I see all these pretentious bullet journals online and I just think 'surely you can't be writing in that?'

My journals aren't about being fancy. They're simply about capturing the rawness. Even the bad times. They're a way for me to go back in time and see how far I've come. To watch myself grow. A way of personal growth. 

To grow

And I grow. Nothing nourishes the mind like writing and letting the words flow out of your mind through the metaphoric of ink bleeding onto paper. 

I've written all my life. Since I was eight and I don't see myself stopping. I'm always with a pen and pad at hand and my Evernote is overflowing.

If you get caught up in making your journal look pretty I find it can become contrived. 

By recording your thoughts you will gain insight into your behaviour and mood and to me that's gratifying to read back on even after three months. It's amazing how much you change in the space of so little time. This was very apparent when I read my teenage diaries. I felt guilty because it was like reading the diary of a complete stranger.

More than anything writing has helped me process difficult times in my life and helped me heal. It has also improved my perspective on life and made things look clearer.

When I come at a cross road I write. When I can't decide between the crazy amount of things I want to do with my life I map it out on paper. Maybe I never find my answer, but one thing's for sure I feel lighter every time.

To brain dump 

With a mind thats constantly buzzing it is important for me not to carry essential information in my head. I like to leave my brain free for thinking up new ideas rather than trying to remember a bunch of things. 

It makes me feel free. I love allowing myself to forget everything till my phone goes ping. Then I look in my journal to finish the master plan I sketched out the other day.

Always brain dump. As soon as you have that spark, that idea, write it down before you forget it. Then allow free head space to think of more cool ideas.

Creative personalities don't think in a structured way so it's easy to get overwhelmed.

To achieve my goals

Whenever I have a dream I write it down. No matter how impossible this dream seems to me at the time I write it down determined one day soon it will come true. 

And it does.

It reduces the anxiety of 'what if I don't get there' and magically changes it to a commitment of 'I'm determined to make it happen'. Once you set that intention on paper you're able to let those negative thoughts slip out of your mind and your next thoughts are processing how exactly you will achieve your dreams.

There's research to show that writing down your goals makes you twice more likely to achieve.

Let me know in the comments section below why you journal and watch my new video where I show you all of my journals.

Huntington Beach, California

Don't 'deal' with them at all.

Difficult people have their own internal issues that you will never be able to fix no matter how much you try. The very fact that they're channeling their anger and trying to start an argument with you proves that.

There's a quote I really like and remind myself of when I am faced with this. I'll paraphrase. Despite how open, loving and peaceful you attempt to be, people can only meet you as deeply as they've met themselves.

They're not angry at you even though it seems like that. They just need someone to vent their anger out on.

Don't let that be you by responding. Too often I have let other people's issues affect me. The secret is not to react as tempting as it may seem.

You may be blamed for something constantly but that's just their way of looking for something to be angry about their failure in life. They want to channel their misery on someone and the closest thing they can find is you. Ridiculous, I know right?

It will take some time but once you stop responding they will too. Even if they don't you have to ignore for your own mental wellbeing. I've learnt to pivot the direction of my thoughts from negative (the ones blaring out to me from the angry person) to positive. I smile. I change direction and continue my daily task as the continue their angry tirade.

At the end of the day I know they are feeling negative energy while I bask in my happiness. Your happiness is yours. Nothing can take that away. Here's something I was thinking about while standing by the sea.



Remember that you are not the problem even though it may seem like it to them on then surface. They may even criticise and berate everything that you do. That is another sign that they are unhappy with themselves.

I know it would be easy for me to say this if I'm not having to deal with angry people. But to be frank I am currently in a position where difficult people are around me. 

In fact I could never be truly happier fully knowing that I am not the problem. Isn't that just amazing? They have their own issues I know I cannot help them with, whether it be failures, rejection or jealousy. The fact that I am continuing to lead my life the amazing way I want will be an example to them.

Sizing

Shipping

What to do when you're depressed. It's really easy for me to throw some tips at you but not nearly as easy to carry them out. After your wonderful response to my video on coping with depression I thought I'd write some more ways to push through when you can't push anymore.

I don't follow religion and my outlook is open which has meant that I've stumbled across different people and their beliefs. I've taken a lot from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism (I know this isn't a religion). One thing I have taken from Sikhism is 'Chardi Kala'. It is a mental state of optimism even through adversity. Something which I discovered long before the learning of the term Chardi Kala in my Waiting For Happiness post. 

What I mean to say is that happiness is not something that needs to be found or something only lucky people have. It is already there and it makes it hard for those of us that suffer from depression to know that it's there. I'm sharing a few tips on how to keep this frame of mind even when you're depressed.

Know that happiness is not gone forever

This is the first step in pushing through. You need to know that this current state of being is only temporary.

When you can't get out of bed

Depression can be just as debilitating as having no arms or legs. Try stretching, sliding your arms around in your bed. Then comes the biggest step. Sit up on your bed. For many people that is the biggest achievement.

Water

Drink water, bath in it or wash your face in it. Streaming water is so calming or just hearing the stillness of water while I am in the bath is the most calming thing in the world. Running the tap for a glass of water is also an amazing therapy. It's the simple things.

Take deep breaths

We often forget to breathe, I know it sounds ridiculous but we do. Take deep breaths. One thing I've taken from yoga is to imagine all those thoughts being exhaled from your body.

Write 

Write down how you feel, just watching the words flow onto the paper is a release. 

Write down your achievements no matter how small you think they are. We can be so hard on ourselves especially during bouts of depression. Write 'I did some stretching' or 'I answered the phone today'.