Write Yourself Happy (in 5 mins or less)

I was 10 and it was a white Lisa Frank journal with a red bubble gum dispenser on the front. It also came with a heart-shaped lock and key which was a must considering I had an older brother living under the same roof who was always looking for new and inventive ways to humiliate me. 

That one little journal (okay…I called it a diary back then) unlocked a world of potential to me which quite literally became my saving grace, my happy place, for the rest of my life.  

Over the years the aesthetics of my journal evolved, as did my writing subjects and style thankfully, but the one thing that’s been constant is that no matter how sad I am or how bad things have seemed before I started writing, somehow the world and my place in it always becomes clearer and less noisy after just 5 minutes of “writing it out.” 

But the other day was talking to another writer friend of mine about journaling and asked her if she thought it made her happier. In general, she said, yes, journaling does seem to help her get things off her chest but she doesn’t always feel better afterward.  

And, in fact, she said sometimes if she’s already in a negative place, she can spiral even worse while journaling and go to an even darker place. (Eeek!) 

She suggested that for people like her, some positive prompts would help her from going too far into a negative abyss.  

So, inspired by my friend, I created 5 FIVE-MINUTE JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR A HAPPIER YOU and you can find all of them in my recent article up on Lifehack.org now.  

Read it and learn…
-My 6 favorite writing prompts for breaking through burn out (and feeling un-freaking-stoppable again)
-How to stop self-sabotage dead in its tracks so you can go on being your TRUE happy, fabulous self
-How to talk to your fear and learn from it (rather than letting it hold you back)
-Why “gratitude glasses” can change the way you see everything
The exact steps I use to tap into creative flow every morning

Giving yourself a safe space to not expect anything other than to just show up and be honest is incredibly liberating.  

Start with giving yourself the gift of reflection in your journal every day and see how your life starts to change. I guarantee you’ll feel more connected with yourself in the process and over time everything in your life will start to be a better reflection of you and what you value. 

Because that, my friend, is the key to lasting happiness. 

Love always,
​Kristina