July 31, 2025 • 15 mins
When everything feels overwhelming, our instinct tells us to abandon healthy habits until things settle down. But this is precisely when we need grounding practices most desperately.
Journaling—though often misunderstood as merely pretty notebooks and gratitude lists—can be a transformative practice that helps you walk through the crazy of life.
Your journal isn't just a diary—it's a personal laboratory where you empty the mental noise, challenge assumptions, and figure out how you want to show up to what's happening around you.
Through regular practice, you'll find yourself managing thoughts more effectively, moving beyond outdated thinking, and aligning actions with intentions. The beauty lies in its simplicity: there's no "right way" to journal, only your way.
Enjoy!
Learn more about Carla:
Website: https:/www.carlareeves.com/
Connect on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reevescarla/
Connect on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@differentlythepodcast
Go to https://carlareeves.com/freeclass to get The Class schedule, sign up, and/or pass it on to a friend. Each month is a new topic. Come hang out and learn with us for FREE!
Book a Complimentary Strategy Call with Carla: https://bookme.name/carlareeves/strategycall
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
A deep change in the way that we live requires a deep
change in the way that we think.
I'm Karla Reeves and this isDifferently.
Hola buenos dias.
We are back from Costa Rica andit's still just running through
my veins.
We had a trip of a lifetime.
(00:23):
Pura Vida is a saying in theirculture.
Everybody we ran into says it,and it's just this beautiful
expression and way of livingthat is so full of gratitude.
So my heart is full today.
The last couple of episodes wetalked about slowing down and
(00:45):
not being afraid of youremotions, and I recommend going
back and listening to those bothof those if you haven't already
Because what I want to talkabout today actually ties to
both of those things we're goingto talk about when life gets
crazy journal and about writingand how it's a tool for
navigating everyday life.
(01:05):
The hardest part of leadershipis leading yourself At least,
that's been my experience andwhen life gets crazy, we need
tools.
We need tools that help us tostay connected, centered, calm
and intentional, and journalingis a tool and a habit that you
can cultivate in your life thatwill honestly give you access to
(01:28):
most everything you need andthe way that I talk about
journaling, if you've beenaround a while is a little bit
different, and today I want totalk about three things that it
can be for you when life getscrazy.
So here's a little secret aboutjournaling that nobody talks
about.
It's not all about prettynotebooks and daily gratitude
(01:51):
lists which, by the way, thoseare great but it's really about
creating a personal laboratoryspace where you can experiment
with your thoughts, challengeyour assumptions and really
become the CEO of your own mind,because if you can do that, you
(02:11):
have way more power andinfluence and agency over the
quality and experience of yourlife.
So most people think journalingis just writing down your
feelings.
But what if I told you that ittruly could be the most powerful
business tool that you have,one that helps you make clearer
decisions, one that helps youspot patterns in your things
(02:36):
that are working and things thataren't working, one that helps
you build really unshakableconfidence in the way that
you're moving in your businessand in your life.
And here's the here's the deal.
Most leaders don't just write intheir journals.
They really use them as a kindof like a control center, a
(02:59):
dashboard for your life and yourbusiness, so you can figure out
how you want to move, how youwant to respond to what's
happening.
So much of we can't control,but there's so much that you can
, and journaling is a way to tapinto all those places where you
do have control.
A lot of people get stuck inthis place is that they don't
(03:24):
maybe know how to journal or not?
That there's a right way?
Because there isn't.
But sometimes people get stuckin just journaling about the
negativity and there's so muchmore to this writing than just
dealing with negative thoughtsand emotions or sometimes they
just get stuck spinning in theirown thoughts instead of really
(03:44):
using their writing practice asa way to move forward and move
beyond that.
So what if you could turn yourjournal into this powerful
navigation for your business andyour life, one that really
helps you cut through the mentalnoise and access the wisdom
that's within you?
That's what this is about andthis is where, honestly, the
(04:09):
Differently journey started forme, and if you've been listening
a while, you've probably heardthis.
I think I shared it in a veryearly episode.
But when I was a new mom a lotof years ago, doing what I
dreamed of doing, I dreamed ofbeing a mom and but my first son
(04:30):
became eight months old and Istarted to feel a little stir
crazy and like I was losing myown sanity.
And when I looked around I kindof saw their moms losing their
sanity and that would ripple tothe way that they parented.
And I knew I didn't want that,but I didn't know.
I didn't know how to doanything different.
(04:50):
But it sort of became a missionto figure that out and at the
same time I felt at that timeGod tell me to write, to start
writing.
