Professional Documents
Culture Documents
(Books - For - ZNO) OwnYourLife2022
(Books - For - ZNO) OwnYourLife2022
OWN
YOUR:
Finances
Own
Career
Goals
Relationships
& Self
your
An
Interactive
Journal
This journal
belongs to...
Own Your Life
An Interactive Journal
Future PLC Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA
Editorial
Editor Alice Barnes-Brown
Designer Steph Peat
Senior Designer Lora Barnes
Compiled by Jessica Leggett & Laurie Newman
Senior Art Editor Andy Downes
Head of Art & Design Greg Whitaker
Editorial Director Jon White
Contributors
Sarah Bankes, Philippa Grafton, Rebecca Greig, Becca Lewry, Laurie Newman
Images
All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected
Advertising
Media packs are available on request
Commercial Director Clare Dove
International
Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw
licensing@futurenet.com
www.futurecontenthub.com
Circulation
Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers
Production
Head of Production Mark Constance
Production Project Manager Matthew Eglinton
Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby
Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson
Production Managers Keely Miller, Nola Cokely,
Vivienne Calvert, Fran Twentyman
Printed in the UK
Distributed by Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU
www.marketforce.co.uk Tel: 0203 787 9001
Own Your Life: An Interactive Journal Sixth Edition (LBZ4631)
© 2022 Future Publishing Limited
We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed,
certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this bookazine was sourced
and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and
socioeconomic standards.
All contents © 2022 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved.
No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without
the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number
2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury,
Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far
as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility
for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and
retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps
and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for
their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and
not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
I
f you’ve picked up this journal because you fear you’ve lost your
direction in life, you’re not alone. Feeling as if you are standing at a
crossroads, not knowing which way to turn, can be overwhelming. It
causes us to lose sight of what really matters and distracts us from going
after our goals. When I started on my journey towards a more focused
existence, I certainly felt that way. I’m at a point in my life where I feel like
I need to be doing everything at once – advancing my career, building
new relationships, getting fit, eating healthily, trying new things, going
out, doing life admin… the list goes on. And somehow, amongst all of that,
we’re supposed to find time for ourselves. Even for the most energetic
person, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day.
Sometimes, these thoughts and external pressures could get the better
of me, and I struggled to gain a handle on my life. If you’ve also found
yourself in this position, the chances are we’ve dealt with it in similar
ways – either overcommitting to everything and spreading yourself far
too thinly, or shutting down and losing motivation. In my case, there was
rarely an in-between. But perhaps this ‘weakness’ has actually been a
strength – it has given me the ability to understand how you might be
feeling, and what could help you escape a rut. And the best way to restart
your journey? Keeping a journal.
Journalling allows us to reflect on what we’ve done, and recognise our
achievements, while providing us with a space to work through our
worries logically and without judgement. A couple of years ago, I started
to take it seriously as a method of working through my worries and
concerns about life.
It’s not a miracle worker, but it definitely helps. I’ve since found it easier
to manage anxious thoughts, pull myself out of negative spirals, and
make decisions that are truly in my best interests. After all, physically
writing out your thoughts and feelings on paper makes it much easier to
get to know yourself. We are sometimes our own harshest critics and
reading over our own thoughts can help us to see that. On the flip side,
journalling helps us to become our own therapists, supplying unwavering
encouragement and kindness when we need it most – and it forces us to
see sense, even when it seems there is none.
The process of making this journal has been therapeutic for me, in
some ways. It’s challenged me to question what I really want out of life,
and helped me form new goals to work towards. I’ve chosen a path on my
crossroads, and I’m going to stick to it. My hope is that you will, too.
Alice Barnes-Brown
Start 2: Would you say your
1: How do you feel in finances are in order?
A: No, I feel I lack control
this current moment? over them
A: Exhausted B: I’d rather not know
B: Sad C: Yes, I am up to date with
C: Happy all my bills and I regularly
check my spending
Finish
RESULTS
Mostly As Mostly Bs Mostly Cs
Perhaps you feel as if you You might find that you It sounds like you have your
have lost yourself a bit in need to dedicate some time life almost exactly where
life’s madness. The good to work out the direction you want it to be, but there
news is that it’s never too you are heading in, but is always more room for
late to put yourself back in you’re already some of the growth and personal
the driving seat. way there! development in life.
