Living Amazed Journal - The Review

I actually started proper journaling after I graduated from University. I wanted to be able to write about life after graduation by documenting my daily experiences and thoughts at that moment on any issue. My entries were done at the end of each day not religiously though. I missed quite a number of days.

I stopped journaling in 2008 - blog post for another day.

Whenever I went through my note book just to see my past entries, I was in awe at how far I had come in life and it enabled the act of self reflection in my life. Self reflection has being a life long spiritual practice of mine, It helped me learn from experiences and aim to be a better person.

After I had my baby in 2015, I felt an emptiness and a strong desire to grow spiritually to fill the void I was feeling. I thought long and hard about practices that will enhance my spiritual life.

I came up with prayers and self reflection (of recent I discovered mindfulness - still working on that). I love to pray and I am a testament that prayers works. I knew in my heart that practicing these two will be difficult if not impossible without journaling. I bought note books to start journaling, but was unable to commit and as always, I came up with series of excuses why I was unable to and felt justified.

I never thought I was going to go back to journaling even after my friend and Life coach Detola published her journal. I didn't buy it then. My reason was that, I was never going to use it anyway. I participated in a Facebook food group competition some months ago and my surprise prize was the journal - Thank you Traycee. I was blown away by the beauty of this spiral bound book when it was delivered.

It comprises of  5 sections where you write :

Things you are grateful for -3
Things I would like to accomplish today
My declaration for today
I am praying for
Praise reports

There are also Bible verses and declarations on alternate pages.
There is also a page with a guide on how to use this journal.


I didn't start writing on the journal from the first day. I remembered starring at the part where I was supposed to write three things I was grateful for and I could not think of one spectacular thing. But I remembered what Oprah said about gratitude journal on one of her shows - if you cannot remember one thing to be grateful for, "be grateful for the air you breathe and the ability to do so on your own" so I wrote - I am grateful for the gift of life for myself and family'

That was my gratitude entry on the first four pages

I would have to thank my friend Ese. She shared her gratitude journal for the day on Facebook and it made me think for few minutes about things I was grateful for on that day. I remembered that my teenage sister had shared with me earlier on that day that she had gotten an internship position in a big company.
I was so happy about that and grateful that she knew that there was more to life than just taking selfies with a pouted mouth...........lol!!!

That was how it became a sort of ritual for me and it takes less than 15 minutes of my time in the mornings.

It has become  kinda therapeutic for me when after prayers and meditation in the morning, I fill out the sections 2,3 and 4. It helps me organise my day and work towards my goals. I start my day with an intent and purpose.

I use the note section to articulate my thoughts for the day. Share my worries and anxiety with God honestly and this helps me fill the praise report section at the end of the day.

There is also a sense of peace, contentment and accomplishment  I feel when I fill out the three things I am grateful for and praise report sections before going to bed. I tend to go to bed with a smile on my face.

Looking back at my entries from when I started till now fills me with a sense of gratitude for those little things that I used to take for granted before I started journaling.

Allow me to share one of my journal entries, I almost chopped off one of my fingers while chopping peppers on a Saturday morning, the knife I was using was new.  I had purchased it the previous day - It chopped off my nail instead. Thank God for long nails somebody!!!

If I had chopped off my finger that day, it would have ruined our plans of going to the zoo, I would have spent almost the whole day in the A& E maybe in pains or in horror at the sight of my blood. I thought about my kids, it would have scared them and so many other things came to mind......Phew!! I am grateful.

Gratitude has the power to transform lives, I worry less now and pray more as I remind myself of this quote by Steve Harvey - 'If you pray about it,don't worry about it'.


Journaling helps in the act of self reflection. Self reflection leads to self awareness and self awareness leads to living a more purposeful driven and spiritual life.

If you make the decision to start journaling today, you can use any type of journal really or notebook but I recommend this Living Amazed Journal because it is already divided into sections - which makes it easy to use. It is packed with declarations and bible verses to see you through the day, It is colourful and looks really stylish.

You can click HERE to purchase one and If you are still in doubt about if Journaling is right or wrong for you, Read this ebook on journaling by Detola  HERE

I really hope you make the decision to start journaling today and I hope you notice a positive and  significant change in your life.

Best Wishes
Bola Awe