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March 25, 2025 16 mins

https://lestallion.com/collections/journal-notebook-for-intention-setting

Discover the transformative power of intentional journaling – far beyond mere diary-keeping. This eye-opening conversation explores how the deliberate practice of writing down your intentions creates a powerful bridge between your inner world and outer actions, dramatically increasing your chances of achieving meaningful goals.

We dive deep into the fascinating science behind why this works. Your brain's Reticular Activating System (RAS) acts as a filter, determining what deserves your attention. By writing down specific intentions, you're essentially programming this system to notice opportunities aligned with your goals. Suddenly, resources and connections that were always present become visible, creating a remarkable feedback loop between conscious aims and subconscious awareness.

The physical experience of journaling matters more than you might think. We examine how thoughtful design elements like smooth paper, comfortably spaced lines, numbered pages, and built-in organization features reduce friction in maintaining consistency. These seemingly small details transform journaling from a chore into a ritual you genuinely look forward to. Learn practical strategies for overcoming common roadblocks like uncertainty about what to write or finding time in busy schedules. Discover how starting remarkably small, using guided prompts, and linking your practice to existing habits creates sustainable momentum.

What single intention might you set today? How would writing it down change your focus and actions? The journey toward a more intentional life might begin with something as simple as putting pen to paper. Your thoughts, made visible, become the blueprint for the life you want to create.

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LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.

For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, so you guys have sent over a bunch of really
interesting stuff this timearound, all about intention
setting and journaling, and Iknow we've talked about this
before, but I'm excited to diginto it even more.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
It's fascinating stuff, right.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Yeah.
So I guess what we're going tobe looking at specifically this
time is how using a journal theright way can really make a
difference when it comes toactually making those intentions
happen.
And you know, growing as aperson and like we've talked
about before with Lestallionjournals, it seems like there
are some really intentionaldesign choices there that make

(00:32):
that process easier.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
For sure, and we'll definitely get into those
specifics.
But I think the big picturehere is that connection between,
like what you're thinking, whatyou're feeling and what you're
actually doing in the world.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, that makes sense.
I mean, when I think about it,journaling with intention really
is like trying to bring allthose things together your
thoughts, your emotions, evenyour actions.
It's not just, you know, randomthoughts in a diary.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Right, and I think that's where the power of
actually writing those goalsdown comes in.
It's almost like you'recreating a visual roadmap for
yourself.
You know, when you see thoseintentions in front of you in
black and white, they become waymore real, and that's huge for
staying motivated.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Definitely, I can totally relate to that.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Like for me.
I know if I just think aboutwanting to learn a new skill or
something, it's not the same asactually like scheduling
practice time in my calendar.
Writing it down somehow makesit feel so much more like a real
commitment.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Absolutely, and it's not just about like big goals
either.
You know, one of the thingsthat really stood out to me in
the stuff you sent was how likethis daily practice of writing
down intentions can help youstay focused on your priorities
even when life gets super crazy.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
Oh yeah, for sure.
I mean, there's always so muchgoing on, it's easy to get
sidetracked.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
I feel like that happens to me all the time.
Yeah, and when you'reconstantly checking in with
yourself in that journal, itgives you a chance to kind of
step back and be like okay,what's actually important here?
What am I working towards?
It's almost like just acluttering your mind right.
It's like creating space forthose intentions to actually
grow and you know it's somethingelse that's really interesting
about this whole thing is theimpact it can have on like your
emotional intelligence andself-awareness.
You're constantly reflecting onyour motivations and figuring

(02:07):
out what might be holding youback.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
So, speaking of listalian journals, we've talked
about them before, but Iremember one thing that always
stuck out to me was the dashedlines on the pages.
What is it about thatparticular design choice that
makes it so helpful forintention setting?

Speaker 2 (02:24):
You know it's funny how something as simple as like
a dashed line can make such adifference.
But I think it's about creatinga structure without being too
rigid.
You know, some people mightwant to use those lines to break
down their intentions intosmaller steps, or maybe even
incorporate visuals like littlediagrams or lists, and the
dashed lines kind of act as aguide without feeling too

(02:44):
restrictive.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
I totally get that.
I remember when I was planninga trip a while back.
It was pretty complicated and Ihad like a million things
swirling around in my headplaces I wanted to go, things I
wanted to do and it just felt sochaotic and I started using
this notebook that had a dotgrid pattern.
It was similar to dashed linesin that it provided a subtle
structure and, honestly, it wasamazing how much that helped me,
like just visually mapping outmy itinerary, connecting

(03:11):
different parts of the trip,even making lists of things I
needed to pack.
It felt like those little dotswere helping me get all that
mental clutter out of my headand onto the page.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Exactly, and that feeling of being overwhelmed is
something that comes up a lotwith journaling.
You know people start out superexcited but then life gets in
the way and it's easy to losethat initial motivation.
Yeah, Especially if you're notreally sure where to start or
your goals feel too big.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's like that initial burst of energy is easy
to come by, but then it's like,how do you keep going when
things get tough?

