Refresh with Dawn HerringWhere the Creative Spirit Comes to Life!

Thanks for stopping by Refresh with Dawn Herring. I hope you enjoy browsing through the postings and get to know me a bit better. I'm Dawn Herring, host of #JournalChat Live and Links Edition for all things journaling on Twitter and Facebook. I'm also a writer and artist focused on refreshment, journaling, and positive change. Email me at refreshwithdawnherring@gmail.com with any questions or comments you may have. Thanks and enjoy your stay!

Friday, December 26, 2014

A Comforting Awareness

Some of My Comforts: My favorite chair to journal in, my current artsy journal sketchbook and my favorite mug for tea.

One of the Comfort and Joy Prompts from Jani Franck's Ecourse was What Comforts You using the sense of Touch. I really had to give some thought to this. But as I wrote some things down, like my warm tea mug in the a.m. and p.m., and ways in which I care for myself with skin care and other things I do that involve a sense of touch, I realized that my perspective on each item had not been initially sensed this way...with comfort. Many of them were seen and experienced like more of a task, something that needs to be done, part of my routine.

So, as I considered this disparage, I realized I needed a fresh perspective on how I viewed these things so I could better experience them as they could be if I go about thinking about them differently. This activated a new Awareness of what Could Comfort me that I hadn't considered before.

Once I had this epiphany, the next time I engaged in any of these previously experienced "tasks" but with looking at them as something I could enjoy, relish and find comfort in, I found myself feeling more grateful, more present, more appreciative of what I have and how I can take care of myself and find comfort in these things at the same time.

I believe that when we slow down long enough to understand and appreciate each task or thing we do for ourselves, instead of running on rote thinking and not really noticing each engagement, we can transform much of what we do into something loving, nurturing and meaningful.

It becomes a Comforting Awareness when we take the time to see them and experience them that way.
I have become much more aware of my mug of tea, my journal, my watercolors, and many other things that are a source of comfort to me as I relish them in the moment.

What are you rushing through that could become something you thoroughly enjoy and even find a sense of Comfort in? Jot these things down and then, the next time you engage with them, Be Very Present. Relish the Moment. See what a difference it makes for you.

Life can truly be filled with many good things when we take the time to enJOY them as only we can.
How will you Comfort yourself today?

Copyright 2014 by Dawn Herring

Note: This post was originally posted on my Refresh Daily Blog. I've shared it with you, my readers, so you wouldn't miss a thing. You're welcome to subscribe on my website!

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Three Steps Toward Accountability...to Yourself (as published in SFC Newsletter, Dec 08 edition)

Accountability: to give a reckoning or explanation for one’s actions, responsible.

When most people think of accountability, they often negatively associate it with answering to others, such as a spouse, a friend, a mentor, or, in most cases, a boss. As a writer, you are your own boss, which is one of the reasons that you need to be accountable to yourself. And it can be a positive experience rather than a negative one.

The first step in being accountable to yourself as a writer is setting goals for your writing and keeping track of projects you want to finish. Incurring a deadline for yourself can help

motivate you in this area. This step can also include daily writing goals. Some authors plan how many words or pages per day they will write.

I’ve set goals for myself as a writer by making them reachable and attainable. This year I have set a goal to write at least one scene for my novel per week and at least one other piece,

whether it be memoir or essay, per week. That can mean just making notes, writing a first draft, or revising a draft.

As long as your goals keep you moving forward and you’re making progress, then you know you’re headed in the right direction.

Once you have your goals set, the next step in accountability to yourself is writing down what you accomplish each day. You can use a daily calendar just for writing or keep track of your

daily accomplishments on your computer. I designed a custom monthly writing calendar. It helps me track what I write daily, whether or not I’ve met my goal for the week, and it has

space for ideas for future writing pieces. I also have a spot to keep track of books I’m reading for that month. I use abbreviations to keep the daily writing easier and to save space. As I review each completed month, I can go back to see what I’ve accomplished and keep track of when I wrote each piece.

Whether you use something pre-made or customize something for yourself, use whatever works for you and helps you stay accountable to yourself.

A third, and perhaps most important, aspect in accountability in your writing is taking care of yourself as a writer. Than can mean giving yourself space and not being hard on yourself if

you don’t reach your goals each day or each week.

Flexibility and refreshment are paramount to your health as a writer. It also frees up your creativity and can actually help you produce more quality writing in the long run.

I enjoy writing in my journal, reading fiction or memoir, and watching a good movie with my family. Taking a walk, listening to music, talking with your family members, and just taking time to sit and enjoy life are all ways you can be good to

yourself—and ultimately accountable—as a writer.

Learn to celebrate your accomplishments and your uniqueness as a writer. That’s one of the best ways to be accountable—to yourself!

Refresh with Dawn HerringWhere the Creative Spirit Comes to Life!

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Friday, December 26, 2014

A Comforting Awareness

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Three Steps Toward Accountability...to Yourself (as published in SFC Newsletter, Dec 08 edition)

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