And I actually listened andI've never stopped.
And that was 23 years ago andafter I started writing.
(05:11):
I don't know how long it wasafter, I think it was a few
months, maybe six months.
But I was sitting on the edgeof my bed and I heard God say
again as I went through thepages of my journal and realized
, like holy cow, what actuallytranspired on the pages of my
journal Not only had I figuredout how to be a happier mom, but
that I figured out.
(05:32):
I just peeled layers ofaccepting myself, I tapped into
creativity, I had conversationswith God that I hadn't had
before.
There was just so much and Ifelt God impress on me at that
time that I was here to teachpeople how to use writing as a
(05:53):
tool to navigate life.
So, which brings us back to ourtopic today.
When life gets crazy, journaland yes, it's kind of funny, but
I really mean it like life iscrazy in all the ways, right.
Crazy good, crazy sad, crazyhard, crazy blow your socks off
some days.
And when life gets crazy hardor crazy full or crazy busy, the
(06:18):
tendency that I see with myclients all the time is to set
aside the healthy habits, right,put them on hold while we
survive and get through this.
But what I want to tell you isthat this is actually the time
to double down on your healthyhabits and your self-discipline,
because this is when you needit the most, even if it means
(06:41):
that you do it for less time oryou have to fit it into small
little nooks and crannies.
You just get relentless inmaking that happen for yourself,
because that will ripple toeverything else and it's kind of
crazy.
But over the last 15 years I'vehonestly tried to ditch this
journaling thing.
(07:01):
It's kind of funny when I thinkback, because when I started
this that many years ago,journaling was still kind of out
there.
It was kind of a weird.
It was a little weird, if youcan believe that, because it's
so mainstream now and over thelast year, I feel like God has
(07:22):
just really shown me that thisis a core piece to what I do.
I've had people remind me ofthat.
I've had people I run intopeople and they have told me
just hearing me talk aboutwriting or journaling got them
back into a journaling practice,and so I've had to just wrap my
arms around this weird andwonderful tool and just embrace
(07:46):
it, because it's made such ahuge impact in my life and in
people around me.
So, do you write?
I wonder these things.
I would love it if you would.
There's a button on yourpodcast player and I can't think
of the name of it, but it mightjust be send Carla a message.
(08:06):
If you would click on that andjust send me a note, that would
make me so happy.
I would love to know, like doyou write?
Do you have questions aboutwriting?
Do you want to start a writingpractice?
What would help you?
What would support you in doingthat?
What questions do you have?
Because I would love to makespecial episodes to just answer
your questions.
(08:26):
So please, please, please, godo that today.
And if you've made it this farin the episode, you probably
have some level of interest inthis journaling thing, or maybe
you're just interested in thebenefits and the rewards that
could come from it.
Either way is perfect.
Not because I love writing.
(08:47):
I started writing because Iwanted to feel better and it
made sense to me that a journalwould help.
What is it that you want, andwhat if writing could move you
closer?
So, wherever you find yourself,totally good.
I invite you to set asidepreconceived ideas of what it is
(09:09):
and let me show you howjournaling can really be a tool
when life gets crazy and whyit's my favorite and how it's
invaluable to me as a coach.
I wrote and recorded an episodeon why I coach with a journal
and that you'll have to look forthat.
It's kind of a ways back, butthat's a whole nother episode.
(09:31):
It's invaluable to me as acoach.
Um, so three things journalingcan be for you when life gets
crazy.
Number one it's a vehicle.
Like I was saying, it's avehicle to get to where you want
to go, to get to a betterfeeling place.
It's a container to shed, dump,empty all the stuff that goes
(09:55):
on in your head, the invisiblestuff, the thoughts, the
feelings, your gratitudes, yourhopes, your dreams.
You know this Costa Rica tripthat I mentioned.
We just got back from.
A lot of that started in myjournal, dreaming about that,
writing about that, envisioningthat, all your tears, all your
fears, all of it.
(10:16):
Then it gives you anopportunity to stand back, sort
through process, get somedistance from your own thoughts
and emotions, grapple with themand search for a new way through
.
Whatever you're navigating,journaling is a vehicle.
Number two it's a tool.
(10:41):
It's a tool for turning yourmind into your greatest catalyst
for growth and well-being.
I talk about how mindset hasbeen around for a long time and
we have so many resources and somuch research and so many
shelves of books in thebookstore.
But are we getting mentallyhealthier?
And I believe the gap is theknowing and the walking it, the
(11:04):
doing it, the doing the work.
And journaling is a way to dothe work of managing your mind.
