Journey Forward: How to Use Journaling to Envision and Manifest the Life You Always Wanted

One day, after writing an unquestionably negative journal entry, I remembered thinking what a waste of time to relive undesirable moments. Getting things out of one's system is one thing, but that should not be the only outcome I get from journaling.

Then I thought, what if instead of recalling and then reliving on paper or electronic document a moment I disdained, I instead imagined my best life, and I wrote about that? What if I wrote about my best life, my imagined desired life, first thing in the morning before I did anything else? What if even when I have an unfortunate experience, I write about that experience in the past tense, envisioning a moment in the future when that experience will only be a memory of how far I've come professionally or how far I've grown as a person?

Over the years, I've learned neuroscience and psychiatry support this exercise of journaling forward. The cliff notes non-neuroscientist and psychiatrist version of the journaling forward story is the brain does not distinguish between prior memories and future ruminations. Journaling forward allows me to create future hopeful moments and pleasant dreamt chronicles. Journaling forward is essentially self-programming my mind for a type of enjoyable time travel.

Rather than dwelling on past events that saddened me and left me profoundly depressed or worse, I wrote about how I imagined living my best life. When confronted with a situation that didn't go as desired in reality, I wrote about a future event featuring the same circumstances where the virtual outcome was the one I wanted.

In the past many years that I've been journaling forward, I've found myself less depressed. I've also been able to do a better job managing the anxiety very often associated with a pending bout of depression. In short, journaling forward allows me to reduce the usually engulfing and long-lingering effects of anxiety and depression.

And there have been surprising bonuses from journaling forward. A number of the things I wrote about manifested themselves in my life.

From writing books, giving a TED Talk, being invited to keynote public and private engagements, and being featured in national publications and media outlets throughout the county, journaling forward has been a fantastic way to keep me living in the moment. Forward journaling has helped me keep my sanity. It also motivates me to remain faithful to my PVP (personal value proposition), living my life with joy on purpose so that daily I may help, serve, and make sure others know that their life matters.

So that's how we got here. That's why 'Journey Forward' now exists. Thanks to a lifelong friend nudging, "volunteering me" to share what helped me deal with depression, get through the overwhelming despair caused by the events like the Pandemic, and manage the daily trials and tribulations of life, 'Journey Forward' is a book today.

I hope that you find some value in 'Journey Forward.' Moreover, I hope that you will now journal forward the life you always imagined living too.

Educator. Counselor. Minister. Speaker. Coach. Mindfulness trainer. These are just a few of the terms that describe Robin E. Henderson-Wilson, Ph.D.'s professional accomplishments. As a recognized leader in education, Robin now adds author to her growing list of achievements. Journey Forward is her first publication. However, the countless number of journals around her house proves that she has been a life-long writer. Robin is a hard-working, tenacious, and inspiring professional who has committed her life's work to empower those around her to think big and to dream even bigger. This fearless approach to leadership and life can be traced back to Robin's beginnings in Gary, Indiana. As the only child of a strong, industrious mother, Robin learned the value of hard work and determination early in life. Early on, Robin displayed an innate leadership ability that would follow her through her adolescent years and during her pursuit of an undergraduate degree at Butler University and her subsequent graduate degrees at Indiana University (M.S. in Counseling) and Ball State University (Ph.D. in Education). Robin is a dedicated and compassionate leader who dares those around her to take risks. She has recently teamed up with Mindful Momentum to develop a program that will empower leaders to combine leadership skills and mindfulness to propel their organizations forward. Robin's charismatic personality and innovative ideas have established her as a highly sought-after speaker, consultant, counselor, and educator. She is a forward-thinking, conscientious individual who consistently challenges herself and those around her. Although Robin is a highly accomplished individual, she continues to push herself to keep striving, to keep achieving, and to show up as her best self every single day through her "Journey Forward."

Nathaniel A Turner is the author of multiple books, including the history-making Raising Supaman. Turner's books, videos, speeches, and training programs have empowered countless people and organizations. So that his child might be intellectually astute, globally competent, and socially conscious, Nate intentionally backward designed his son's life. Today, those tools, techniques, and strategies initially created explicitly for his son are educational and life development staples for people all over the country. Turner holds multiple degrees, ranging from Accounting (History Theology and Law (Juris Doctor). The diversity of Turner's formal education, combined with a wide range of personal experiences and professions, makes him a modern-day Renaissance Man. Nathaniel has been privileged to speak at some of America's top universities and corporations. Turner's story and work have touched the lives of educators and students of all ages. Businesses, governmental agencies, and community leaders find great value in his out the box perspective. Parents and guardians count on him for genuine and timely counsel. When this Humanity Propulsion Engineer's time on the planet is up, Nathaniel hopes to be remembered merely as a man who did his best to leave the earth better than it was when he arrived.

Baltimore, Maryland Keva (Michelle) Richardson is more than an educator and artist. Keva believes her life's purpose is to be an outward expression of her God-given gifts. The Towson University alum leans on her faith for life meaning and structure. Keva finds direction and solace, especially in 1 Timothy 4:12 & 16, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and purity; watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will save both yourself & your hearers." In the tradition of Lois Mailou Jones, Elizabeth Catlett & Alma Thomas, Keva acts as both artist and educator, using her art and teaching ability to educate, inspire, and transform the lives of all those with whom she comes in contact. Whether in the classroom or gallery, students and art patrons alike have an advocate who champions imaginative thinking, the power of creativity, and the rich, diverse expression of all humanity. So, today it comes as no surprise to those who know her best that what was enjoyed originally as a childhood hobby, art, has taken on an entirely different meaning. Nowadays, Keva creates because she understands that she is not merely an extremely talented artist but that using the gift of art in others' service is part of her life's call.