Morning Pages and Affirmations-Here’s What I Write

When it comes to morning pages, a lot of people are confused about what to write.

And if you are a notebook hoarder like me but don't know what to do with empty notebooks, one of the most profitable ways to fill your empty notebooks is with morning pages.

But before that, let's take a look at what are morning pages:

According to Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist's Way, "Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*–they are not high art. They are not even "writing." They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind–and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow."

She ever suggests that if you can't think of anything to write, then write 'I don't know what to write' repeatedly until you fill three pages. By doing this, your brain often comes up with something to write.

Not to lie, I write that sentence, too. It works.

When I post about my morning pages practice on Instagram, people DM me asking what I write on the pages.

I have been writing morning pages on and off since 2018 and every day regularly since July 2019. 3 years is long enough to make it safe to say that morning pages are powerful, magical, and capable of changing your life.

Yes, those seemingly three pages filled with vain thoughts are freaking powerful!

In my 2020 Morning pages journal, I stuck this post-it note for the times I cannot come up with what to write. Now, I never run out of what to put in my morning pages.

Earlier I had a separate journal for future-self journaling but for a couple of years, I incorporated future-self journaling in my morning pages.

But this list doesn't mean that I do all of these every day. I do affirmations each day, yes, but not other things on the list. For gratitude, I have a separate gratitude journal which I have kept since June 2015. Gratitude journaling changed my life. I'll talk about it some other day.

Here's what's in my morning pages on most days:

Random Thoughts

My negative thoughts keep me busy throughout the day but on days when I dump them on the pages, I feel better. Putting negative thoughts on paper takes away their power and makes them weak and frail. It also lightens my heart to pour out what's hurting me on pages and write affirming thoughts that remind me that God is with me and it doesn't matter who is against me as long as God is by my side.

Future-self journaling

I do future-self journaling on most days in my morning pages. Future-self journaling helps us reframe our mind, thoughts, and beliefs until it starts reflecting in our reality. Earlier I used to do Future-self journaling prompts by The Holistic Psychologist but found new prompts some time ago by thefithabit.com and they work better for me.

Affirmations

I can shamelessly and tirelessly fill multiple pages with affirmations! I simply love writing affirmations, not only because they work and are infinitely powerful but because I love how my pen glides on paper while writing affirmations. Sometimes, it feels like my pen is writing on its own and my hand is just a medium.

Some of my favorite affirmations are: I am love. God loves me. I love God. God is with me. There is no power but God. I am always guided and protected by God's grace. Affirmations act as both: words to reframe my limiting beliefs and reminders that I can either have faith in God or let fear take over my life. I choose the former.

I don't care what you put in your morning pages, but I highly suggest you end your journaling sessions with positive affirmations. You can either make your own affirmations or look up on the internet for affirmations regarding any kind of change you are looking for in your life.

The internet is flooding with positive affirmations and quotes. Repeat, affirm, own them!

Here's a hack that got me into the habit of writing affirmations: I used to plug in my earphones and play affirmations on Youtube. I would listen to them and write them along in my journal.

I know it's hard to keep up your writing speed with the speaker, you don't have to write every affirmation they speak in the notebook, just repeat and write the ones that 'click' or speak to your soul, the ones that are easy to remember and own as if they are yours.

I would love to know if you journal as well and if you do, which of the journaling techniques do you practice.

Let me know in the comments below.