things, think hard on this - usually we have hundreds of encounters a day…most are just so commonplace that we don’t even take notice.

Now, for each encounter, write a short description.  Did you smile at the checker?  Say a kind word?  Were you gruff and hurried?

Next, evaluate each encounter in the light of today’s quote.  Was it a peace-promoting encounter?  If it was not, why not?  How could you change the encounter to make it a peace promoter?

Daily journal writing prompt:  I consider myself, most of the time, a “peace activist”.  No, I’m not carrying a placard promoting the usual peace activist causes, nor am I participating in marches.  However, I do make an effort to be kind and promote peace one person at a time.  Every interaction, no matter how insignificant gives you the opportunity to potentially change someone else’s entire day.  Think about it - have you ever had someone yell at you (or be gruff) first thing in the morning, and your entire day seems to go downhill?  What about the flip side - have you ever had someone say something kind and it “picked you up” for the entire day?  I really believe that is how we all can be “peace activists” - regardless of political affiliation or our opinions on hot button topics.

In your journal, write about a few things you can do today (or tomorrow) that will promote peace for those around you.  Make a plan to do them…if you need to, write them out on a slip of paper that you will carry with you - not so much to refer to, but, just to remind you of your goal.  Come back to this entry after you carry out some of those things, and write about how you felt and how you suspect it made that person feel (if you didn’t get immediate oral feedback).

Happy Journaling!

“The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence.”

~Robert J. Shiller   

Today’s journal writing prompt seems pretty straightforward.  In a society where so many people seem to have multiple warning signs of ADHD, what do you think?  Is the ability to focus attention on important things a defining characteristic of intelligence?  If so, are you concerned about the future of our society in the age of our short-attention span media, get it now lifestyles?  Write about it in your journal.

Daily journal writing prompt bonus:  Quite often, I find myself not only focusing my attention on important things, but, also on not-so-important things.  It feels like, at times, “shiny objects” are much more interesting and attention grabbing for my mind than anything else.  Actually, not often, but, at times, I feel like my entire day is spent in a series of attention grabbing nothingness.  Now, I understand that the longer I allow myself to live a life as a professional artist, the closer I get to insanity (maybe this is just the warning signs!), however, I do know many people (who aren’t professional artists) who live the same way - with their dedicated, focussed attention moving from one thing to the next sequentially throughout the day.  Some of the people I’m thinking of are also quite intelligent.

So, I wonder, in your opinion, what do you think the sequential-focussed-attention on important and not-so-important things means.  Is it a defining characteristic of higher intelligence?  Or, is it insanity in the making?  Can you relate to this in your own life?  Write about it in your journal.

Happy Journaling!

“Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavor to understand him.”

~George Santayana

It’s not uncommon, in our society, to (at least occasionally)  quit listening to opposing viewpoints - no matter who’s view it is - in defense of our own views.  What seems to be quite uncommon (at times) is to take a moment to attempt understanding of the other viewpoint, before we stop listening or start defending.  In your journal, consider today’s quote.  Do you find yourself contradicting others (whether they are older or younger than you) prior to endeavoring to understand the viewpoint?  Do you think this is a defensive move on your part or what do you suppose causes this reaction in your own life?

Daily journal writing prompt bonus:  In matters of politics & religion, this contradiction prior to the endeavor to understand seem to be quite rampant.  We tend to shut down when the other viewpoint is espoused, instead of really listening and endeavoring to understand before espousing our own views.  With this being a political “season” (okay, I know, I know, it’s come to a point where it’s more often a political season than not with campaigns growing longer and longer and our “downtime” between them shorter and shorter), I would like you to think about a recent political event, speech, debate, etc, where you had an opposing view to the candidate - and, instead of endeavoring to understand his or her position, you “tuned out”.  In your journal write about it.  Was this a “classic” issue or is it something that stems from more recent world events?  What is your viewpoint?  What was the candidates?  Is his or her viewpoint one that, in light of today’s quote, you should have explored further to endeavor to understand his or her views?

Happy Journaling!