1st: You can record your thoughts in many different ways. If you can, however, it's best to handwrite. Handwriting connects you to your deeper subconscious emotional brain through the connecting movement of your hand.

However, as stated on the front cover of the manual, you can create a free podcast at anchor.fm, or create a selfie to record your thoughts. Just put each into a file to keep it safe, and so you know where it is! We will use them later.

For handwriting, get yourself a Journal. It can be a an empty page, a simple spiral notebook or a fancy bound book. It can be a "bullet" or dotted-page journal, a grid- page, or a bare naked page. Buy it at Walmart, a book store, or a Dollar Store. (My favorite is Dollar Tree. Everything is $1.25.)

If you'd like a bit of help on choosing your journal, search "best journal for writing" on youtube.com.

I am intrigued by "The Smart Notebook" on this page. You'll still handwrite what you want, but then it offers ways to "store" your writing in many tech sites, folders, or other storage areas by scanning a code. It uses it's own "pen" and it costs a lot more. Or just Google The Smart Notebook.

Get yourself something to HAND-WRITE with. A pencil, a pen, any color or maybe several different colors, a fine ink pen, a fine point magic marker.

When you actually write, your brain sort of melts into what you are trying to say. Our brains actually go into a more sub-conscious creative right-side brain activity where you "feel" your emotions as your hand moves across the paper.

Personal writing becomes deeper for this purpose we're pursuing.

Give yourself a moment to get a feel for whatever tool you use to write with. Does it "fit" your hand well so you'll get a good feel while you write? It doesn't matter if you write cursive or just print... or you can even draw pictures. And if you've never learned how to write cursive, youtube.com offers lessons! "Search for How to Write in Cursive". If you're curious about a bullet journal, search for bullet pages and how to use them.

2nd: Writing and drawing, are the most direct way for you to bring yourself into the PRESENT moment. When you write, you stop doing everything else. You pause. You feel. You think. You pull yourself OUT of the world around you so that you can go deep inside... with safety. You're alone. No one will bother you, hopefully, or not distract you. However, if you do get distracted, don't be judgmental with yourself or any other. It just happens, and you can get back into it later if necessary.

3rd: YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE A LONG TIME WHEN YOU WRITE!

As you do the first assignment, you're only writing one word. But give it a moment of contemplation before you write it. Take a breath in slowly, hold it a moment, then let it out through your mouth as if you have a straw in it.

As you progress, if you only write for a few minutes, that's OK. If you write for longer, that's OK, too. But begin to write at about the same time every day. This gets you regular and helps you build a simple habit.

First thing in the morning. Last thing at night. Lunch time. Whenever you feel most comfortable.

This is something you want to do for your SELF. And in just 5 minutes, you will begin to see things, patterns of behavior might become evident, and of course you'll feel things. You want to understand what's behind or in front of your current-day feelings. This is a simple, but amazing process.

We'll talk about journaling in the class. There will never be a deadline for anything in our classes. It's up to you how long it takes. BUT, you've got to WANT to do this... so, be gentle with yourself. NEVER judge your Self. Period.

BTW: I never kept a written diary or journal. I just knew I'd be KILLED if anyone found it. Yet, when I grew up and had to drive everyday to work or taking my child wherever, I found myself writing in a little book that sat on the car seat beside me. I even wrote in symbols sometimes, due to my fear of discovery! Today, I can laugh at that. But back then it felt like I was making a deadly decision to write anything at all. And after a year or so, I was avidly writing every time I had to drive anywhere. Today, I have a large box of little notebooks. And wow, did I get lost in life as time went on. Just don't judge yourself as you go because that'll defeat your purpose.

Find what works for YOU.

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