What does my
To feel more successful
To accept my true self
Does your career define NO
who you are? NO Do you often compare
YES yourself to others?
Are you an outwardly
Do you feel you’re lagging confident person? NO
behind in your career?
YES
YES Do you wish you were
NO more assertive?
Are you happy in your
current job?
Could your mental state YES
be improved if you had YES NO
more disposable income? NO
Have you got a good
NO work-life balance?
YES NO YES
Do you feel stressed about NO
money frequently?
YES
RESULTS
difficult to manage our
finances effectively. You can Sometimes all it takes is to
use this journal to improve set goals to turn those ‘pipe
how you deal with money. dreams’ into a reality.
heart desire? To make better
connections
YES
NO Do you find relationships
YES Is loneliness a problem fulfilling?
NO
Do you often feel for you?
downhearted?
YES Do friendships have a lot
NO of importance to you?
Do you require a lot of
NO validation from YES
YES
others?
NO Do you make a lot of
YES NO effort to keep in touch
with people?
Do you possess a good YES
Is your life generally support network?
following a path NO
NO NO
you’re content with? YES
Are social situations
YES intimidating to you?
YES
Keep at it!
Quiet time Work on journalling
Treat your journalling as a bit of consistently in order to
personal, self-care time. Find a place, establish it as a habit. As with so
and a time, with no distractions. Use many habits, you have to commit. If it
this time to delve into the tasks within. helps, give yourself a minimum time
By removing distractions, you can focus for your writing (some people may
on one task. This can be emotional, so need a maximum too!). A little every
be kind to yourself and be mindful of day is much more effective
your physical reactions. than filling lots of pages rarely.
Find the
Don’t be confined right tool
to the journal Find a pen you like before you start.
There’s nothing worse than a pen that
If you find yourself on a roll, feel free to
stops and starts or smears. A pen or
use extra paper to fully express
pencil that frustrates you can stop the
yourself. Don’t feel confined to the
natural flow of writing and take you out
space in this journal if you’re in the
of the journalling mindset.
zone. Staple, stick or insert pages
however you like – this is your
space for expression.
Get creative Work your
own way
This journal is for your eyes only,
so decorate it as you wish and
have fun with it. Use your Keep in mind that you don’t have to
favourite coloured pen, get some finish every task in one go. You have
stickers or even start doodling. By the luxury, as this is a personal journal,
fully personalising the journal, to come back to difficult tasks or
you create an extension of ones that didn’t call to you the first
yourself, so you may find you will time round. Even work out of
want to use it more. order if you wish.
It can be tough
Know that journalling can be difficult.
Often intense emotions can be
triggered by some tasks and the related
Experiment
If you’re finding it hard to get into
events you’ll be writing about. journalling as a habit, try to mix it up. If
Remember to be kind to yourself, take you feel you’re just too exhausted after
breaks and remind yourself that this is a long day to pick up a pen, switch your
a process. Try not to stir up negative habit around – write in the morning! Set
emotions; simply acknowledge your your alarm a little earlier and write
pain and move along. before your feet touch the floor.
1 Be kind. DOS
Do try to write with kindness. Many of the journal prompts ask you to delve
into some very deep feelings, so try to remain kind to yourself.
2 Make it a habit.
Do create rituals around your journalling. Set aside time in your day to enjoy
the process, rather than seeing it as just another thing to do on your list.
3 Get started.
Do start small. You will find that the habit of journalling will ‘stick’ more
readily if you start small, and don’t give yourself unrealistic expectations.
4 Try everything.
Do get creative. There are many different styles of journalling, try everything
from minimal bullet points to longer, free-flowing writing.
5 Bring it.
Do take your journal with you. Try to keep your journal with you in order to
write, you never know when a thought or realisation will strike you!
6 Stay honest.
Do be honest. This journal is not for others to judge you by, so use the journal
to be true to yourself and work through your personal deep feelings.
7 Keep a record.
Do write dates on your journal entries. This is an interesting tool to use, in
order to look back and see how far you’ve grown.
