What Inspires Me

Weekly inspiration

Jen Morris

Well I must say, I’ve enjoyed having a bit of the pressure off with the 100 Days Project over.

While I do miss blogging like I was before, I think that blogging every day is a bit much. In all honesty, I don’t have something worthwhile to say every day!

But the 100 Days Project helped me to overcome perfectionism by forcing me to post every day without fail. I didn’t have time to sit around rereading my writing, questioning myself and doubting what I had written. I had to just write it and get it out!

It taught me that I can stick with something and see it through (I had some serious doubts about this before). And it taught me that challenging myself by committing to something just outside my comfort zone can really push me to do things I may have thought I couldn’t do.

I would definitely do the 100 Days Project again, but not with blogging. I toyed with the idea of doing Nanowrimo, but it’s not good timing for me. I’m definitely on the lookout for my next creative project, though!

trees

Here’s your weekly inspiration:

Some very wise words on making time and space for your writing

We all have those mornings that make us want to crawl back into bed… find something to keep you going

As a journaler and stationery addict, I like to do all my planning and writing on paper. Unfortunately it’s unavoidable that sometimes, we just have to use digital tools. I’ve been thinking about switching from Microsoft Word to Scrivener for my writing, so this review has me pretty much sold!

This awesome interview with Jill Winski about her journaling practice

We could all learn to write more handwritten notes

What Inspires Me

Weekly inspiration

Jen Morris

You may or may not have noticed… I haven’t posted in days! I completed the 100 Days Project (yay!) and have been giving myself a bit of a break.

Soon I will post an update about where I’m at and where the blog is headed from now on. But for now, please enjoy this list of things that has inspired me this week!

a-walk-in-the-park

Loved looking at this Filofax art journal!

As I get ready to launch my new business (more on that soon!) with my best friend and business partner, I’m taking on board these tips from Leonie

And this awesome list of blogging tips

Love this idea for catching your days over a month

Stumbled across this old post with a fantastic message

And found these great journal resources

Creativity

Journal prompt: Song lyrics

Jen Morris

I love music. I can’t drive anywhere without my music in the car, I can’t clean the house without music, and I don’t feel like myself if I go for 24 hours without listening to some kind of music.

I’m very careful about the music I choose to listen to – I only listen to that which uplifts or inspires me. I avoid songs that have unpleasant themes or are related to sad memories. I avoid music that I find too loud, offensive, or just plain devoid of meaning.

I’m not a snob, I’m just a sensitive and emotional person who likes to listen to music with meaning.

Lyrics are of great importance to me. I guess as an English teacher I tend to read into language and meanings more than most.

So often I will be listening to a song and a particular song lyric will stand out to me and get me thinking. I thought this could make a great journal prompt.

india-arie-lyrics

>>> Prompt:

Either choose a song you love, or choose lyrics you especially love, or just keep an ear out next time you are listening to music.

Take the line or verse that most stands out to you. Write it in your journal.

Then, write whatever comes to mind. Use the lyrics to spark your imagination, or inspiration, or to dig deeper with your own feelings and thoughts. There is no right or wrong answer. Write as long as you feel like it.

If it’s from a song you really love, consider what it is that really speaks to you about the lyric. Or if it’s something you’ve just picked up today, think about why it has caught your attention at this time.

The great thing about music is that there is so much you will never run out of inspiration!

Some of my favourite lyrics and musicians that have inspired me:

  • ‘Sometimes I hear my voice and it’s been here, silent all these years’ – Silent all These Years – Tori Amos
  • ‘You must pick a side. Will you choose fear, will you choose love?’ – Flavor – Tori Amos
  • ‘Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can’t change where you’ve been, but today I have the opportunity to choose’ – I Choose – India Arie
  • ‘I heard a voice that told me I’m essential, that all my fears are limiting my potential’ – Just Do You – India Arie (so many of her songs have great lyrics for this!)
  • ‘People find where they belong, or keep on’ – The Wolves and The Ravens – Rogue Valley
  • ‘Finding out wherever there is comfort there is pain’ – Four Seasons in One Day – Crowded House
What Inspires Me

Weekly inspiration

Jen Morris

Each week I share the posts and pages that have most inspired me. Feel free to share anything you’ve enjoyed this week in the comments below.

forest

I loved this post I found at Dirty Footprints Studio about art journal morning pages – very inspiring!

Loving the latest post from Samie about how her art journaling practice has changed (I can’t get enough of her journals!)

I came across this post by Carole Ann Penney which offers a cool idea for a journal prompt – something I’ve been wanting to try for a while

Alexandra contemplates what it means to grow big or stay small when following our dreams

A bit of a short list this week I’m afraid! In truth I’ve been so busy getting back into work that I’ve hardly had any time to go online! Here’s hoping there’s more time for inspiration next week.

What Inspires Me

Hope street

Jen Morris

Today I went for a walk with a friend. We were talking about the creative business we will soon be launching, our biggest dreams and hopes for the future.

We were talking about where we want to be this time next year; what changes we want to make over the next 12 months to make our dreams come true.

We dared to imagine what our lives could look like if our business plans came true.

I explained the changes I was making in my own work life – some of which have taken courage and are scary. But I’ve been trusting my intuition to lead me. I’ve been letting my inner wisdom guide me.

As we walked, a beautiful monarch butterfly caught my eye, dancing through the early evening sun’s rays.

Every time I see one of these butterflies I think of Wayne Dyer and the amazing story from his book Inspiration. He believes that butterflies are a sign from the divine. I love this. Each time I see one, I take it as a sign from the divine that I am on the right path.

It was perhaps a coincidence that I saw the butterfly as we spoke about this. But I prefer to see it as a sign.

And then, I saw a literal sign – for a street:

Hope Street.

