I Wrote Morning Pages for A Year and This Is What Happened

[@lesleymason3354]

Another convert to Morning Pages! Super cool. I've just started my 44th journal and am approaching my 5th anniversary of Morning Pages. A total fan of the practice - I'm on record as saying that it may not have saved my life, but it has saved my sanity. That morning brain-clear, to get the stuff out of the head and onto the page, is so helpful. I've slightly adapted Julia's rules but the one I think is unbreakable is the pen on paper. The difference between the flow of a pen or pencil versus the staccato nature of tapping a keyboard really says it all. Plus you can't use the technology as an excuse not to do it. From the very beginning I decided to treat it as a spiritual practice. A commitment. And there's a thing...once you've done it...you've honoured your first commitment of the day. So even on the worst of days, there's that one thing. A bit like the marine squaring their rack. It matters. And oh, what a future mine you are creating for yourself. Don't go back to it too quickly, but do go back... Morning pages are allowed to be grumpy rubbish...they are allowed to be line-filling 'got to do these 3 pages but my head is empty' words-waste - because all of that does happen. People stop journalling because they don't understand that bit. I've got acres of paper that's just that...but it's worth it for the days when what pours out is gold dust. So yes, the creativity is the thing that sneaks in. Love it. Well done Mike...and great to hear that it's working for you. As for celebrating the completion of a year: I recommend buying a lovely new journal and committing to the next year. :) And always great to hear a shout out for the awesome Brene Brown. Lx

[@shivikadubey]

WOW! 44th journal!! just reading it is so inspiring ! i am 18 and I have been journaling for about four years now.. I try to do it almost every day..but there are weeks that i miss..that i don't feel like and than i come back to trying a new way of journaling to get back into the process and that is what brought me to morning pages..i started doing in 5 days ago..and i enjoy it cause otherwise i'd be on my phone...texting or consuming some kind of content.. I have a keen interest in journaling. like it's something I do for myself.. and reading that you have 44 journals!! WOW!! I just makes me excited thinking if i have soo many pages of myself in the future! I'll sure just continue it, thankyou 💛

[@lesleymason3354]

@@shivikadubey Excellent Shivika. Stick with it, it works - but you're right to play around and find whatever form of journalling works for you. And if 3 pages every day feels like a commitment (because, actually, it is and that's the point) but at your stage of life it may be one commitment too many, don't beat yourself up if you miss a while, just pick up again when you pick up - and maybe start by reflecting on why you stopped. And with immense respect to Julia Cameron (love the woman) I rewrote her rules in a way that works for me. So if one page works better than three, do that. If prompted writing works better than free-write brain-dumping do that. Hey, if you'd rather draw than write, do that - but make sure you scribble a bit of context for the drawing so it makes sense when you come back to it.

[@shivikadubey]

@@lesleymason3354Noted your advice! Right now I am sticking to writing 3 pages, as it's challenging on some days but i am up for it.. If in the future I have less time to commit I'll surly edit the rules as per my need. Thanks for the suggestion 🤍

[@Sub0x-x40]

every morning i wake up, i do wimhof followed by yoga nidra, and then i go for a walk. I simply have no thoughts in my head to put on a page. I will write maybe 4- 5 sentences. I still do it tho, every morning

[@scottlaughlin2447]

Good Evening, Mike, This my first visit. Good info here. I retired in 1999, April, and that was when I began my version of this what I call My Daily Journal. I'm 85 and my social life is not as busy as it once was. On the days that words don't come easy I refer back to what I was thinking on that particular day a year earlier. That sometimes generates subject matter. My journals are 20 sheets of typewriter paper folded to make a 5x7 booklet and a number 2 pencil.

[@MikeBlissett]

Thanks so much for your comment, Scott. It's good to hear you're writing regularly, and I like your idea of looking for inspiration in entries we've written in the past - I will definitely try that one out! Sending best, and keep well.

[@kristin.frimnlv]

I started a weekly gratitude note this year writing, just on Sundays, a little note highlighting things from the week for which I am grateful. These are folded and kept in a mason jar. I'll read the 2023 notes on Jan 1, 2024, and start again. 9 weeks and a day ago, I began morning pages. I love it! I'll continue the weekly note and morning pages and may add a third journaling exercise, more in a creative writing style. I've always wanted to journal regularly, and now I am. Very pleased. Thank you for sharing your journey :)

[@greylady1958]

I am not able to write or type three pages, so I decided to use the voice recorder on my phone to "write" them each morning

[@MegaPeachiee]

The morning pages has helped me out a lot. I heard of it from a motivational video of some and started that way and it has been over a month now. I have bi-polar illness and it makes a huge difference getting all the thoughts out of my head and healing in many ways. Thank you for this video on more details about it!