Speaker 2 (03:41):
That's where having a well-designed journal can
really make a difference, andthis is something we've talked
about with listallion journalsthe features like numbered pages
and that built-in table ofcontents.
They might seem small, but theycan be so powerful for helping
you stick with it.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, how so.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, the numbered pages.
They create the sense of likeprogress and order, like you're
actually moving forward.
And then that table of contentsmakes it so easy to go back and
find things you know.
If you're feeling lost ordiscouraged you can flip back
through and see how far you'vecome, reconnect with those early
intentions.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
It's super helpful oh , I see it's kind of like having
an index to your own thoughtsand intentions exactly.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
it gives you a sense of continuity.
You know like you're buildingon something.
And I had this friend.
She was trying to launch thisside project while still working
her full-time job and she wasjust all over the place with it.
She felt so scattered and thenshe started using a journal that
had a table of contents and shestarted organizing her entries
by different aspects of theproject, like marketing, ideas,
development tasks, networking,contacts, and she'd log them in

(04:42):
the table of contents and overtime she could actually see the
project taking shape.
You know, she could track herprogress in different areas and
figure out where she needed tofocus her energy.
It went from this huge,overwhelming thing to something
manageable.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
Wow, that's a great example of how the journal
itself becomes like a tool foryou to use.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Right, and speaking of tools, another thing we've
talked about is using prompts tomake journaling easier, and I
know the material you sharedtalks a lot about this too.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yeah, I was definitely intrigued by that.
So how exactly do prompts helpyou with intention setting?

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well, sometimes the hardest part is just knowing
where to start.
You know you sit down with yourjournal and you're like, okay,
now what?
And prompts can be reallyhelpful for that.
They give you a direction to goin, like specific questions to
think about.

Speaker 1 (05:26):
What are some examples of prompts that people
could use?

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh, there are so many great ones out there.
Like one I really like is whatis one thing I want to focus on
today, or how can I better alignmy actions with my core values?
Stuff like that can really helpyou zero in on what's important
and come up with actionableinsights.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
So with Lestallion Journals we've talked about the
wood-free ivory colored paper.
How does that tie in withintention setting?

Speaker 2 (05:52):
It's not just about looks.
The feel of the paper canactually make a big difference.
When you're writing thatwood-free ivory paper, it's so
much smoother, which makeswriting a lot more enjoyable and
it's less likely to bleedthrough, which means you can
really focus on your thoughtswithout getting distracted.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
It's all about creating that sense of calm and
focus right.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
And the less friction there is in the actual act of
journaling, the more likely youare to stick with it.

Speaker 1 (06:17):
Which is super important.
Yeah, and speaking of stickingwith it, the material also
talked about how journaling canactually help you build
resilience and start seeingchallenges as opportunities to
learn.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
I love that idea.
It's so easy to get caught upin the negative stuff, but when
you're journaling regularly, youstart to see those tough times
in a different light.
You can reflect on them, figureout what you learned and use
those experiences to grow.

Speaker 1 (06:42):
And that reminds me of Sarah, this marketing
professional I know, who wastelling me how journaling
completely changed her outlook.
She was feeling so overwhelmedwith work she didn't know where
to begin.
She was having trouble evenfiguring out what her goals were
.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, that's so common.
It can be really hard toarticulate those intentions at
first, especially when you'refeeling stressed.

Speaker 1 (07:00):
Exactly so.
She started really small, justtiny daily intentions like I
will take a 15 minute break awayfrom my screen today or I will
really listen to my colleagueduring our next meeting, things
like that and she told me thatjust the act of holding her
Lestallion journal that softfaux leather cover actually
became something she lookedforward to, like a little moment

(07:23):
of peace in her crazy day.

Speaker 2 (07:25):
It's so interesting how those little details can
make such a difference.
You know, it becomes more thanjust a chore.
It's like a little ritual, away to take care of yourself.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
Totally, and she started using the back pocket of
the journal to keep littleinspirational notes or quotes
she'd come across.
It was like she was creatingthis whole support system for
herself.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
It's like building a little world in that journal.

Speaker 1 (07:44):
Yeah, support system for herself.
It's like building a littleworld in that journal, yeah.
And what's really cool is thatover time, her journal became
way more than just a place towrite things down.
It became like this tool forself-discovery.
By writing down her intentionsand reflecting on her progress,
she started to see her wholemindset shifting.
She became more confident, waymore clear about what she wanted
and those challenges that usedto feel so overwhelming, they

(08:06):
started to feel manageable.

