Thought to Ponder – Renew Inspiration Mind Body Spirit

Mindfulness Journaling

LaPorterSeptember 2, 20242 Replies

White Flowers, Open Journal Book, Silver Pen — Mindfulness Journaling, Renew Inspiration

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in every moment. -Henry David Thoreau

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Thought to Ponder – The present moment is your canvas, and mindfulness is the brush that paints your masterpiece.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s take a moment to discuss a topic that is dear to my heart, mindfulness journaling. To begin with, journaling helps you reflect on self, discover your sense of purpose, and meaning in life.

Mindfulness journaling allows you to gain clarity inside and out. It also helps you to make positive changes in your life. If you allow it, mindfulness journaling will offer you a glimpse into your soul in its purest form by helping you recognize, identify, and build a closer relationship to a higher power.

Before we get started, please make sure you have the following:

An open mind; Meditation ready
Willingness to be honest and express oneself
Eager to move from one place to another freely
Humble and caring spirit; Broken soul
Journal or Notebook
Pen or Pencil

DEFINITION – MINDFULNESS JOURNALING

Let’s begin with establishing the definition of MINDFULNESS JOURNALING.

MINDFULNESS JOURNALING (noun): A practice that involves writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a non-judgmental way. It helps you connect with inner self, deepen your awareness, and cultivate inner pace.

Before we go any further, I want to encourage you to pause for a moment and look within. Create awareness of your overall energy, how you feel and what you’re thinking. Mindfulness journaling can be another form of self-reflection. It can make you aware of negative patterns in your behavior so you can focus on the present moment.

BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS JOURNALING

Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

What’s the message that you need on today? What is it that you need to focus on within your life, right now, in this very moment? During your lifelong journey, it’s important for you to speak positive words into your soul. Despite the hurt you may feel or the sadness you experience in life, often times you forget that the power to overcome life’s challenges is already inside you. If you feel lost or defeated, it’s because the heart and mind are not working in harmony, when they work together you will find peace. Although, there’s a lot of benefits of mindfulness journaling, here’s a few that I want to share with you.

Mindfulness Journaling:

Helps you think more critically about your life.
Reduces stress and anxiety by keeping you in the present moment.
Allows you to recognize and release negative thoughts and feelings.
Increases your happiness in life and improves your mood.
Encourages inner peace and a feeling of well-being.
Provides self-discovery, self-awareness, and moments of reflection.
Helps you gain clarity in your life, better memory and cognitive skills.
Increases creativity and positivity.
Builds resilience and confidence.
Helps to organize and process your thoughts and feelings.
Improves your sleep and overall mental wellness.

As you can see, making the decision to practice mindfulness journaling daily will bring peace, and emotional healing into your life one journal entry at a time.

MINDFULNESS JOURNALING TIPS

Mindfulness is a pause – the space between stimulus and response: that’s where choice lies. – Tara Brach

Mindfulness journaling is a great way to release restless thoughts and emotions so you can be in a better headspace. Even if you include mindfulness journaling for a few moments each day, you will begin to heal any emotional, physical or mental wounds that may have been caused by negativity from others or internally.

Here’s some great mindfulness journaling tips to help you get started:

Create a quiet, calm, and safe space to write.
Set an intention, slow down, and write with awareness.
Be present, be mindful, and breathe slowly to ground yourself.
Allow your thoughts to flow freely and write about anything that comes to mind.
Be consistent and write in your journal every day to create a new healthy habit.
Shift your writing from negative to positive so you can be ready to receive a different outcome.
Live in the moment and bring an open, accepting and discerning attention to everything you do.

What’s your story or experience concerning journaling? It’s important to allow yourself to feel and to express yourself honestly throughout this process. I choose to reflect on inspiring quotes, affirmations and/or scriptures that are hidden in my heart during my journaling time in order to rise up above my problems, situations, depression, sadness, hurt, etc. Remember, this is a personal journey. Be sure to show yourself some grace while starting your new mindfulness journaling experience. It’s important for you to find your safe place and surround yourself with God’s love, peace, and joy throughout the process.