[@MikeBlissett]

Many thanks for your comment Christina. Sending best wishes.

[@freelancingandblogingworld]

Your video content was very informative and instructive and also Presentation Style, Editing of the video, Audio and Visual Quality, Passion and Sincerity, Innovative Ideas, music, and Background Score were just amazing and interesting.

[@grudtt2428]

Startet writing morning pages a few days ago… and loving it ❤️❤️❤️ So many interesting conversations with my inner voice 😊👍

[@nadiareads6359]

I'm working through the artist's way right now, and there were moments where I didn't feel like writing by hand, especially three pages- my hand will start to hurt eventually, so I just did what was comfortable and used my laptop- I still had the same benefits if I did it by hand, I would do the morning page one to start. I set my own pace, nd over time so far my writing will organically go on a second page. But if it's not there then that's okay, at least I wrote something and didn't skip a day. I will be buying a nice journal in the future to continue this practice, but I did want to point out that it is okay for people to set their own pace, as long as they are doing it. I've adapted the activity to my needs and so far so good.

[@TonyWinyardDJ]

Thanks for the reminder Mike. I've been wanting to journal daily for so many years. I've started a few times but rarely get past a week or two before slipping out of the habit! I came across Morning Pages a while back and loved the concept. I also love the concept of The Daily Stoic, which is reflecting on one's actions, thoughts, feelings, behaviours etc. As your video played it occurred to me that every attempt I've made at journalling has been to do it just before going to bed, and my feeling was it wasn't something I could do in the mornings. By saying this in public, (albeit, not so many people I know will see this comment!), I'm gonna commit to starting to journal every morning from tomorrow, and make a slight adjustment to my morning routine, which is to usually go for a long walk within the first 30 minutes of waking. My phone is turned off at 10pm each night, and usually not turned on again until around 10/11am, so I'm gonna aim to write a page or 2 on waking, and then going for a walk. As for a celebration you can do on your 1 year anniversary; how about writing the first page of your new book? 😄I'll certainly buy a copy of your book when it's published. Good luck with it, and hope to see it in Waterstones in Piccadilly soon, where we can meet for a coffee again and I can get my book signed! 😄

[@MikeBlissett]

Sounds like a plan, Tony - both for your journaling, and also my writing! Coffee on me! Hope all’s well, my friend. Sending best.

[@MikeBlissett]

Thanks so much, Lesley. A new lovely journal sounds like the perfect 'present to self' I've been looking for and been doing for years, so love that idea! Keep well.

[@lesleymason3354]

A bit late on coming back on this one Tony...so...how'd it go? Did Morning Pages take hold with you?

[@hanneshuette]

Hi Tony! Were you able to find a pathway into this? I heard another KZbin video where he spoke of writing for 20 minutes (rather than 3 pages). I’m going to try that….

[@cstephenfoster]

I have used MPs forever and they work

[@Civilsmith]

Hi Mike, new sub😊 Wanted to add a comment for algo and also say hello. Thoroughly enjoyed this video please ignore snipes from others. Enjoy your day!

[@markevans2457]

Hi Mike, great video, I have been journaling on and off for a few years and watching this today has inspired my intention to get back on the horse to journal daily. This I feel is important to me as I have experienced a life-changing event earlier this year. Mark

[@MikeBlissett]

Thanks, Mark, I'm really happy you enjoyed the video. Wishing you well with your journaling.

[@crislazzerini]

Hi, Mike, miss listening to you! I'll get started with my morning pages. Merry Christmas and a great 2022!

[@MikeBlissett]

Hi Cristina, it's lovely to hear from you, too. Hope all's well. Merry Christmas to you and all, too!

[@Nikole1010]

That’s really interesting and useful 👍🏻

[@Makhamalie]

First meditation or morning pages?

[@DAClub-uf3br]

A year is a long time to get a pay off. If you do 15 min a day that is over 90 hours in a year. If i didn't get something after a month i would give it up.

[@occularpatdown]

Omg so much waffle.

[@maryl.7226]

Do you feel better now? 😢

[@suev4143]

Sorry, but I think you might focus on editing your videos. I found your wandering style unwatchable. I hope your writing is clearer. Good luck.