It's a daily job, it's a dailywork.
I work to manage my mind and beaware of it on the daily.
It's a big job, yes, but it'stotally worth it because it
(11:24):
gives me my life and it willgive you yours.
It's a tool for connecting toyourself your mind, your body,
your spirit and your soul.
And many days, many, many days.
For me, it's a conversationwith God.
Number three it's a practice,and I think that this is so
(11:45):
important.
There's no right way to do this.
Follow your own instincts andfind your own rhythm, because
there's no right way.
But again, it's when life isbusy, when life is full, when
life is crazy, when life is hard.
This is the time to do it, notwaiting till someday when you
have time.
That will never come, that willnever happen.
(12:06):
It's a lie that keeps us fromthis healthy tool that is so
vital and important.
So, when life gets crazy, thisis when you amplify the priority
.
It's not something you have todo, it's something you get to do
, and this will come over time,I promise you.
And when used in all sorts ofdifferent ways, you will feel
(12:31):
better, you will feel morecentered, you will feel more
clear, your conversations willbe more clear.
Just like a good workout givesyou energy and aliveness, the
same can be true for writing.
It's a practice.
(12:52):
That was number three.
So those are three things todaythat I'm consistently using my
journal for, and there's threethings kind of inside my journal
and inside my life.
That I'm always doing, which ismanaging your mind, managing my
mind, taking care of mythoughts, expanding my
(13:15):
perspective so I don't get stuckin old, negative, outdated
thinking, and then aligning myactions to what it is I want to
be creating in my life.
So I want to go back for asecond to God telling me to
write when I was losing mysanity and actually listening
and never stopped.
And it makes me wonder, ifyou're still here, listening
(13:38):
what this might mean for you.
Get started and give it sometime.
Reach out, tell me whatquestions you have, what support
you need.
It's less about the writing andmore about listening as you get
quiet and what's going tohappen over time as you show up
to the page over and over.
(13:59):
God's ready to meet you on thepages of your journal, just like
he meets me.
Listen closely and if you needhelp getting started, book a
strategy, call with me and let'stalk about how writing could
impact your life.
That would be so fun for me.
Or you can come to the Augustfree class where you're going to
(14:22):
experience writing for yourself.
Our topic on August 15th, ifyou're listening, live is flow
down to speed up and we're goingto explore the counterintuitive
idea of how getting quiet,slowing your pace, will actually
speed up your momentum andintentionality all over your
life.
So that's all I have for youtoday.
(14:44):
I hope you're having abeautiful day.
Get out that pen and paper, getout your notebook and just
begin.
You won't regret it.
Thank you for making it all theway to the end and thank you
for listening to differently.
If you enjoyed this episode,will you please go leave a five
(15:07):
star review and share it withsomeone you love.
Goodbye for now.
I'll see you next week.
A deep change in the way that we live requires a deep
change in the way that we think.
I'm Karla Reeves and this isDifferently.
Hola buenos dias.
We are back from Costa Rica andit's still just running through
my veins.
We had a trip of a lifetime.
(00:23):
Pura Vida is a saying in theirculture.
Everybody we ran into says it,and it's just this beautiful
expression and way of livingthat is so full of gratitude.
So my heart is full today.
The last couple of episodes wetalked about slowing down and
(00:45):
not being afraid of youremotions, and I recommend going
back and listening to those bothof those if you haven't already
Because what I want to talkabout today actually ties to
both of those things we're goingto talk about when life gets
crazy journal and about writingand how it's a tool for
navigating everyday life.
(01:05):
The hardest part of leadershipis leading yourself At least,
that's been my experience andwhen life gets crazy, we need
tools.
We need tools that help us tostay connected, centered, calm
and intentional, and journalingis a tool and a habit that you
can cultivate in your life thatwill honestly give you access to
(01:28):
most everything you need andthe way that I talk about
journaling, if you've beenaround a while is a little bit
different, and today I want totalk about three things that it
can be for you when life getscrazy.
So here's a little secret aboutjournaling that nobody talks
about.
It's not all about prettynotebooks and daily gratitude
(01:51):
lists which, by the way, thoseare great but it's really about
creating a personal laboratoryspace where you can experiment
with your thoughts, challengeyour assumptions and really
become the CEO of your own mind,because if you can do that, you
(02:11):
have way more power andinfluence and agency over the
quality and experience of yourlife.
So most people think journalingis just writing down your
feelings.
