Life Mandala Writing Journey: Week One
The Who, What, Where, Why, When and How of your story.
You’re always evolving in the context of your life. It’s okay to alter directions, scrap plans, or fine-tune a pursuit. Seasons change, schedules shift and new activities take our time. Even more importantly - new hopes, wishes, and desires fill our heart. These seasonal mile markers are a favorable opportunity to check in with our heartfelt intentions.
Together we’ll go through the next 5 weeks with writing explorations to clarify these five questions:
Where are you coming from now?
Who are you becoming?
What are you seeking?
Why is this important?
When is the right time?
How do you feel?
Welcome Video: Join me for your Life Mandala
Spend some time this week enjoying this process. This writing journey is a pause, to get rooted in living and not get lost in the blur of days. Instead - be active, engaged, and empowered by the choices you made as you move through with our own rhythm and timing.
There are Pdfs of all of these writing prompts at the bottom of the post. Grab a pen, journal, or the printable pdfs and cozy up for a few minutes…
Where are you coming from now?
Read through on your own or be guided through each prompt with this video.
The in-between never feels very comfortable. We straddle change with one foot in the old and one in the new, anticipating what’s next. Sometimes excited, sometimes daunted about the path ahead.
There are some key areas to reflect on and some important aspects to consider as you move toward all that spring has to offer. Seasonal and even monthly reviewing can keep us grounded in goals, while respecting our rhythm.
Plan next winter now.
Make notes to your future self. Schedule things in a planner for next year, while your finger is on the pulse of how you are emerging from these wintery vibes. While it’s best to always live from the present moment, it’s easier to honor and anchor into your own flow when you reevaluate what this time of year means for you and your accomplishments. Track how you feel… energy levels, moods, and interests. You’ll begin to see patterns as you relate to the world around you - be in synchronicity with what you both want and need.
Highlight the good times and accomplishments.
It is easy to just roll through a season without stopping to recognize the kinds of accomplishments that got you where you are. If there is a goal you accomplished or a change you made for the better, you need to celebrate those wins. Big or small. The call of winter is to rest. To restore your creative vision to fuel you forward in the direction of your passion. Maybe you got every project and goal accomplished. Maybe you relaxed and read by the fire. If it’s in support of where you need to be, then consider it a win.
Did you miss the mark?
What were your obstacles and what did you learn from them? It’s important to take stock of what got in the way. This can help you take a step back and see cycles of behavior that are keeping you stuck. There is no failure when you gain a new understanding or yield assured clarity. If there’s a gap between where you are and where you want to be, then there is always room for growth.
Moving Forward and Moving On
At certain times of our lives trials, tribulations, and triumphs move us forward or hold us back. It often feels like we’re navigating the triple t’s as a way of life. However, these times don’t define who we are. We get to choose. We get to aim our intentions. We get to claim the lessons and recognize our growth.
Looking back at this season, what contributed to where you are now?
What are you ready to let go of?
What will you bring forward?
What will you draw in?
Name the chapter.
Life is a sequence of experiences, opportunities, events, and choices. What would you say this season was about? Is there a word, phrase, or feeling that captures its essence. If you were writing a book, what would the name of the chapter be? Give it a place in who you are becoming.
With the deep rest of winter, maybe you have some creative energy in reserve? But before setting off in a new direction, it’s so helpful to reflect on the season behind. A seasonal reflection can be a profound practice in reevaluating how we feel and what we want moving forward.
Paid Subscribers have access to the Writing Journey Pdfs and the Life Mandala Live workshop coming in April …