Over the weekend, I taught several Creative Journaling workshops. One theme that kept recurring over and over again was the idea of judgment and expectations, from others and from ourselves. In some cases, it causes a paralyzing fear. What will others think? What will they expect from me? And so we neglect ourselves or doing what we know is in our hearts.

Creative journaling is one tool to create a space only for you, without judgment or expectation. In many ways, it is like meditating. Acknowledging a thought and then letting it go.

At the NC Botanical Gardens, as we sat outside and visitors roamed the herb gardens, we discussed how we were aware of the sights and sounds around us. Using visual images and sensory language flushes out the scene, the character or the emotion in writing. Whether it’s writing in a daily journal or writing for a magazine article, visual images provide great detail. Don’t be afraid to include them, no matter what people think!

Scoping It Out: Social Networking Our Own Style

Networking is an important part of finding new business, obtaining referrals and connecting with members of our community. But what if the structure of social networking lends itself to be cumbersome and not quite so beneficial? My husband, Barton discovered this when he attended a BNI networking group with me last year. Since Barton is in a wheelchair, it’s a little more difficult for others to hear him in the traditional social networking structure. Instead of shying away, we work together as a team.