DON’TS
1 Worry.
Don’t stress about not being a professional writer. This journal is for your
eyes only, so it doesn’t need to be a poetic diary full of epiphanies.
2 Wait.
Don’t hesitate. Get some words down on paper, even if you think they’re
‘wrong’. There are no right or wrong answers, so get started today.
6 Try to do it all.
Don’t journal while distracted. Trying to write while catching up on TV, or
while you’re worrying about something else, is a recipe for disaster.
Which five people do I spend the most time with? How do they affect
my thoughts, feelings and behaviours?
1
2
3
4
5
Life is partly what we
make it, and partly
what it is made by the
friends we choose
Tennessee Williams
Heroes
W
e all had heroes in childhood; whether fictional or not, historical
or contemporary, friends or celebrities. Many of us stop
idolising our heroes as we grow up, but we still admire many
people. Take a mindful moment to think about the three people you
admire most right now. What do they have in common? Think about the
quality that they share; is this something you’d like to emulate in your
own way? Do also keep in mind that many people may admire us for
reasons we don’t see.
1
2
3
There is an innocence
in admiration:
it occurs in one
who has not yet
realised that they
might one day
be admired
Friedrich Nietzsche
Becoming
acquainted
with yourself is a
price well worth
paying for the
love that will
really address
your needs
Daphne Rose Kingma
Your biggest fan
I
t is very easy to write a long list of our biggest flaws or weaknesses.
We are always the most critical of ourselves, yet it is harder to think
about our strengths objectively. Fight that negative self talk with some
positive analysis.
What quality do you admire most about yourself? Mindfulness is often
a tool to use in order to accept and properly understand ourselves. Take
as long as you need to answer this one – the task may have a few layers
that you need to unpick. Your positive quality may influence a number of
different areas in your life; your organisation may keep you on top of
projects at work and keep your home running smoothly, for example.
Keep working against that negative voice in your head with positive
messages about yourself, and soon you’ll believe your own facts!
1
2
3
4
5
6
Music is life.
That’s why our
hearts have beats
Body positivity
W
e all dislike certain parts of our bodies, and given the option, we
probably all have something we would change about ourselves.
Sometimes we become so focused on the negative aspects of
our bodies that we forget about the positives. When was the last time you
stopped to appreciate your body and all the amazing things it does for
you? From creating life and enabling us to breathe, to giving us two
stable feet to hold our weight, our bodies are incredible. Pretend the
silhouette on this page is you, and spend a few minutes circling the
features you love about yourself, whether it’s the colour of your eyes, the
volume in your hair or the shape of your legs! Give yourself some self–
recognition and love. When the days get tough and you find yourself
scrutinising everything about your body, flick back to this page and
remind yourself of all the aspects of your body that you like.
To lose confidence
in one’s body is to
lose confidence in
oneself
Simone de Beauvoir
Doodle on this silhouette everything you love about
your own body and appearance.
I am who I am
W
hen writers create a character, they know that to be fully fleshed
out and realistic, a character must have flaws, personality and
quirks. Everyone has their own strange habits and qualities.
This could be something as small as enjoying the window seat on a plane
or train, or more obvious quirks like only wearing a certain colour! If
taking comfort in ‘even’ numbers when getting petrol isn’t interfering
with your life, or that of others, then you needn’t stop.
Our quirks are not negative qualities; everyone in the world is different
and our differences are what make us special. After identifying your
quirks, take a mindful moment to reflect on why they make you special.
Your quirks may even help to keep you organised and efficient!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Pitch perfect
J
ob interviews are hard. There are nerves to contend with, and often
it might feel like you’re selling yourself short if you don’t make some
noise about your skills. Whether or not you’re looking for a new
role, write down ten things you would bring to a future job. This may be
your good sense of humour, team-working skills, or the fact that you’re
awesome at spreadsheets. The skills that you value can also be ones that
are transferrable to other areas of your life.
This exercise is a confidence boosting one, so whenever you’re feeling
down on your performance, take a look at this list. You have many skills
and qualities, and you should remember this regularly. This list is also
very helpful to refer back to when you are interviewing!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
It is possible
to fly without
motors, but
not without
knowledge
and skill
Wilbur Wright
One small thing
I
f you only listened to the media, you would believe that the world is
getting darker, nastier and more dangerous. While it is true that we
live in interesting times, we can make a difference to our community
in a number of ways. Take a moment to consider what you can do to
make the world a little bit brighter. This can be a big or small action.
