Creativity, Growth & the Beauty of Reflection with Wendy Smith

In this episode I’m joined by a treasured Journal Community member, Wendy Smith, who brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep love for writing to our journalling session.

Wendy shares how journalling with a structured framework has allowed her to creatively problem-solve and imagine new ways of being and reframe the stories she tells herself.

Wendy’s Journalling Gems:

• Journalling is a container for growth: Through regular practice, Wendy has observed herself becoming more reflective, calm, and content in life, moving away from reactive patterns to intentional living.
• The ripple effect of journalling: Insights from journal sessions often cross pollinate into other areas of Wendy’s life, from therapy to creative writing to deepening personal relationships.
• Themes that stay with you: Wendy recalls memorable journal themes, like turning life moments into headlines, exploring the science of awe, and confronting tricky emotions like anger. Each one left a unique imprint on her life.
• A beautiful shift: Over time, Wendy has grown more comfortable with expressing love and gratitude to others, which she acknowledges in part to the emotional clarity and awareness developed through journalling.

This conversation is a gentle yet powerful reminder of the ongoing journey of self-awareness and the role journalling can play in helping us truly see ourselves and the world around us.

About Wendy Smith 

Wendy Smith retired at the end of 2022 after a long career that involved writing lots of reports, policies and briefings on social issues for government. Now she is free to write for pleasure. She writes stories about her life and times as part of a fortnightly writing group, keeps a dream journal and a gratitude journal and journals with Ingrid and the Saturday morning online community. Writing, especially guided by Ingrid, is a great way to reflect and helps her reflect on her life and live more intentionally. That she sees is the main task for this part of her life. 

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
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