April 1, 2025 • 15 mins
https://lestallion.com/collections/journal-notebook-for-mental-clarity
Your brain is juggling a million things at once - the mental overload is real and it's affecting everything from your focus to your well-being. Enter journaling: not just any self-improvement fad, but a scientifically-backed method for cutting through mental noise and finding genuine clarity.
Journaling works through externalization - taking those swirling thoughts in your head and giving them physical form on paper. It's like hitting the "clear cache" button on your mental browser, freeing up valuable space for what truly matters. The writing process itself forces you to organize and prioritize your thoughts, creating order from chaos.
Beyond simple organization, journaling helps process emotions by creating distance between you and your feelings. This separation allows you to observe your reactions more objectively rather than being consumed by them. Over time, patterns emerge - perhaps you notice Sunday evenings trigger work anxiety, or certain people consistently generate negative thought spirals. These insights become powerful catalysts for personal growth.
The framework for effective journaling is refreshingly straightforward: start with gratitude to shift toward positivity, use prompts when you need direction, create a dedicated "brain dump" section for random thoughts, utilize organizational features like page numbering, and close with affirming statements. Even five minutes daily can yield profound benefits - from enhanced self-awareness and emotional resilience to improved problem-solving capabilities.
Ready to transform mental chaos into clarity? Grab a journal and discover what might happen when you finally give your thoughts somewhere to live. Your future, clearer-minded self will thank you.
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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:
https://lestallion.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ever feel like your brain is kind of like juggling a
million things all at once?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
I think in today's world it'slike almost impossible to not
feel that way sometimes.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Right, just this constant like hum of thoughts
and worries and to do's.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, and that kind of mental overload.
I mean it really impactseverything, you know, your focus
, your ability to make gooddecisions, even just like your
overall well-being, totallyability to make good decisions,
even just like your overallwell-being, Totally Well.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
On that note, today we're diving into a tool that
can help you cut through thatnoise and find some serious
mental clarity Journaling.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Ooh, journaling, it's such a powerful practice.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
It really is, and we're going to be looking at
some materials from our friendsat Lestallion who clearly get
this whole idea of using ajournal for mental clarity.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Right, Like they've really put a lot of thought into
not just like the actualwriting part but also how the
physical journal itself can likesupport that process.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Exactly.
I mean, for those of you whoknow La Stallion, you know they
make these gorgeous notebooksright With that super thick
paper, the 120 GSM stuff, whichis amazing for preventing bleed
through.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And I love the little details they include, like the
built-in table of contents andthe nice sturdy cover.
It just feels well-designed.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
It does.
It feels intentional, likethey're really thinking about
the user experience.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Absolutely, and so, in this deep dive, we're going
to extract some actionableinsights from Lestallion's
materials on how we can usejournaling to declutter our
thoughts, process our emotionsand set ourselves up for success
.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Love it.
So first things first.
How does putting pen to paperactually lead to a clearer mind?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, one of the key mechanisms is this idea of
externalization.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Externalization.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, it's like basically taking all those
swirling thoughts in your headand giving them a physical form
on paper.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Okay, I can see that.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So imagine you're working memory.
The part of your brain thatholds information temporarily is
like your computer's RAM right.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Okay, sure.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
If it's constantly overloaded with, like random
thoughts and worries, it's goingto slow everything down.
Journaling is like hitting theclear cache button on your
mental browser.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
So you're freeing up space for the important stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Exactly, and the act of writing itself actually
forces you to process andprioritize those thoughts.
It's like when you clean upyour desk you suddenly know
where everything is.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Right.
No more piles of paper buryingyour to-do list.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And Lestallion talks a lot about how journaling isn't
just good for organizing yourthoughts, but also for
processing your emotions.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
That makes sense.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
You know there's a ton of research on this idea of
expressive writing and how itcan actually help reduce stress
hormones.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Because when you write about your feelings,
you're sort of creating adistance between you and the
emotion itself.
It lets you observe it moreobjectively.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Instead of just being overwhelmed by it.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Right, and over time you can start to identify
patterns in your emotionalresponses.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Oh, like, maybe you notice you always feel more
stressed on Sundays because ofthe upcoming work week.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Exactly, or maybe you realize that certain people or
situations tend to triggernegative thoughts.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Wow, so it's like a tool for self-awareness.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
It really is, and that self-awareness is a huge
part of developing mindfulnessand feeling more grounded.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And I have to say I think the physical qualities of
Lestallion journals really addto that sense of calm focus.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Oh for sure, Like that thick smooth paper they use
.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I know it's just so luxurious to write on.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It really makes a difference when you're not
distracted by the actual writingprocess itself.