Again, a possible coincidence. In truth, I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in synchronicity. Meaningful coincidence.

There is no coincidence. Only the illusion of coincidence – V for Vendetta

And I didn’t even want to go walking, really. But by keeping my eyes and my heart open as we walked, I found myself receiving tiny messages from the universe. Tiny nods to keep going.

Creativity

Journal prompt: Theme word

Jen Morris

I want to share a journal prompt that I think is really neat. It’s easy and can be completed in as little as 5 minutes, but it spans a week (or longer, if you like).

I found this prompt in Kathleen Adams’ Journal to the Self.

>>> Prompt:

Pick a ‘theme word’ for a week, or longer if you prefer. Susannah Conway chooses a theme word to guide her through each year, which I think is a really cool idea.

For this prompt, you are going to journal each day for 5-15 minutes about how you experienced your theme word that day. If you were to choose a guiding word for the year, you may journal each week, or check in each month.

focus-on-happiness

My word for this week is happiness, to get me focusing on the little things that bring me joy as I head back into work.

Some other examples of theme words are:

  • Calm
  • Passion
  • Change
  • Loneliness
  • Confusion
  • Love
  • Patience
  • Faith
  • Gratitude
  • Anger
  • Inspiration
  • Acceptance

You can really choose any word you like. My word for last year was perseverance. It served me well. Interestingly, I didn’t consciously choose a guiding word this year, but I have felt drawn to the words faith and courage over and over again.

What word will you choose as a theme word this week/month? Have you ever chosen a guiding word for the year, and has it made a difference?

What Inspires Me

Sunday gratitude

Jen Morris

I am going back to work tomorrow after a two-week break. In truth, I’m a little apprehensive about it.

The past term was tough and there were a few times I felt myself being pulled away from all the wonderful creative practices I have worked so hard to cultivate in my life. This term, I determined to remain focused on the things that matter and to draw clear boundaries between work and home.

I’m lucky, in a sense, to get regular time away from work to recover – although I must say that without it I think most teachers wouldn’t last the year.

The past two weeks have allowed me time to catch my breath, move a little slower and savour more of my time. I’ve spent more time being creative, relaxing, resting, outside walking, journaling, planning my business, dreaming, planning my tiny house, and just generally not feeling so stressed and overwhelmed.

It has been lovely.

Here are a few of the things I am most grateful for, from the past week:

  • Sleeping more (something I don’t get to do enough during the term!)
  • Spending time with family, friends and my partner
  • Taking my pup for more walks
  • Having the time to create my blog planner
  • Making my lunch fresh, at home, every day
  • Reading in bed until late morning
  • Watching some of my favourite TV shows
  • Journaling more often
  • Having time to read blogs and other inspirational material online
  • Just pottering around the house, sometimes aimlessly, and staying in my PJs well past breakfast…

As I head back to work tomorrow, I am mindful focusing on the positive and maintaining my creative practices in my own time.

What are you most grateful for this week?

Creativity

Keeping your creative focus

Jen Morris

 

Sometimes I get so many ideas that I can’t focus on just one. I get really inspired and feel myself being pulled in a hundred different directions.

I start new journals, come up with new blog ideas, buy new art supplies, sign up for new courses… only to find those initial feelings of inspiration giving way to feelings of overwhelm.

When I finally get a moment to myself to spend doing my own thing, I feel paralysed by indecision. Do I finally start writing the novel I’ve been planning? Or do I break out my new stencils? Or maybe I should be planning the e-book for my new blog? Or art journaling in one of my many art journals? Or journaling in my written journal? Or blogging on this blog? Or, or or…

It all becomes a bit much.

As much as I love feeling inspired and creative, I find myself with 15 different projects that are unfinished, abandoned for the next thing. This is no way to make progress!

In her book Renaissance Souls, Margaret Lobenstine explores people like me – what she calls, ‘people who have too many passions to pick just one’. I am so one of these people! I quickly move from one thing to the next, easily bored and distracted by something new that’s caught my eye.

The thing is, I would really like to finish something that I start. I want to finish writing my novel. I want to develop a blog to the point that it’s financially successful (which is not likely to happen if I keep getting distracted by coming up with ideas for new blogs).

In other words, I want to focus my attention and get results on the few things that are really important to me.

Lobenstine suggests picking three or four ‘focal points’ – these are the areas of interest that you choose to focus your attention. I think this is especially helpful advice for someone like me who, without limits, could easily have 10-15 different projects on the go at once. Four sounds good. Four sounds like I will actually have time and energy to focus and achieve something!

So right now I’m working on eliminating distractions and choosing the areas that are most important for my attention.

Journaling is an extremely helpful tool to remind ourselves of what is important, what we most want to focus on. It can also be a good way to remind ourselves by reading back through past entries. I’ve found that while sometimes my priorities have changed, often I’ve just gotten distracted and not followed through on what really mattered to me.

How do you remain focused on the things that are important to you?

What Inspires Me

Weekly inspiration

Jen Morris

Every week I share the blogs and links I’ve found most inspiring. Feel free to share any of your own in the comments below.

beach

I’m loving the Be Prompted journal prompt for September (yes I’m a little behind!). See Hope’s journal spread here.

This is a bit of an old post, but it’s got me feeling excited about a new year coming up soon! I’m definitely going to have a major planning party!

I’m hopeless at sewing and to be honest I’ve not really been interested in it much before… but now that I’ve seen this awesome journal cover tutorial I’m thinking it might be time to get some sewing skills!

Here’s a simple but fun journal prompt from To Live Inspired.

I enjoyed this post from Andrea about the importance of being open to effortless growth, rather than always pushing to make things happen. Funny how the things we most need to hear find us at just the right time.