But what if I told you that ittruly could be the most powerful
business tool that you have,one that helps you make clearer
decisions, one that helps youspot patterns in your things
(02:36):
that are working and things thataren't working, one that helps
you build really unshakableconfidence in the way that
you're moving in your businessand in your life.
And here's the here's the deal.
Most leaders don't just write intheir journals.
They really use them as a kindof like a control center, a
(02:59):
dashboard for your life and yourbusiness, so you can figure out
how you want to move, how youwant to respond to what's
happening.
So much of we can't control,but there's so much that you can
, and journaling is a way to tapinto all those places where you
do have control.
A lot of people get stuck inthis place is that they don't
(03:24):
maybe know how to journal or not?
That there's a right way?
Because there isn't.
But sometimes people get stuckin just journaling about the
negativity and there's so muchmore to this writing than just
dealing with negative thoughtsand emotions or sometimes they
just get stuck spinning in theirown thoughts instead of really
(03:44):
using their writing practice asa way to move forward and move
beyond that.
So what if you could turn yourjournal into this powerful
navigation for your business andyour life, one that really
helps you cut through the mentalnoise and access the wisdom
that's within you?
That's what this is about andthis is where, honestly, the
(04:09):
Differently journey started forme, and if you've been listening
a while, you've probably heardthis.
I think I shared it in a veryearly episode.
But when I was a new mom a lotof years ago, doing what I
dreamed of doing, I dreamed ofbeing a mom and but my first son
(04:30):
became eight months old and Istarted to feel a little stir
crazy and like I was losing myown sanity.
And when I looked around I kindof saw their moms losing their
sanity and that would ripple tothe way that they parented.
And I knew I didn't want that,but I didn't know.
I didn't know how to doanything different.
(04:50):
But it sort of became a missionto figure that out and at the
same time I felt at that timeGod tell me to write, to start
writing.
And I actually listened andI've never stopped.
And that was 23 years ago andafter I started writing.
(05:11):
I don't know how long it wasafter, I think it was a few
months, maybe six months.
But I was sitting on the edgeof my bed and I heard God say
again as I went through thepages of my journal and realized
, like holy cow, what actuallytranspired on the pages of my
journal Not only had I figuredout how to be a happier mom, but
that I figured out.
(05:32):
I just peeled layers ofaccepting myself, I tapped into
creativity, I had conversationswith God that I hadn't had
before.
There was just so much and Ifelt God impress on me at that
time that I was here to teachpeople how to use writing as a
(05:53):
tool to navigate life.
So, which brings us back to ourtopic today.
When life gets crazy, journaland yes, it's kind of funny, but
I really mean it like life iscrazy in all the ways, right.
Crazy good, crazy sad, crazyhard, crazy blow your socks off
some days.
And when life gets crazy hardor crazy full or crazy busy, the
(06:18):
tendency that I see with myclients all the time is to set
aside the healthy habits, right,put them on hold while we
survive and get through this.
But what I want to tell you isthat this is actually the time
to double down on your healthyhabits and your self-discipline,
because this is when you needit the most, even if it means
(06:41):
that you do it for less time oryou have to fit it into small
little nooks and crannies.
You just get relentless inmaking that happen for yourself,
because that will ripple toeverything else and it's kind of
crazy.
But over the last 15 years I'vehonestly tried to ditch this
journaling thing.
(07:01):
It's kind of funny when I thinkback, because when I started
this that many years ago,journaling was still kind of out
there.
It was kind of a weird.
It was a little weird, if youcan believe that, because it's
so mainstream now and over thelast year, I feel like God has
(07:22):
just really shown me that thisis a core piece to what I do.
I've had people remind me ofthat.
I've had people I run intopeople and they have told me
just hearing me talk aboutwriting or journaling got them
back into a journaling practice,and so I've had to just wrap my
arms around this weird andwonderful tool and just embrace
(07:46):
it, because it's made such ahuge impact in my life and in
people around me.
So, do you write?
I wonder these things.
I would love it if you would.
There's a button on yourpodcast player and I can't think
of the name of it, but it mightjust be send Carla a message.
(08:06):
If you would click on that andjust send me a note, that would
make me so happy.
I would love to know, like doyou write?
Do you have questions aboutwriting?
Do you want to start a writingpractice?
What would help you?
What would support you in doingthat?
What questions do you have?
Because I would love to makespecial episodes to just answer
your questions.
(08:26):
So please, please, please, godo that today.
And if you've made it this farin the episode, you probably
have some level of interest inthis journaling thing, or maybe
you're just interested in thebenefits and the rewards that
could come from it.
Either way is perfect.
Not because I love writing.