You can stay more focused onyour thoughts.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Right Like I've used journals where the pen would
just bleed through the page andit's super distracting.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, no one wants to deal with that, and Lestallion
really emphasizes this idea ofeach page being a dedicated
space for your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Like a blank canvas for your mind.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yeah, Whether it's brainstorming, reflection or
planning, each page is kind oflike its own container for that
mental process.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Okay, so we've talked about the good stuff, the
decluttering, the emotionalprocessing, the mindfulness, but
what about those pesky mentalroadblocks that can make clarity
feel so elusive?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
You mean like the overthinking, the stress, the
intrusive thoughts?
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly those are the real killers.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Well, those are exactly what Lestallion
addresses in their materials.
They talk about this cycle ofoverthinking that so many people
get trapped in and the constantmental replay of past events.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Oh yes, it's like my brain just won't let go of
certain things.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Right.
And then there's the stressthat just seems to permeate
everything and the emotionalclutter that weighs us down.
Like all those unresolvedfeelings that just keep swirling
around and then you've got theintrusive thoughts that can pop
up out of nowhere and completelyderail your focus.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, like when you're trying to work on a
project and suddenly your mindis replaying that embarrassing
thing you said five years ago.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Exactly.
It's so frustrating, butLestallion emphasizes that
journaling can help us breakfree from these patterns.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Oh, I'm all ears.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Journaling gives us a structured way to untangle
those messy thoughts andemotions.
By writing things down we startto reduce the mental noise.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Okay, so it's like giving those thoughts a physical
outlet, so they stop bouncingaround in our heads.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Precisely Sometimes, just the act of giving a worry
or an intrusive thought, aphysical form on paper can
diminish its power.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Interesting.
Or at least it lets you examineit more objectively you know
that makes sense, and I can seehow using prompts or doing some
free writing could be reallyhelpful, especially when it
comes to processing thosetrickier emotions.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah, I think prompts can be really helpful for
getting started, and freewriting is great for just
letting your thoughts flowwithout any judgment.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Right, it's like you're giving yourself
permission to just let it allout on the page.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Exactly, and in a journal.
You don't have to worry aboutsounding intelligent or eloquent
, it's just about getting thosethoughts out of your head.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
So it's a safe space for those messy unfiltered
thoughts.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Exactly.
And speaking of safe spaces,Lestallion really emphasizes the
importance of organizing yourjournal in a way that makes
sense for you.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Oh yeah, their journals have those built in
table of contents and numberedpages right.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right, and those features can be so helpful for
tracking your progress andrevisiting past entries.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Because you can actually see how your thinking
has evolved over time.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Exactly, it's like creating a personal archive of
your inner world, and thisreminds me of a friend of mine,
sarah, who was going through areally rough time in work.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Oh no, what was happening?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Well, she had this new boss who was super demanding
and just made her lifemiserable.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I hate when that happens.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Right.
She felt completely overwhelmed, like she was drowning in
deadlines and impossibleexpectations that bad.
So she decided to startjournaling and she specifically
chose a notebook with numberedpages I think it might have even
been a listallion, actuallybecause she really liked the
quality of the paper.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So she could really focus on the writing itself.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Exactly.
She started by just makinglists of all the tasks she had
to do each day, which helped herfeel a little more in control.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Right, because then it's not all just swimming
around in your head.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
But then she started using the numbered pages to
track her stress levelsthroughout the day.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Oh, that's smart.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, she would rate her stress on a scale of 1 to 10
and make a note of what seemedto be triggering it.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So she could start to identify patterns.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Exactly and over time , she noticed that Mondays were
consistently her most stressfuldays.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Probably because of all the meetings and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Right, so she started proactively planning her
Mondays differently.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Like blocking off time for herself or getting all
the tough tasks done first.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Exactly, and she also used the table of contents to
organize entries related tospecific projects or
interactions with her boss.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
So she could easily go back and reference them later
.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Right.
It was like having a tangiblerecord of her challenges and how
she was coping with them.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
That's a great example of how those
organizational features canreally make a difference.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
It's not just about writing.