Speaker 2 (08:08):
I love that.
It's a perfect example of howpowerful even small changes can
be when you're consistent.

Speaker 1 (08:14):
So let's say, someone is listening to this and
they're like, ok, this soundsawesome.
I want to try intentionjournaling.
What are some practical tipsthey can start using right away,
and how do features like thewords we've talked about in the
stallion journals really supportthose tips?

Speaker 2 (08:27):
Great question.
I think the most importantthing is to start small.
You don't need to come up withthese huge, life-altering
intentions right off the bat.
Just one simple intention forthe day, something like I will
be fully present during my nextconversation.
That's a great place to startand then, as you get more
comfortable, you can graduallyexpand.

Speaker 1 (08:46):
That makes sense.
Baby steps right.

Speaker 2 (08:48):
Exactly, and those guided plumps we talked about
can be super helpful too,especially at the beginning when
you're not sure what to write.
You know something like what ismy main priority for today or
what small step can I taketowards a longer term goal.
Those can really help you focusyour journaling sessions, and
the wide lines in a listallionjournal give you plenty of space

(09:09):
to write comfortably withoutfeeling cramped.

Speaker 1 (09:12):
I've noticed that.
Yeah, they're like the perfectwidth.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
Another technique that can be really powerful is
visualization, so like whenyou're setting an intention,
actually taking a minute toimagine what it would feel like
to achieve that goal, you know,maybe even jot down some
descriptive words or a quicksketch.
It just makes it more real inyour mind, and the spacing in
listallion journals is great forthat kind of thing.
You can add those littlevisuals without making the page

(09:34):
feel cluttered.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
And what about reviewing your entries regularly
?
I know that's something thatMaterial emphasized.

Speaker 2 (09:40):
Oh, that's so important.
It's not just about writing,it's about going back and
learning from what you'vewritten.
You know taking some time eachweek to reread your entries and
see what patterns are emerging,what strategies are working for
you and where you might need toadjust, and those numbered pages
and the table of contents in alistalian journal make that so
much easier.
You can quickly find whatyou're looking for and track

(10:02):
your progress over time.

Speaker 1 (10:04):
And lastly, creating a ritual around your journaling
can really help you stick withit.

Speaker 2 (10:09):
Absolutely.
If you can connect it tosomething you already do
regularly, like having yourmorning coffee or taking a few
minutes to relax before bed, itbecomes less of a chore and more
of something you look forwardto, and the physical experience
of using a nice journal, thesmooth paper, the feel of the
cover that can all become partof the ritual.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
Yeah, for sure, Okay.
So now let's talk about theemotional side of things.
The material talked a lot abouthow journaling helps with
emotional resilience.

Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, can you?

Speaker 1 (10:36):
explain what that means.

Speaker 2 (10:37):
So resilience is basically your ability to bounce
back from tough times, andjournaling can help you build
that skill because it gives youa way to process those difficult
emotions.
And journaling can help youbuild that skill because it
gives you a way to process thosedifficult emotions.
You know, when you write abouthow you're feeling, it helps you
make sense of what's going onin your head and gain some
clarity, and over time you startto see patterns in your
emotional responses, which meansyou can start developing
healthier ways to cope.

(11:01):
So the journal becomes like asafe space to work through those
feelings Exactly.
And having a durable journalwith plenty of pages, like the
Lestallion with its 211 pages ofthat thick 120 GSM paper, that
means you can really explorethose emotions without feeling
limited.
And that cover it's soft butit's also really strong.
So you know it can handle beingused every day.

Speaker 1 (11:19):
It becomes like a trusted companion.
So, speaking of tough times,the material also talked about
how journaling can actually helpyou turn challenges into
opportunities for growth.
How does that work?

Speaker 2 (11:29):
I think it's about using the journal as a tool to
really think through problems.
You know when you're facing asetback.
You can write down all thedetails, what happened, how you
felt about it, what factorsmight have contributed, and then
you can actually use thejournal to brainstorm solutions.

Speaker 1 (11:44):
So it's like having a brainstorming session with
yourself.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
Exactly, and the dashed line pages in a
listallion journal.
Those can be super helpful forthat.
You know, you can make lists,map out ideas visually, even
create timelines to see thesequence of events that led up
to the challenge.
It's all about taking that stepback and seeing things from a
more objective perspective.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
That's such a powerful way to approach
challenges.
Okay, so now let's dive intosome of the science behind all
this.
The material mentioned thereticular activating system, or
RAS.
What is that, and how does itrelate to intention setting?

Speaker 2 (12:16):
Okay, so the RAS, it's basically this network in
your brain that acts as a filterfor all the information that's
constantly bombarding you.
It's like a gatekeeper,deciding what gets your
attention and what doesn't.
And the cool thing is that yourRAS it prioritizes information
that aligns with your currentfocus, your interests and your
intentions.