MINDFULNESS JOURNALING SUGGESTIONS

Create a Gratitude List – To cultivate a positive attitude, begin your day by reflecting on or writing down at least three things you are grateful for. It can be anything, from your favorite hot beverage, the weather or your pet. Explore whatever brings you a smile or a feeling of warmth.
Enjoy Nature – To find focus during the day, take a few moments to appreciate the beauty in nature. Step outside and focus on your senses. What do you see? What sounds do you hear? What do you smell? Are you eating or drinking anything? What do you notice when you touch the grass or plants that are around you?
Focus on Your Breathing – Try inhaling to the count of 5, holding for the count of 3, and exhaling to the count of 5. Imagine breathing in calmness and comfort and breathing out any stress or negative feelings. Repeat for 3 breaths or until you feel calm and more grounded.

MINDFULNESS AFFIRMATIONS

Affirmations will help you to focus on improving yourself. You can spend 5 – 10 minutes in meditation, journaling, or yoga with mantras. Self-love, positivity, open-mindedness, help set you in the right direction. Designate a time in the morning and at night when you can recite affirmations aloud. By saying them aloud, you hear the powerful words, and it can help you internalize them as true. The key to seeing a positive change in life is to say the affirmations with conviction and make it a personal experience.

Here’s a few of my favorite mindfulness affirmations to help you get started:

I am fully present in this moment.
I embrace the here and now with open arms.
Each breath I take grounds me in the present.
I am using the wisdom within me to navigate through my life.
I find clarity and calm in the present moment.
I am aware of my surroundings and appreciate their beauty.
I am conscious of my power to shape my present experiences.
I find strength and tranquility in the present moment.
I am embracing my full potential even if it makes others uncomfortable.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Keep in mind that this is a journey and be patient with yourself. Ready, set, write!

What are three things you’re grateful for today?
What are three things you noticed in the morning? afternoon? evening?
How are you feeling about yourself in this very moment?
What is something that has been weighing on your mind lately?
Do you have any regrets about how you’ve lived your life so far?
In what ways can you forgive yourself?
What obstacles to internal peace are you facing?
How can you feel more aligned in life, between your thoughts and actions?
What can you do right now to lift your mood?
What things do you look forward to in the day to come?

WRITER & BLOGGER CORNER

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SELF-REFLECTION MOMENT

Let’s Talk. As you can see, mindfulness journaling can help you overcome any obstacle that you face in life. Have you already tried journaling to overcome challenges in life? What are some challenges that stretched your limits and helped you grow? What steps can you take to grow into the person you want to be? Please spend some quality time answering these questions in your journal or notebook.

Thank you for taking the time to read my latest blog post. What resonated with you? Share your thoughts concerning this blog post in the comment section below so we can learn and grow from one another. I look forward to reading your responses!

P.S. If you have not done so already, please SUBSCRIBE to my Renew Inspiration blog so you can receive notifications each time I publish a new blog post. Let’s stay connected!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Recognize God’s Presence

LaPorterJanuary 30, 20232 Replies

Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God. – Alexander MacLaren

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Thought to Ponder – Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile and start again.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s start with this question – How often do you seek to recognize God’s presence in your life? For some, seeking to recognize God’s presence is done daily and for others it is done on an as needed basis. What does it really mean to recognize God’s presence? Well, I believe recognizing God’s presence simply means to allow God to guide your every step and decision throughout your spiritual journey.

Here’s some ways for us to recognize God’s presence throughout our lives:

Read God’s Word, study it and meditate on it
Fasting and praying regularly
Confessing your sins and repenting to God regularly
Reading daily devotions and inspirational books
Singing praise and worship songs
Listening to sermons
Writing in your spiritual journal or notebook

STEPS TO IMPROVE AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE

We cannot attain the presence of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness. – Richard Rohr

The presence of God is all around us. Take a moment and close your eyes. Relax and breathe slowly. Can you feel God’s presence right now in this very moment? God inhabits every part of our lives except for the parts that we refuse to share with Him. When we don’t sense God’s presence in our daily routines, it’s not because God leaves us, but it’s because we have not developed a deep awareness of God’s presence in our lives. This process takes not only practice, but it also takes commitment and the willingness to surrender to God’s will throughout our lives.

Here’s some steps to improve awareness of God’s presence:

Step 1: Do everything in your life with good intention and for the love of God. It is important to give God your happiness and praises as well as your pain and suffering. God is always listening because He is your protector.
Step 2: Look for God’s goodness in all things. Remember, it is important to notice God’s presence in both simple and great things. Acknowledge this fact often throughout your life.
Step 3: Create stopping points in which to rest in God. Spend quality time throughout your day to pray, meditate and communicate with God.

