Yes. Mindfulness is all of those things, but at the core of it, it’s about paying attention. And one of the most powerful tools in your mindfulness toolkit is something you may not have considered: a simple journal and pen. Just as mindfulness can strengthen creativity, creativity can strengthen a mindfulness practice. Getting into the habit of writing down your observations in a journal can help you practice noticing. When was the last time you really paid attention to the sound of birds singing outside your window in the morning, or the feeling of warm sand between your toes at the beach? As you start your journaling practice, you’ll find yourself gradually feeling more present not only during your meditation sessions but in your daily life as well. There’s no need to make notes yet. Just be in your body and allow yourself to feel. When you arrive at your destination, get out your notebook. Write down what you noticed. Watch yourself as you translate your experiences into words. Allow yourself to be creative. Use whatever words come to you, and don’t worry for a minute about spelling or grammar. Feel free to add drawings or doodles, too! Let a memory from your past rise to the surface. It doesn’t have to be a particularly important one, although if it is, that’s OK too. Enter the body of your past self and experience the memory using all five senses. Write about this memory in your journal, using concrete, sensory details.
