Exciting news: The LL Journaling Membership Club is officially open to join. More info below.
I wasn’t sure whether or not to start this note by wishing you a Happy New Year… but I guess I have inadvertently done it anyway.
Not because we still have a day left of 2023 but because wishing people “Happy New Year!” hasn’t felt right for the past few years and I am still not quite sure how I feel about it.
It was transitioning from 2020 into 2021 following that shambolic last-minute re-entrance into lockdown here in the UK when I first paused and considered whether or not to send and how to respond to the annual message.
2020 had been a horrendous and heartbreaking year, full of grief and loss and we were back in a lockdown with so much uncertainty and no indication of when it might end. Happiness was not what most people were feeling at the start of 2021.
Since then, I continue to hesitate to be the one to initiate the “Happy New Year” greeting or message.
It is no secret that the “festive” season can be a challenging time for many and therefore it is likely that a week later, those who find it difficult, are still not necessarily feeling “happy” that it is a new year.
What does the phrase even mean?
Before 2020, for me, sending the New Year wish was about sharing hope and optimism for the year ahead. And maybe it is as simple as adding “I hope you have a happy new year” or “wishing you all the best for the year ahead” to make it feel more meaningful and heartfelt…
Also, how long do we say it for? When is it OK to stop wishing people a happy new year? Does anyone know?
Perhaps you have never thought about any of this and you may be reading this thinking “Leanne, it is not that deep.” But hey, you got a sneak peek into the way my mind works and the kinds of things I try to make sense of in my journal.
Anyway, as the title of this note suggests, that was not my intended topic, but it was the thought rabbit hole I happened to trip into and tumble down as I began typing.
What gives you comfort?
December and January can be uncomfortable months for many reasons and therefore in my opinion is also an important time to welcome maximum comfort into our lives.
For me, peak comfort during this season looks like soaking in the bath, curling up with candlelight and cosying up under the duvet and blankets.
Back-to-back mugs of hot cacao, potatoes in all forms with every meal, bread, fresh and toasted and dripping with butter and hot desserts with generous pourings of custard.
It also looks like prioritising and protecting my peace, decluttering and being more mindful of my spending habits.
Too often we forget to comfort ourselves or feel guilty for doing so. But when life feels hard, to paraphrase the words of Devi Brown’s podcast intro, we all need a soft place to land.
The journaling prompts below have been included to help you remember - or (re)discover - what gives you comfort and to give you permission to comfort yourself over the coming weeks - or whenever you need to in the future.
Journaling Prompts
Here are your journaling prompts inspired by the thoughts shared in this note:
Prompt #1: Make a list of everything that brings you comfort
Write a list of 100 entries, as fast as you can (it’s OK to repeat entries).
Number your entries.
When you have finished writing your list, review your entries and explore the following questions:
What is standing out to you? What do you notice?
What themes do you notice? (Categorise any linked entries)
What surprises you?
Which entries evoke an emotional or physical response?
From your list, what will be your top 3 go-tos for comfort during difficult and challenging days?
Prompt #2:
Where is your “soft place to land”?
How does your “soft place to land” help you to experience peak comfort?
What, if anything, is missing from your “soft place to land”?
Bonus Prompts:
How do you feel about the phrase/greeting “Happy New Year”?
What is a more meaningful phrase or greeting you would appreciate and could share with others at the start of a new year?
Journaling Playlist
I have been enjoying this self care vibes playlist for both journaling and long soaks in the bath.
FYI: Journaling Self-Care
LL Journaling Membership Club
I am excited to share that the LL Journaling Membership Club is now open for you to join.
As a reminder, it is a subscription offer where you receive a weekly journaling pack containing 7 prompts for the week ahead.
You will also receive occasional themed journaling packs as well as exclusive member discounts on new products.
The monthly price is £2.99 for founding members.
There is also a 7-day free trial available and as a member, you get access to an exclusive discount code to download my new journaling guide: How to Deepen Your Journaling Practice for free.
You can join today. The first prompt pack is waiting for you.
Alternatively, you can purchase the new guide to deepening your journaling practice here.
That’s it from me, 2023 is a wrap!
Until next year 😉, keep feeling, healing and dreaming through journaling. ✨️
~ Leanne
P.S. Feel free to share your thoughts about this edition of Notes on Journaling in the comments.