It's about being able to usethat writing to understand
yourself better.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
So for our listeners who are like OK, this all sounds
great, but how do I actuallyget started?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
What would be some good first steps, especially
based on what Lestallionrecommends?
Well, Lestallion lays out areally clear and actionable
framework.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Awesome, lay it on us .
Speaker 2 (07:59):
First they suggest starting with gratitude.
Oh.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I love gratitude practice.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Me too.
It's so simple but so powerful.
Just take a few minutes eachday to list three things you're
grateful for.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, that's a great way to shift your focus to the
positive.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Exactly, and it can actually help rewire your brain
to be more optimistic over time.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I've definitely found that to be true.
What else?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Next Lestallion recommends using daily prompts.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Oh yeah, those can be super helpful.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
They are Prompts can help you focus your reflection
on specific areas of your life,like your current challenges,
your feelings or your goals.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And they can help you get unstuck when you're feeling
creatively blocked.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Exactly.
And the third elementLestallion suggests is creating
a brain dump section in yourjournal.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
A brain dump.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, it's basically a designated space for all those
random thoughts, worries andideas that pop into your head
throughout the day.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Like a catch-all for the mental clutter.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Exactly.
It's a way to get thosethoughts out of your head so
they don't become distractions.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And so you're not trying to remember everything
all the time.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Right, and then, of course, make use of those
organizational features wetalked about the table of
contents and the numbered pages.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
So you can track your progress and revisit past
entries.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Exactly.
And finally, Lestallionsuggests ending each journaling
session with affirmations.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Affirmations nice.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, these are positive statements about
yourself or your intentions thatyou want to manifest.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
So it's like setting a positive tone for the day
ahead.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly and again, the way Lestallion has designed
their journals, with thenumbered pages, the comfortable
line, spacing it all just makesthis daily practice feel less
like a chore and more like wellenjoyable.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Right, it's like they've removed all the friction
points that might make youavoid journaling.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Exactly.
But you know, one thing thatcan still trip people up is
writer's block.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Oh yeah, Writer's block can be the worst.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Especially when you're already feeling
overwhelmed.
The last thing you want is tostare at a blank page and feel
stuck.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Right, it's like your brain just freezes up.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
But the great thing about journaling is that it
encourages a very free-flowingstyle of writing.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
You don't have to worry about perfect grammar or
anything like that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Exactly.
It's all about the process, notthe product, and Lestallion
actually offers some reallyhelpful prompts for when you're
feeling stuck.
What are they?
Things like what's one thing Ican let go of today, or what's
currently taking up the mostspace in my mind, or even just
how can I bring more focus intomy day.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Those are great.
Sometimes just having aspecific question to answer can
get the words flowing again.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Exactly, and Lestallion also emphasizes how
important it is to makejournaling a portable practice.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Oh yeah, their soft cover journals are really nice
for that.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
They are.
They're slim and durable, soyou can easily take them with
you wherever you go, and thisreminds me of my sister, who's
an architect.
She's always on the go, runningbetween meetings and site
visits.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
I bet she has a million things going on in her
head at any given time.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Oh for sure, and she used to just try to keep
everything straight in her mind,but it was overwhelming.
So she started carrying aLestallion journal with her
everywhere and she told me thatsometimes just taking five
minutes to jot down her thoughtsor sketch out an idea during
her commute or in a coffee shopwould make a huge difference.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
It's like giving your brain a little break.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Exactly, and I think the quality of the paper and the
design of Lasallian journalsalso plays a role in making
those little journaling breaksfeel more inviting.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Like creating a little ritual for yourself.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Exactly so.
We've talked a lot about howjournaling can help with mental
clarity in the moment, but whatabout the long-term benefits?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Right.
Does consistent journalingactually lead to lasting changes
in our mental well-being?
Speaker 2 (11:33):
According to Lestallion, it absolutely does.
They believe that the benefitsof journaling compound over time
.
That makes sense, Because byjournaling regularly you're
essentially strengthening yourself-awareness, muscles You're
getting to know yourself better,right.
You start to recognize patternsin your thoughts and emotions
and you learn from your pastexperiences.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
And that self-awareness is so important
for personal growth.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It really is, and journaling also helps you build
emotional resilience.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Because you're learning how to process your
emotions in a healthy way.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Exactly.
It's like you're givingyourself a safe space to work
through those difficult feelings.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Instead of just bottling them up.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Right, and you know what else is interesting.