INDICATIONS OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES

The glory of God in our lives is the experience and expression of the presence of God. – Patrick Oben

Now, place yourself in the presence of God, breathe deeply and be aware of his loving kindness. Always remember to put God first in everything you do. Don’t forget to acknowledge God’s presence in the simple and more complicated things in life. Spending quality time in God’s presence has to be a priority in life.

Here’s some important qualities that are indications of God’s presence in our lives:

Peace (Romans 15:33; Philippians 4:9) – When you know God’s presence, you can have inward calm despite chaos around you because He is the God of peace.
Rest, Refreshment (Matthew 11:28; Acts 3:19) – When you acknowledge God’s presence within, you will always have rest and feel refreshed.
Encouragement (Psalm 16:11; 21:6) – When you are aware of God’s presence, you can’t help but be full of joy and gladness because with Him come eternal blessings.
Shelter (Psalm 16:8-11; 31:20) – When you acknowledge God’s presence, you can feel secure and protected at all times.
Enlightenment (Psalm 89:15; 90:8) – When you get in touch with God’s presence, you will allow God to order your steps, then you will follow.
Nearness (Psalm 145:18; James 4:8) – When you bask in God’s presence, you can feel a sense of comfort knowing that God accepts you right where you are and you feel Him close to you.
Contentment (Hebrews 13:5) – When you experience God’s presence, you can be satisfied because you know you have all you need.
Endurance (Psalm 46:1; Isaiah 41:10) – When you spend quality time in God’s presence, you can feel renewed as you find His strength to help move you forward.

SPIRITUAL AFFIRMATIONS

One of the greatest joys in life is spending time in God’s presence. – Unknown Author

Always remember, God woke you up today for a purpose and know in your heart that God loves you with an everlasting love. Take time to appreciate quiet moments every morning and recite spiritual affirmations. Reciting affirmations are a great way to boost confidence, mood, and self-esteem. Through the incredible power of repetition, you’re able to reconstruct your thought patterns, beliefs, and ideals in your subconscious mind. Begin to set yourself up for a more productive and spirit filled life by reciting these powerful spiritual affirmations.

I am grateful for each breath God gives me.
I know how to be quiet and still so I can hear God’s voice.
I will hold my head high because I am everything God said that I am.
I can have wisdom and guidance from God if I just ask for it.
I have confidence that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

As you travel throughout your spiritual journey, there are always obstacles that you encounter, but you must work around them in order to recognize God’s presence and see him clearly in your life. It’s always important to stay away from anything and anyone who blocks you from being in the presence of God. Through this spiritual process, remember to seek God’s face by calling and pleading for Him to fill your presence with His anointing from on high. Only then will you receive the necessary peace, comfort, security and healing from God. Be peaceful, be happy, be whole.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

When you think that everything is against you remember God is always with you. – Unknown Author

I love journaling because it is a safe place for me to put my feelings and emotions into words, then put my words into action. Remember, journaling is your very own personal journey throughout life, your ups and downs, your successes, and failures. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Ready, set, write!

What is the best way to recognize God’s presence in your life?
How do you plan to improve awareness of God’s presence?
What feels like a struggle in your life right now?
What advice do you need to receive from God?
Are you prepared to receive God’s advice?
How can you strengthen your relationship and faith in God?
How much time do you spend reading God’s Word, praying and/or meditating?

Let’s talk. Along your journey it’s important to work towards becoming more and more Christ like. In order to do this, you must learn to recognize God’s presence in any situation. How do you plan to recognize God’s presence in your life? Have you identified the necessary steps needed for this to take place? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Unwavering Faith

LaPorterJanuary 22, 20232 Replies

Your faith can move mountains and your doubt can create them. – Unknown Author

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Thought to Ponder – Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! As you venture through your life on Earth, do you ever wonder if you have unwavering faith? I have always been taught to have faith in God, to read my Bible, to attend church services, and to say my faith-based prayers, but deep down inside I have always wondered how strong my faith really was in a God that I could not see. When my mother passed away in December 2015, my faith in God and everything that I knew God to be was tested to the fullest! Despite being overcome with grief and sadness, I continued to read my Bible, pray, meditate, and write in my journal consistently until I received my breakthrough.

