Journaling Dangerously

What is ‘journaling dangerously’?

Simply put, I’m going to journal in some form every day for a whole year and I invite you to join me. I’ve lost my journaling mojo and I know that the best way to get it back is to publicly commit to a big project. So here goes!

Some of you may remember that Journal Wild started out as Journaling Dangerously. Even though the blog has gone through some changes, the idea of journaling dangerously has never left me.

I see it as committing to showing up to the page every single day, even if all I do that day is write the date or swipe some paint on the paper. It is the act of showing up that makes it worthwhile. Woody Allen famously said, ”80% of success is showing up.”

I got the inspiration for the title ‘Journaling Dangerously’ from Janice Macleod’s Paris Letters. Janice committed to doing morning pages every morning for a whole year and found her life change in ways she couldn’t imagine.

That’s where the ‘danger’ comes in: committing to an ongoing practice, showing up at the page each and every day, and allowing your life to change from in new and unexpected ways.

What are the rules?

My approach is a little different in that I’m not doing just morning pages – I’m doing whatever I feel called to do that day, and I may not always do it in the morning. I wanted to make the project as simple as possible so I’m likely to stick with it.

If you’d like to join, the rules are whatever you want them to be. The whole point is that it’s something that brings you joy, inspiration, creativity, and nourishes you.

The only ‘rule’ I would suggest is to do it every day. And if you miss a day, then just get back into it the next day, don’t try to make up for what you’ve missed. This is how I’m going to approach it.

What kind of journaling?

You may prefer to write morning pages or lists or write with journal prompts.

You may want to art journal every day or sketch or stamp or collage.

Or you may do any and all of these, as you feel called to each one. That’s the approach I’m taking.

Do what you want to do, not what you feel you should do, or what others are doing. Do what will light you up.

When does it start?

Whenever you want. I thought about starting at the start of a month, or a new year, or some other significant time period… and then I realised that wasn’t necessary. So I’m starting today, right now, right here. You should start today too.

You don’t need to wait for anything – that is an illusion. All you need is a pen (or your preferred medium) and something to write on. If you don’t have a journal, then write on paper and stick it into a journal when you get one, or add it into a pocket in your journal later. If you don’t have the paints you want, use what’s on hand for now, and buy others later.

This is supposed to become a daily practice, a part of your life that’s as ingrained as brushing your teeth each day. Waiting for the perfect toothbrush or the right toothpaste is ridiculous, right? We know it needs to be done so we get on with it. Treat this in the same way. Your practice and tools will likely evolve as you go.

How do I participate?

You can participate in any way that feels right to you. Begin by writing out your intentions for this practice. What do you hope to gain from your year of journaling dangerously?