Journaling can actually helpyou become a better problem
solver.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Really how so.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Because when you write about a problem, you're
forced to analyze it morecarefully.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
And you can brainstorm potential solutions
on paper.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Exactly, and the act of writing things down can
sometimes spark new ideas orinsights that you wouldn't have
had otherwise.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
That's like you're using your journal as a sounding
board.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Exactly, and Lestallion really stresses the
importance of regularlyreviewing your past entries.
Oh yeah, their journals havethat handy ribbon bookmark for
that right they do, and theyalso have a back pocket where
you can store things likemotivational quotes or reminders
.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
That's so smart.
It's like they've thought ofeverything.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
They really have.
And you know the reason theyemphasize reviewing past entries
is because it helps you see howfar you've come.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And it can help you identify recurring patterns that
you might not have noticedbefore.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Exactly Like.
I remember reading aboutsomeone who used a Lestallion
journal to track their anxietylevels over several months.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
And what happened.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Well, by reviewing her entries, she realized that
she consistently felt moreanxious in the days leading up
to big presentations at work.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Oh, I can relate to that.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Right, it's a common fear.
But once she was aware of thispattern, she was able to
proactively develop strategiesto manage her anxiety in those
situations.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like maybe practicing deep breathing exercises or
visualizing a successful outcome.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Exactly so.
By regularly reviewing herjournal entries, she was able to
gain valuable insights into herown behavior and use those
insights to make positivechanges that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Yeah, it's like the journal becomes a tool for
self-discovery it really does so.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
As we wrap up the steep dive, what are the key
takeaways about journaling formental clarity, especially using
a well-designed notebook like alist allion?
Okay, sum it up for us well,the main point is that a journal
, especially one that'sthoughtfully designed, is more
than just a blank book.
It's a tool, a powerful toolfor achieving mental clarity,
(14:06):
improving focus and just feelingmore at peace.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
And those little details matter right, Like the
quality of the paper, theorganizational features, even
the design of the cover.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Absolutely.
It's all about creating anexperience that invites you to
engage with your thoughts andfeelings in a positive way.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And ultimately, it's about establishing that
consistent practice ofself-reflection.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Exactly Because even just a few minutes of journaling
each day can have a profoundimpact on your mental well-being
.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
So the invitation here is to think about how you
can incorporate journaling intoyour daily life, even if it's
just for a few minutes at a time.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Right and imagine what you might discover about
yourself, your thought patterns,your emotional responses, if
you gave yourself that space toreflect consistently.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
It's like unlocking a whole new level of
self-awareness.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
It really is, and that self-awareness is the
foundation for everything Formaking better decisions, for
building stronger relationshipsand for living a more fulfilling
life.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Well said, and on that note, we'll leave you with
this thought what might youdiscover about yourself if you
made journaling a regular partof your routine?
Speaker 2 (15:11):
The possibilities are endless.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
It was a pleasure.
Ever feel like your brain is kind of like juggling a
million things all at once?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
I think in today's world it'slike almost impossible to not
feel that way sometimes.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Right, just this constant like hum of thoughts
and worries and to do's.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, and that kind of mental overload.
I mean it really impactseverything, you know, your focus
, your ability to make gooddecisions, even just like your
overall well-being, totallyability to make good decisions,
even just like your overallwell-being, Totally Well.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
On that note, today we're diving into a tool that
can help you cut through thatnoise and find some serious
mental clarity Journaling.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Ooh, journaling, it's such a powerful practice.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
It really is, and we're going to be looking at
some materials from our friendsat Lestallion who clearly get
this whole idea of using ajournal for mental clarity.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Right, Like they've really put a lot of thought into
not just like the actualwriting part but also how the
physical journal itself can likesupport that process.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Exactly.
I mean, for those of you whoknow La Stallion, you know they
make these gorgeous notebooksright With that super thick
paper, the 120 GSM stuff, whichis amazing for preventing bleed
through.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And I love the little details they include, like the
built-in table of contents andthe nice sturdy cover.
It just feels well-designed.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
It does.
It feels intentional, likethey're really thinking about
the user experience.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Absolutely, and so, in this deep dive, we're going
to extract some actionableinsights from Lestallion's
materials on how we can usejournaling to declutter our
thoughts, process our emotionsand set ourselves up for success
.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Love it.
So first things first.