My breakthrough consisted of coming out of a deep depression after seeing a licensed therapist and starting a journey of writing. Since 2018, I …

Created my Renew Inspiration Blog https://renewinspiraton.com
Created my Journey from Grief to Healing Facebook Group facebook.com/groups/grieftohealing
Wrote and self-published my first journal called Journal to Overcome Grief – A Personal Journey to Healing amazon.com/dp/B09XHDSC64
Wrote and self-published my second journal called Renew Inspiration Journal amazon.com/dp/B0BNH11ZXS

Unwavering faith will come with time, but you have to do the work which includes following God’s plan for your life, changing your thought patterns, and making time for self-reflection.

DEFINITION – Faith

God is still writing your story. Don’t let go of your faith because of what you have to see. – Unknown Author

Faith can be defined as:

Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

WAYS TO INCREASE FAITH

Faith is building on what you know is here so you can reach what you know is there. – Cullen Hightower

When you are broken in pieces and experiencing so much pain, God can seem distant and even uncaring while you are in this vulnerable, yet lonely place. But before you throw in the towel or choose to give up on living life to the fullest, know that God promises in His Word to be with you always and to give you comfort in the midst of your storm, so whatever your feelings are suggesting to you in this very dark moment, know that God is with you always.

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14 (KJV)

You must believe in your heart and mind that you will receive whatever it is that you are praying for throughout your journey. No mountain is too big for our God. I always think of a mountain as any obstacle, problem, or situation that happens in our lives. Despite the challenges and constant struggles in life, throughout this process, it’s important to find effective ways to increase your faith.

Here’s a few suggestions and scriptures to help you get started with your spiritual transformation:

Read and Study God’s Word. God’s Word should be read and hidden in your heart so that you can fully understand the promises that God made to you. This process will allow God’s Word to guide, instruct, and protect you. Along with your Bible, you can also read spiritual devotions or faith-based inspirational books.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

Make Time for Daily Prayer and Meditation. Schedule quiet time for prayer and meditation inviting God to come into your presence. Remove distractions, quiet your mind, and talk to God regularly while listening with your spiritual ear for the necessary guidance that’s needed throughout your day.

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)

Practice Praise and Worship. Set aside time each day to usher in God’s presence through praise and worship. This can be done through speaking words of affirmations over your life or through singing worship songs in the presence of God.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16 (KJV)

Be Transparent and Live Out God’s Word. It’s important to not just read and study God’s Word, but you must be transparent and apply God’s Word to your life each and every day. Make a commitment today and watch God work miracles in your life.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

Trust in God. As believers in Christ, it’s important to intentionally focus on God’s plans for you and not get in the way with your own personal views and interpretations of how you think your life should be. Remove any doubt or fear from your heart. Instead replace it with belief and trust in God.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

Along this journey called life, we have to open our hearts and minds to a true understanding of life’s many challenges and faith, of what it is and what it is not, in our lives and abroad. It’s important to know that faith is something to be experienced and exercised, not defined, categorized, and neatly packaged on a shelf. Faith rests on a solid foundation. The evidence is everywhere before our eyes. Begin to create a safe space for God to work wonders in your spiritual life by reading God’s Word, praying often, and submitting to God’s healing. God wants your heart, gratitude, and honesty which will bring you to His everlasting peace. Remember, every positive change in life must first begin with a commitment to work towards that change. Then, you will be on your way to live a life that’s full of happiness, spirit filled, and with unwavering faith.

FAITH AFFIRMATIONS

Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith. – Elisabeth Elliot

Reciting affirmations are a great way to boost confidence, mood, and self-esteem. Through the incredible power of repetition, you’re able to reconstruct your thought patterns, beliefs, and ideals in your subconscious mind. Begin to set yourself up for a more productive and successful life that you desire by reciting these powerful faith-based affirmations.

All that I seek I can find within me.
I trust that my faith in the universe will reveal all opportunities for me.
I focus on what I can control and make peace with what I can’t.
I trust my inner knowing in the face of uncertainty.
I choose faith over fear and peace over perfection.
I am ready to move ahead and explore the purpose of my existence.
I trust and believe that everything is always working out for my highest good.
I am at peace with my whole being.
I see my faith, presence and passion being the most beautiful things there are in my life.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Let your faith be bigger than your fear. – Unknown Author

What is the best way to increase your faith?
List five ways you’ve become stronger and more faithful this month.
How can you strengthen your faith in God?
The area where I need to put more trust in God is …
I feel God’s presence most when …
God is leading me to make the following changes …
Sometimes I get angry with God about …
I feel most distant from God when …

Let’s talk. How do you plan to increase your faith in 2023? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).