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Journal Writing for Personal Growth: Unlocking the Power of Reflection

Discover the transformative impact of journaling on personal development. Learn how journal writing can propel change and practice strategies for growth. Explore the benefits of reflection, metacognition, and fostering creativity through journal keeping. Uncover the health benefits and lifelong value of documenting your growth journey. Engage in activities like dialogue with your secret selves and listing exercises to enhance self-awareness and introspection. Find out how to maintain a journal effectively and inspire others to embrace reflective writing for positive change in their lives.

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Journal Writing for Personal Growth: Unlocking the Power of Reflection

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  1. Writing for Change Dannelle D. Stevens, Ph.D., stevensd@pdx.edu Portland State University Presentation for Texas A & M October 12, 2012

  2. A veteran journal keeper • “When I want to know what I really think, I write in my journal. It is more than a mirror. It does not reflect me. It is an evolving me: it is an organic process; it is discovery work. • Writing in my journal changes me. I am growing and I am evolving as I write.” • Barbara

  3. A new journal keeper • “My journal has become a symbol of independence. It allows me the luxury of time to myself. My family would consider journal writing self-absorbent, selfish and a waste of time. I had to overcome and reframe this mindset. It was a slow process to change my attitude… I found that writing in my journal gave me justification to spend time focusing, venting or thinking metacognitively. The professor said it well when she said, “writing is thinking.” • Laura

  4. Objectives • To connect the power of writing with the power of reflection for personal change • To show how journal writing can propel change • To practice some strategies for change

  5. Challenges • Tell me some of the personal challenges that students experience..

  6. Three Elements

  7. Power of Reflection • JK book, p. 37, Barbara quote • Objectifies experience • Deepens understanding • Promotes identity development

  8. Metacognition • Think about thinking • Invite perspective-taking • Develop repertoire of strategies • Log of experiences to reflect on • Linked to success

  9. Doorway to Health • Significant health benefits • Decreases stress • Offers safety • Write about traumatic events • Explore alternatives

  10. Journal Keeping • Reflect in writing • Affirms growth • Documents growth • Fosters creativity • Becomes lifetime tool

  11. An activity: Dialogue • Whom can you dialogue with? • What can you dialogue with? • Why dialogue? • Answer after activity.

  12. Activity: Secret Selves • List 5 secret selves… • e. g. Marilyn the messy • Peggy the perfectionist • Judy the judge • Dianne the devilish • Suzie the studious

  13. Dialogue • Write a dialogue with one of your secret selves. Use pattern below. • 10 minutes • D: Hello, Madeline the messy • MM: Hi, Dannelle, well, you discovered me. • D: Yep, I kick you out when I have visitors but, you are….

  14. Activity: Listing • Listing: What lists do we have? • Quote from Rainer, p. 85, JK book • List: • The things that bug me… • The things I am grateful for… • The things I am proud of… • The things I do well…. Etc., etc.

  15. How to keep a journal • Bound copy • Private: Can photocopy pages for reflections • Two-columns • Pages numbered • Table of contents • Front and back • Remember archival!

  16. How to get students to keep a journal • Must be taught! how to reflect need to practice Must be integral with your contacts Must be modeled

  17. A final thought… • Reflection with Metacognition with Health Benefits leads to powerful personal change • Thank you…..

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