How does putting pen to paperactually lead to a clearer mind?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, one of the key mechanisms is this idea of
externalization.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Externalization.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, it's like basically taking all those
swirling thoughts in your headand giving them a physical form
on paper.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Okay, I can see that.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So imagine you're working memory.
The part of your brain thatholds information temporarily is
like your computer's RAM right.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Okay, sure.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
If it's constantly overloaded with, like random
thoughts and worries, it's goingto slow everything down.
Journaling is like hitting theclear cache button on your
mental browser.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
So you're freeing up space for the important stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Exactly, and the act of writing itself actually
forces you to process andprioritize those thoughts.
It's like when you clean upyour desk you suddenly know
where everything is.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Right.
No more piles of paper buryingyour to-do list.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And Lestallion talks a lot about how journaling isn't
just good for organizing yourthoughts, but also for
processing your emotions.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
That makes sense.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
You know there's a ton of research on this idea of
expressive writing and how itcan actually help reduce stress
hormones.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Because when you write about your feelings,
you're sort of creating adistance between you and the
emotion itself.
It lets you observe it moreobjectively.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Instead of just being overwhelmed by it.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Right, and over time you can start to identify
patterns in your emotionalresponses.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Oh, like, maybe you notice you always feel more
stressed on Sundays because ofthe upcoming work week.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Exactly, or maybe you realize that certain people or
situations tend to triggernegative thoughts.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Wow, so it's like a tool for self-awareness.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
It really is, and that self-awareness is a huge
part of developing mindfulnessand feeling more grounded.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And I have to say I think the physical qualities of
Lestallion journals really addto that sense of calm focus.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Oh for sure, Like that thick smooth paper they use
.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I know it's just so luxurious to write on.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It really makes a difference when you're not
distracted by the actual writingprocess itself.
You can stay more focused onyour thoughts.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Right Like I've used journals where the pen would
just bleed through the page andit's super distracting.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, no one wants to deal with that, and Lestallion
really emphasizes this idea ofeach page being a dedicated
space for your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Like a blank canvas for your mind.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yeah, Whether it's brainstorming, reflection or
planning, each page is kind oflike its own container for that
mental process.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Okay, so we've talked about the good stuff, the
decluttering, the emotionalprocessing, the mindfulness, but
what about those pesky mentalroadblocks that can make clarity
feel so elusive?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
You mean like the overthinking, the stress, the
intrusive thoughts?
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly those are the real killers.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Well, those are exactly what Lestallion
addresses in their materials.
They talk about this cycle ofoverthinking that so many people
get trapped in and the constantmental replay of past events.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Oh yes, it's like my brain just won't let go of
certain things.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Right.
And then there's the stressthat just seems to permeate
everything and the emotionalclutter that weighs us down.
Like all those unresolvedfeelings that just keep swirling
around and then you've got theintrusive thoughts that can pop
up out of nowhere and completelyderail your focus.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, like when you're trying to work on a
project and suddenly your mindis replaying that embarrassing
thing you said five years ago.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Exactly.
It's so frustrating, butLestallion emphasizes that
journaling can help us breakfree from these patterns.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Oh, I'm all ears.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Journaling gives us a structured way to untangle
those messy thoughts andemotions.
By writing things down we startto reduce the mental noise.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Okay, so it's like giving those thoughts a physical
outlet, so they stop bouncingaround in our heads.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Precisely Sometimes, just the act of giving a worry
or an intrusive thought, aphysical form on paper can
diminish its power.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Interesting.
Or at least it lets you examineit more objectively you know
that makes sense, and I can seehow using prompts or doing some
free writing could be reallyhelpful, especially when it
comes to processing thosetrickier emotions.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah, I think prompts can be really helpful for
getting started, and freewriting is great for just
letting your thoughts flowwithout any judgment.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Right, it's like you're giving yourself
permission to just let it allout on the page.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Exactly, and in a journal.
You don't have to worry aboutsounding intelligent or eloquent
, it's just about getting thosethoughts out of your head.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
So it's a safe space for those messy unfiltered
thoughts.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Exactly.
And speaking of safe spaces,Lestallion really emphasizes the
importance of organizing yourjournal in a way that makes
sense for you.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Oh yeah, their journals have those built in
table of contents and numberedpages right.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right, and those features can be so helpful for
tracking your progress andrevisiting past entries.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Because you can actually see how your thinking
has evolved over time.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Exactly, it's like creating a personal archive of
your inner world, and thisreminds me of a friend of mine,
sarah, who was going through areally rough time in work.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Oh no, what was happening?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Well, she had this new boss who was super demanding
and just made her lifemiserable.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I hate when that happens.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Right.
