Writing for wellbeing, an Orsolya Hernold guided journal review.

I have never kept a diary and yet, started blogging because I found writing freeing, a cathartic means of letting go, of expressing my thoughts and feelings, black text on white pages granting me a different, clearer perspective on things. In simple if I have a shitty day writing about it with a cup of tea makes me breathe easier, promotes positive emotional wellbeing and makes me more mindful of myself. It is also healthier than comfort scoffing a snickers in 3 seconds.

‘I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.’

— Anne Frank

When I was offered to review a guided journal created by Orsolya Hernold I jumped at the opportunity. It is a little different from the family friendly products I usually feature but this journal I picked for me, for my likes and wants. A journal will take my emotional outbursts with gentle silence and not criticise for my terrible grammar. I have a five year olds and therefore have a LOT of emotional outbursts to manage, both my own and his.

“Orsolya Hernold, or Orsi for short, is a coach and trainer that lives in Budapest, Hungary with her partner Zoli and their two young children. Orsolya has been journaling for over twenty years; a venture that started when she began diarizing a journey she was on. She was then fortunate enough to have mentors guide her through some powerful writing lessons.

Since then, she has written about her newborn children, analyzed conflicts in relationships, looked at the purpose of life and so much more. Orsolya fully believes that journaling has enabled her to lead a more conscious life and helped with her own personal development.

Orsolya’s website, orzola.org, offers free guided journaling courses that focus on one specific area of someone’s life at a time. These courses have high-quality journals to accompany them, should the journaling enthusiast wish to have something physical to write in.”

Life is short and its lessons are long. I am not the kindest person to myself, I think this has got worse since becoming a parent, my critical voice is louder and harsher. I have used the journal to write down the positives in each day, what has been done well, for personal growth of my mind…not my jeans size.

The journal is suited to beginners or experienced journalers, or is the plural journalists? Something for you to Google. It can be used to observe feelings, record events, so many precious ones slip through the dusty shades of my memory. I, like many parents have not got lashings of free time, but Orsi encourages that each day if you can only write a sentence then that is an achievement.

We are bloggers, experts of snatching fleeting moments in time to write…

Each week has a different focus and a short passage to read. Each day a question. One question to be explored for each of the 49 days. A lot of thought has gone into this little book.  They have only been made only for a short period of time (7 weeks) for you to try out the journaling habit and to not overwhelm you. I like that. They also come in teal and mustard which are my two favourite colours…after beige. I am a beige person.

Some of the questions I admit I sidestep until evening, some I ponder, some make me smile. I wasn’t sure if they would be useful but the first one was what do you think in the morning. I started to scoff at it…then stopped, in earnest the first thought I think is, oh no…then my brain is flooded by all the things I have to do in the day. That made me sad, so I have been actively trying to wake up, be thankful and have a quiet five minute tea before the ensuing chaos of parenthood and work and lists on post-its.

I also think my writing has improved, my recent post had so many positive emotive comments about my honestly and the feelings expressed and I think that is in part due to the journal, reluctantly opening me up page by page. Even my son, ever curious, asked the other day why I write so much and I replied simply because it can be fun. He is a reluctant writer. So I started asking him the questions, where suitable. We have a little talking time together and he writes a word in the book. His words are worth so much to me, they are precious little parts of him, scribbled and slanting.

I will keep writing…

It could make a beautiful gift and comes with a free spotty bookmark. They are perfect bag size at A5, are hardback for wear and have thick paper, it is a pet hate of mine when you write and the ink bleeds or the pen marks through. It also smells like libraries which I love. Just putting that out there.

 

If your interest has been piqued then check out:

http://orzola.org/my-journal-store/

https://www.facebook.com/orzolajournal

https://twitter.com/orzolajournal

 

My lovely friend Karen hosted an Interview with Orsi over on her blog. Head over and have a gander.

http://twotinyhands.co.uk/interview-orsolya-hernold-focused-journaling/

 

Note: We were very generously given the journal, which we feel honoured and grateful for. As always our opinions on the product are honest and our own.