89 Comments
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Cyril Bassey's avatar

I have a beautiful leather journal I bought years ago, and I’ve been too intimidated to write in it, waiting for the “right” thought. You’ve made me see that blank page differently.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Cyril: I'm so glad that it resonated with you and that you are called to take our your gorgeous journal and write in it! Cheering you on, M!

Jennifer A Potter's avatar

Great piece. I feel the energy.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Jennifer: I'm so happy that it resonated with you and that you felt the energy! Thanks for the kind words!

Blue's avatar

This is, indeed (I hardly ever use that word), a great article, a great lesson, and a great assistance to so many people in the world. Thank you so much for sharing it, Magdalena. At 82, it's something I wish I had read in my 30s, perhaps even 40s. But in my 50s, I figured out who I was and had fun figuring out what I was supposed to be becoming for the rest of my life. Blue💙

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Blue: thank you so much for your kind and generous words! Your journey is so incredibly inspiring! Reading about your life and all your courages moves, decisions, your creativity and tenacity always leaves me breathless and with so many ideas on becoming...at any point/stage of our lives!

Blue's avatar

And I honor yours, as well, Magdalena. Blue💙

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Thank you! Hugs! M

Jill Reilly's avatar

Love this! I shared a similar post this week about using the blank page of a sketchbook to name the rules shaping who you think you’re allowed to become.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Jill: thank you so much for your kind words, heading over to your substack to check out your piece!

Jennifer Sterling's avatar

In the book Think & Grow Rich, it explains the power of a written mission statement in present tense and how it helps us build a new identity.

Thank you for some new writing prompts for my journal.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

I’m so glad that it resonated with you! I am adding this book to my must read list!

Jennifer Sterling's avatar

It’s supposed to be a book that’s read yearly…I’ve read it twice and want to do it again…. I’m bumping it up.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Now you've got me even more curious!

Linda Vanderlee's avatar

I'm so delighted to have discovered you and your Substack, Magdalena. I will be "notebooking" this morning. I'm also looking forward to incorporating details of Future Scripting into my work with a number of groups. I have been doing something similar but your details and its relationship to neuroscience enhances it greatly. 🙌 You will of course be credited. 🙏

Happy World Art Day.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Linda: Awweee. Thank you so much for your kind and supportive words! I'm so happy that you are part of this community and that you will be able to leverage the neuroscience part in your own work! Happy Wold Art Day! cheering you on, M!

Paul Behrman's avatar

Your words led me to write the first note of the person I know…the person who believes himself to be doing exactly what he is meant to do.

Thank you for a guide to actively being - twenty minutes a day without concern of accomplishment or progress.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Paul: thank you so much for sharing! you've made my day! congrats on taking action and I hope you will continue! Cheering you on, M

Karen Banes's avatar

I could not love this piece of writing any more. Realigning and reinventing myself right now, and I feel like I’ve just found exactly what I need to get started.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Karen: thank you so much for your kind, generous and supportive words! that makes me so happy! Can't wait to read more about your reinvention and realignment! Cheering you on, M

Emma Williams's avatar

This is a juicy list of journal prompts, thanks.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Emma, I'm so happy that it resonated with you!

Melissa Gough's avatar

These are great thought provoking strategies. Time to dust of a journal and write through a new lens.✍️

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Melisa: I'm so glad that it resonated with you! and can't wait to hear about your experiences once you've dusted off your journal! Cheering you on, M

Nilesh Thali's avatar

I’ve seen a lot of stuff like this, but this is actually good. Worth doing. Thank you

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Nilesh: thank you for you kind words!

Adia Bali's avatar

Your piece reads like an invitation to sit with myself at the page before the world’s labels harden into something permanent.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Adia: wow! so eloquently stated! I love this way of being! Cheering you on, M!

Alisa Zenkina's avatar

This really resonated.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting until you “become” someone before you start creating, but in reality, it’s the act of creating that shapes who you become.

Letting go of certain patterns while actively building new ones — through action, not just intention — feels like the most real takeaway here.

Starting now, even imperfectly, is everything.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Alisa: you said it to powerfully: "actively building new patterns — through action, not just intention" - I love, love this! thank you so much for this powerful reframe and cheering you on, in building the new patterns! M

The sovereign tiger notebooks's avatar

I love this. It's time for me to choose one of my beautifully stored empty journals to write in . Thank you for sharing this empowering post

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Julie: I'm so happy that it resonated with you! Thank you so much for your kind words! and happy writing!

Ellen Phillips's avatar

“I noticed I was bored instead of scared.” You can get moments of real clarity by journaling. For me, realizing that I am likely the only audience for my journal writing has helped.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Ellen: I love your realization! and you are so right that writing, journaling brings clarity!

EmilyLupita, MFA 🧿's avatar

Wowzers! I love this thank you. I’m doing it now - my ten minutes. 🦋🩵

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Emily: I'm so glad that it resonated and can't wait to hear about your experiences,!