She felt completely overwhelmed, like she was drowning in
deadlines and impossibleexpectations that bad.
So she decided to startjournaling and she specifically
chose a notebook with numberedpages I think it might have even
been a listallion, actuallybecause she really liked the
quality of the paper.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So she could really focus on the writing itself.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Exactly.
She started by just makinglists of all the tasks she had
to do each day, which helped herfeel a little more in control.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Right, because then it's not all just swimming
around in your head.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
But then she started using the numbered pages to
track her stress levelsthroughout the day.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Oh, that's smart.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, she would rate her stress on a scale of 1 to 10
and make a note of what seemedto be triggering it.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So she could start to identify patterns.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Exactly and over time , she noticed that Mondays were
consistently her most stressfuldays.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Probably because of all the meetings and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Right, so she started proactively planning her
Mondays differently.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Like blocking off time for herself or getting all
the tough tasks done first.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Exactly, and she also used the table of contents to
organize entries related tospecific projects or
interactions with her boss.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
So she could easily go back and reference them later
.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Right.
It was like having a tangiblerecord of her challenges and how
she was coping with them.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
That's a great example of how those
organizational features canreally make a difference.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
It's not just about writing.
It's about being able to usethat writing to understand
yourself better.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
So for our listeners who are like OK, this all sounds
great, but how do I actuallyget started?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
What would be some good first steps, especially
based on what Lestallionrecommends?
Well, Lestallion lays out areally clear and actionable
framework.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Awesome, lay it on us .
Speaker 2 (07:59):
First they suggest starting with gratitude.
Oh.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I love gratitude practice.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Me too.
It's so simple but so powerful.
Just take a few minutes eachday to list three things you're
grateful for.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, that's a great way to shift your focus to the
positive.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Exactly, and it can actually help rewire your brain
to be more optimistic over time.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I've definitely found that to be true.
What else?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Next Lestallion recommends using daily prompts.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Oh yeah, those can be super helpful.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
They are Prompts can help you focus your reflection
on specific areas of your life,like your current challenges,
your feelings or your goals.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And they can help you get unstuck when you're feeling
creatively blocked.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Exactly.
And the third elementLestallion suggests is creating
a brain dump section in yourjournal.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
A brain dump.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, it's basically a designated space for all those
random thoughts, worries andideas that pop into your head
throughout the day.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Like a catch-all for the mental clutter.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Exactly.
It's a way to get thosethoughts out of your head so
they don't become distractions.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And so you're not trying to remember everything
all the time.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Right, and then, of course, make use of those
organizational features wetalked about the table of
contents and the numbered pages.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
So you can track your progress and revisit past
entries.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Exactly.
And finally, Lestallionsuggests ending each journaling
session with affirmations.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Affirmations nice.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, these are positive statements about
yourself or your intentions thatyou want to manifest.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
So it's like setting a positive tone for the day
ahead.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly and again, the way Lestallion has designed
their journals, with thenumbered pages, the comfortable
line, spacing it all just makesthis daily practice feel less
like a chore and more like wellenjoyable.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Right, it's like they've removed all the friction
points that might make youavoid journaling.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Exactly.
But you know, one thing thatcan still trip people up is
writer's block.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Oh yeah, Writer's block can be the worst.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Especially when you're already feeling
overwhelmed.
The last thing you want is tostare at a blank page and feel
stuck.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Right, it's like your brain just freezes up.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
But the great thing about journaling is that it
encourages a very free-flowingstyle of writing.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
You don't have to worry about perfect grammar or
anything like that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Exactly.
It's all about the process, notthe product, and Lestallion
actually offers some reallyhelpful prompts for when you're
feeling stuck.
What are they?
Things like what's one thing Ican let go of today, or what's
currently taking up the mostspace in my mind, or even just
how can I bring more focus intomy day.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Those are great.
Sometimes just having aspecific question to answer can
get the words flowing again.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Exactly, and Lestallion also emphasizes how
important it is to makejournaling a portable practice.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Oh yeah, their soft cover journals are really nice
for that.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
They are.
They're slim and durable, soyou can easily take them with
you wherever you go, and thisreminds me of my sister, who's
an architect.