(08:47):
I started writing because Iwanted to feel better and it
made sense to me that a journalwould help.
What is it that you want, andwhat if writing could move you
closer?
So, wherever you find yourself,totally good.
I invite you to set asidepreconceived ideas of what it is
(09:09):
and let me show you howjournaling can really be a tool
when life gets crazy and whyit's my favorite and how it's
invaluable to me as a coach.
I wrote and recorded an episodeon why I coach with a journal
and that you'll have to look forthat.
It's kind of a ways back, butthat's a whole nother episode.
(09:31):
It's invaluable to me as acoach.
Um, so three things journalingcan be for you when life gets
crazy.
Number one it's a vehicle.
Like I was saying, it's avehicle to get to where you want
to go, to get to a betterfeeling place.
It's a container to shed, dump,empty all the stuff that goes
(09:55):
on in your head, the invisiblestuff, the thoughts, the
feelings, your gratitudes, yourhopes, your dreams.
You know this Costa Rica tripthat I mentioned.
We just got back from.
A lot of that started in myjournal, dreaming about that,
writing about that, envisioningthat, all your tears, all your
fears, all of it.
(10:16):
Then it gives you anopportunity to stand back, sort
through process, get somedistance from your own thoughts
and emotions, grapple with themand search for a new way through
.
Whatever you're navigating,journaling is a vehicle.
Number two it's a tool.
(10:41):
It's a tool for turning yourmind into your greatest catalyst
for growth and well-being.
I talk about how mindset hasbeen around for a long time and
we have so many resources and somuch research and so many
shelves of books in thebookstore.
But are we getting mentallyhealthier?
And I believe the gap is theknowing and the walking it, the
(11:04):
doing it, the doing the work.
And journaling is a way to dothe work of managing your mind.
It's a daily job, it's a dailywork.
I work to manage my mind and beaware of it on the daily.
It's a big job, yes, but it'stotally worth it because it
(11:24):
gives me my life and it willgive you yours.
It's a tool for connecting toyourself your mind, your body,
your spirit and your soul.
And many days, many, many days.
For me, it's a conversationwith God.
Number three it's a practice,and I think that this is so
(11:45):
important.
There's no right way to do this.
Follow your own instincts andfind your own rhythm, because
there's no right way.
But again, it's when life isbusy, when life is full, when
life is crazy, when life is hard.
This is the time to do it, notwaiting till someday when you
have time.
That will never come, that willnever happen.
(12:06):
It's a lie that keeps us fromthis healthy tool that is so
vital and important.
So, when life gets crazy, thisis when you amplify the priority
.
It's not something you have todo, it's something you get to do
, and this will come over time,I promise you.
And when used in all sorts ofdifferent ways, you will feel
(12:31):
better, you will feel morecentered, you will feel more
clear, your conversations willbe more clear.
Just like a good workout givesyou energy and aliveness, the
same can be true for writing.
It's a practice.
(12:52):
That was number three.
So those are three things todaythat I'm consistently using my
journal for, and there's threethings kind of inside my journal
and inside my life.
That I'm always doing, which ismanaging your mind, managing my
mind, taking care of mythoughts, expanding my
(13:15):
perspective so I don't get stuckin old, negative, outdated
thinking, and then aligning myactions to what it is I want to
be creating in my life.
So I want to go back for asecond to God telling me to
write when I was losing mysanity and actually listening
and never stopped.
And it makes me wonder, ifyou're still here, listening
(13:38):
what this might mean for you.
Get started and give it sometime.
Reach out, tell me whatquestions you have, what support
you need.
It's less about the writing andmore about listening as you get
quiet and what's going tohappen over time as you show up
to the page over and over.
(13:59):
God's ready to meet you on thepages of your journal, just like
he meets me.
Listen closely and if you needhelp getting started, book a
strategy, call with me and let'stalk about how writing could
impact your life.
That would be so fun for me.
Or you can come to the Augustfree class where you're going to
(14:22):
experience writing for yourself.
Our topic on August 15th, ifyou're listening, live is flow
down to speed up and we're goingto explore the counterintuitive
idea of how getting quiet,slowing your pace, will actually
speed up your momentum andintentionality all over your
life.
So that's all I have for youtoday.
(14:44):
I hope you're having abeautiful day.
Get out that pen and paper, getout your notebook and just
begin.
You won't regret it.
Thank you for making it all theway to the end and thank you
for listening to differently.
If you enjoyed this episode,will you please go leave a five
(15:07):
star review and share it withsomeone you love.
Goodbye for now.
I'll see you next week.
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