Speaker 1 (12:34):
MARK MIRCHANDANI- so when you set clear intentions,
you're basically telling yourRAS what to look out for.
Leslie.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
KENDRICKS Exactly.
And when you write thoseintentions down, you're making
them even more concrete for yourbrain.
And that's where features likethe numbered pages and the table
of contents and listallionjournals come in handy again,
because they help you keep thoseintentions organized and make
it easy to revisit themregularly, which keeps reminding
your RAS what's important, soyou're more likely to notice

(12:59):
opportunities or resources thatalign with your goals.

Speaker 1 (13:01):
It's like you're training your brain to see what
you want to see.

Speaker 2 (13:04):
Exactly Okay.
So now let's talk about some ofthe common roadblocks people
hit when they're trying tojournal Things like not knowing
what to write or feeling likethey don't have enough time.

Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah, those are definitely things I've struggled
with.

Speaker 2 (13:16):
For sure.
So if you're struggling withthat I don't know what to write,
feeling guided prompts can be atotal lifesaver.
You know something simple likewhat am I grateful for today or
what is one small act ofkindness I can offer?
And when it comes to time, thekey is to start small.
Even just five or ten minutes aday can make a big difference.
And the Lestallion Journal.

(13:36):
It's small and light enoughthat you can easily take it with
you so you can write wheneveryou have a few minutes.

Speaker 1 (13:42):
I love that it's so portable.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
And if you're having trouble staying consistent, try
linking your journaling to anexisting habit.
Like maybe you always have acup of tea in the morning, try
journaling while you drink yourtea.
It just makes it easier tostick with it and remember.
Your journal can be a safespace to process anything that's
going on in your life.
If you're feeling overwhelmedor stressed, just writing it
down can help.
And don't forget to celebratethose small wins.

(14:06):
Writing about things you'regrateful for can make a huge
difference in your outlook.

Speaker 1 (14:11):
The material also mentioned choosing a journal
that you actually like and thatfeels good to use.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
That's a great point.
You want a journal thatinspires you and that has
features that you'll actuallyuse, like that smooth paper in
the listallion.

Speaker 1 (14:23):
So pick a journal that speaks to you.

Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yes, and set aside some time each day, even if it's
just a few minutes, start withone small intention or a guided
prompt and then go back andreview your entries every week.
Those are some really key stepsto building a sustainable habit
.

Speaker 1 (14:39):
OK, so finally, let's talk about the long-term
benefits of all this.
The material suggested somepretty amazing outcomes.

Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, for real.
I mean over time intentionjournaling can lead to some
serious personal growth.
You start to get really clearon what you want in life, you're
able to focus your energy, youbecome more resilient in the
face of challenges and you justfeel more empowered overall.

Speaker 1 (14:59):
That's incredible.
And a journal like theListallion, those special
features like the back pocketfor keeping mementos and those
comfortably spaced lines, itreally seems like it's designed
to support that journey.

Speaker 2 (15:11):
It reminds me of my grandfather.
He always kept this dailylogbook for years and years and
looking back at it now, it's socool to see how that simple act
of writing things down every dayreally shaped his life.
It reflected his values and,even though it wasn't like a
grand master plan, thatconsistent practice had a huge
impact on who he became.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
I love that story.
It shows that you don't have tohave it all figured out to
benefit from journaling.
Just the act of reflecting andrecording can be so powerful.
And when you combine that withthe deliberate practice of
setting intentions, it's amazingwhat can happen.
And when you combine that withthe deliberate practice of
setting intentions, it's amazingwhat can happen.
So, as we wrap things up, Ithink the big takeaway here is
that a dedicated journal forintention setting, especially
one that's thoughtfully designedlike the Listallion, it's so

(15:49):
much more than just a notebook.
It's a tool for creating thelife you want.
It's about clarity, focus,growth.
It's about taking those dreamsand making them a reality.
And the Listallion, with itsbeautiful cover and that high
quality paper, it's like aphysical representation of that
commitment to yourself.

Speaker 2 (16:06):
I totally agree.
It's about making intentionsetting and reflection a part of
your everyday life, and havinga journal that makes that
process enjoyable and inspiringis key.

Speaker 1 (16:17):
So, for everyone listening out there, I want you
to think about this for a minute.
What's one small intention youcan set for yourself today, and
how might writing it down in ajournal, maybe even a journal
like the Listallion?
How might that simple actchange your focus and your
actions?
Starting right now, maybeexploring the features of a
journal like Listallion is theperfect next step on your

(16:37):
journey to a more intentionaland fulfilling life.

Speaker 2 (16:40):
Great idea.
I think we all have somethingwe can work towards.

Speaker 1 (16:43):
Thanks for joining me for another deep dive.
It's always a pleasure.

Speaker 2 (16:46):
Same here Until next time.
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