She's always on the go, runningbetween meetings and site
visits.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
I bet she has a million things going on in her
head at any given time.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Oh for sure, and she used to just try to keep
everything straight in her mind,but it was overwhelming.
So she started carrying aLestallion journal with her
everywhere and she told me thatsometimes just taking five
minutes to jot down her thoughtsor sketch out an idea during
her commute or in a coffee shopwould make a huge difference.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
It's like giving your brain a little break.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Exactly, and I think the quality of the paper and the
design of Lasallian journalsalso plays a role in making
those little journaling breaksfeel more inviting.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Like creating a little ritual for yourself.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Exactly so.
We've talked a lot about howjournaling can help with mental
clarity in the moment, but whatabout the long-term benefits?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Right.
Does consistent journalingactually lead to lasting changes
in our mental well-being?
Speaker 2 (11:33):
According to Lestallion, it absolutely does.
They believe that the benefitsof journaling compound over time
.
That makes sense, Because byjournaling regularly you're
essentially strengthening yourself-awareness, muscles You're
getting to know yourself better,right.
You start to recognize patternsin your thoughts and emotions
and you learn from your pastexperiences.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
And that self-awareness is so important
for personal growth.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It really is, and journaling also helps you build
emotional resilience.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Because you're learning how to process your
emotions in a healthy way.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Exactly.
It's like you're givingyourself a safe space to work
through those difficult feelings.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Instead of just bottling them up.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Right, and you know what else is interesting.
Journaling can actually helpyou become a better problem
solver.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Really how so.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Because when you write about a problem, you're
forced to analyze it morecarefully.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
And you can brainstorm potential solutions
on paper.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Exactly, and the act of writing things down can
sometimes spark new ideas orinsights that you wouldn't have
had otherwise.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
That's like you're using your journal as a sounding
board.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Exactly, and Lestallion really stresses the
importance of regularlyreviewing your past entries.
Oh yeah, their journals havethat handy ribbon bookmark for
that right they do, and theyalso have a back pocket where
you can store things likemotivational quotes or reminders
.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
That's so smart.
It's like they've thought ofeverything.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
They really have.
And you know the reason theyemphasize reviewing past entries
is because it helps you see howfar you've come.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And it can help you identify recurring patterns that
you might not have noticedbefore.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Exactly Like.
I remember reading aboutsomeone who used a Lestallion
journal to track their anxietylevels over several months.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
And what happened.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Well, by reviewing her entries, she realized that
she consistently felt moreanxious in the days leading up
to big presentations at work.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Oh, I can relate to that.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Right, it's a common fear.
But once she was aware of thispattern, she was able to
proactively develop strategiesto manage her anxiety in those
situations.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like maybe practicing deep breathing exercises or
visualizing a successful outcome.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Exactly so.
By regularly reviewing herjournal entries, she was able to
gain valuable insights into herown behavior and use those
insights to make positivechanges that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Yeah, it's like the journal becomes a tool for
self-discovery it really does so.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
As we wrap up the steep dive, what are the key
takeaways about journaling formental clarity, especially using
a well-designed notebook like alist allion?
Okay, sum it up for us well,the main point is that a journal
, especially one that'sthoughtfully designed, is more
than just a blank book.
It's a tool, a powerful toolfor achieving mental clarity,
(14:06):
improving focus and just feelingmore at peace.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
And those little details matter right, Like the
quality of the paper, theorganizational features, even
the design of the cover.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Absolutely.
It's all about creating anexperience that invites you to
engage with your thoughts andfeelings in a positive way.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And ultimately, it's about establishing that
consistent practice ofself-reflection.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Exactly Because even just a few minutes of journaling
each day can have a profoundimpact on your mental well-being
.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
So the invitation here is to think about how you
can incorporate journaling intoyour daily life, even if it's
just for a few minutes at a time.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Right and imagine what you might discover about
yourself, your thought patterns,your emotional responses, if
you gave yourself that space toreflect consistently.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
It's like unlocking a whole new level of
self-awareness.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
It really is, and that self-awareness is the
foundation for everything Formaking better decisions, for
building stronger relationshipsand for living a more fulfilling
life.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Well said, and on that note, we'll leave you with
this thought what might youdiscover about yourself if you
made journaling a regular partof your routine?
Speaker 2 (15:11):
The possibilities are endless.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
It was a pleasure.
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