Hello and welcome back to Beginnings and to another Walk & Chat with Dawn video. In this one I share some nature based bird inspiration that I just had to include so you can see it too; plus I discuss some changes I am making with my sketchbook practice, with a bit of visual history of what I've been doing for several years and what I'm doing now. And I am having so much fun! 

So, do join me for another Walk & Chat and you're welcome to share what changes you decided to make creatively or just with life in general. Sometimes we get so used to doing things a certain way, we don't realize we put ourselves into an unnecessary box that we can break out of at any time. We just need to be aware of it! Yes! 

Journaling Prompt: 
What box (creative or otherwise) have you been putting yourself in? Are you bored? Frustrated? Stuck? What step can you make to create change that can make a difference for you? Brainstorm in your journal what you would like to do instead. Take courage and break out of that box! 

I wish you well in your Beginning! 

Welcome back to Beginnings! This week, I am choosing to share the more Vulnerable Side of my Illustration Practice for my Illustration Pic of the Week. 
The title of this one is Confusion, and it illustrates how we can sometimes put ourselves in a box of societal expectation with a topic that is very personal. And when we allow that to determine the decisions we make, it can create an incongruence that doesn't align with what our heart is telling us. 

This happened to me recently and it created an unexpected heaviness that was hard to shake; but once I recognized the box I had put myself in, I was able to relieve myself of the Confusion it caused. Confusion has an energy that can be unnerving, undermining your confidence, especially when making decisions, whether small or large. 

When we recognize that the elements that create an incongruency are not coming from within but from without, we can get really honest with ourselves about why we are allowing these elements to have such a direct impact on how we feel. Letting go of those societal expectations and instead, embracing what our own hearts are telling us is an act of courage, but it also affirms who we are on the inside. And that is necessary for moving forward with confidence. 

May we stay aligned with what our hearts speak, knowing it's the Best path for Beginnings. 

Journaling Prompt: 
Describe a time when you struggled with making a decision based on other's opinions. How did that make you feel? What one step of courage did you take to align with what your heart was telling you? Affirm yourself with an empowering heart message of support and love going forward. 

Thank you so much for being a part of my creative and spiritual journey with me; you motivate me to continue to share snippets of my life with you which is an essential part of our community here at Refresh with Dawn Herring: Where Beginnings Are Celebrated! And I celebrate with you as you follow your heart! 

(And what a perfect way to end February on this Leap Day of 2024!) 

I wish you the Very Best of Beginnings!

Hello and Welcome Back to Beginnings! For this post, I am sharing a longer form video answering a Question from Carrie, a viewer of my short video on how I do Family Updates in my journals. She wanted to know how I manage my time with these updates, especially with the various approaches I take. 

Thank you, Carrie, for this question and I am delighted to answer it! I did a short version of this video that you can view here on my Art of Journaling page. 

In the longer form video, I share more detail about my process with recording family updates as well as my overall approach to my evening journaling practice. 

One key takeaway: Brevity helps. And abbreviating makes it easier. 
I also discuss my illustration process in connection with Family Updates. 
My whole desire is to make Family a Priority, making time a non-issue since I see it as an investment in what matters most to me rather than an obligation. It’s my choice to record family happenings and why they matter. 

I also address the issue of being too busy to make a journaling practice a front runner in your daily activity. 

I trust this Q & A will inspire you to get started or to keep up with your journaling practice in a way that is relevant, meaningful and manageable for you. 

Questions and comments about journaling are always welcome; I am delighted to share my journaling experience with you! If you watch the video, please give it a thumbs up for the value it brings to you. And subscribe to my channel if you haven’t already. 

Your support helps more people find my content to help them in their journaling practice in 2024! 
Thank you so much!
And I wish you the Very Best of Beginnings! 
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Journaling Prompt: 
How do you manage your time with journaling? Have you found a time, place and purpose for your journaling practice? How you found a way to keep it brief so you can engage with your journal that is comfortable and meaningful? You’re welcome to share below!