Each random act of kindness that you perform goes a little way to redress
the balance.
Donate to an organisation you care about if you are able, help someone
out without expecting a thank you, send your good vibes to a person in
need and reach out. This kind of positive action can create a chain of
‘paying it forward’ and brighten the world for others.
This week, each night before bed, write down one thing you’re
grateful for. On day eight, assess how you feel.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
When I
started
counting my
blessings,
my whole
life turned
around
Willie Nelson
Follow that dream
Y
our dreams and aspirations are important, and it is very easy to
lose sight of them in the day to day. But what really is the worst
case scenario if you followed your dreams for your career? If you
need to, write out what your career dreams are. This task isn’t an action
plan and you don’t have to set yourself unrealistic goals. Ask yourself
mindfully and with compassion what is really holding you back from
realising your dreams. Are you fearful of failure, or are you not prioritising
yourself? This page is useful in reminding you what your goals are,
however outlandish or unattainable they may feel at this moment. As with
so many other tasks, it is helpful to check back on these pages over time;
your dreams may change.
1
2
3
Rather than
love, than
money, than
fame, give
me truth
Henry David Thoreau
Stay focused
W
hat’s one distraction that’s been getting the better of you
lately? Living in the modern world that is full of noisy,
interesting distractions is hard. On average, most of us check
our phones every 11 minutes or so, and it often feels like we spend most of
the day bouncing between apps! While using a phone in moderation is
fine (and necessary) we can be pulled from important tasks when our
attention is at its weakest.
Take a quiet moment to figure out what diverts your attention. When
does your mind wander and allow you to get distracted? What can you do
to regain your focus? For instance, try a day without multitasking; work
on and finish a task in its entirety. Only check your emails and
notifications at certain times of the day; usually emails can wait for you!
1
2
3
4
5
Success is how high
you bounce when you
hit bottom
George S Patton
Just one day
I
t is rare to have a day with nothing to do, or nothing planned. Can
you imagine the luxury of having no responsibilities? Take a moment
to plan your ideal day, from morning until night. Get creative with
this and enjoy your planning! Now notice what you’ve filled your day with.
Mindfully sit with the day plan for a time. Are these things that you feel
like you’re lacking in your routine, or just things you enjoy doing anyway?
If you can, try to include some of your activities in your life, and make
room in your routine for yourself. This kind of self care is essential; we
need to be generous to ourselves every so often, rather than just
attending to the needs of others.
Jot down four recent things you consider failures. Now, consider
a couple of things you’ve learned from each one.
1 Perceived failure:
Lessons learnt:
2 Perceived failure:
Lessons learnt:
3 Perceived ailure:
Lessons learnt:
4 Perceived failure:
Lessons learnt:
Many of life’s
failures are people
who did not realize
how close they were
to success when
they gave up
Thomas A Edison
Time to escape
W
e all need a proper break every so often, a chance to get away
from it all and relax completely. However, with the pressures of
everyday life, a big holiday isn’t always realistic. Nevertheless,
you can still plan your dream holiday. Does your dream holiday consist of
sitting on a beach and doing little else, or exploring museums and
galleries stocked full of inspiring treasures? Take a moment to think
about the idea. How does your dream holiday make you feel physically
and emotionally?
Ask yourself what it is that you’re looking for with this holiday; are you
wanting to escape completely, broaden your horizons or just do
something completely new? If this dream holiday isn’t possible at this
moment in time, how could you bring those holiday vibes into your
everyday life?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Skills to pay the bills
W
ork can be a grind, and it can be so easy to get stuck on
autopilot just to get the work ‘done’. But ‘done’ might not feel
good enough if you have strong aspirations around your career.
What skills would you like to develop to further your career? Break the
autopilot loop and really think about your skills.
You may feel that you’d like to work on your communication skills;
using mindfulness, we can practise listening and actually understand
what is being said on a number of levels. You may have recognised the
need to do some training, whether technical or practical. This task can
clarify where you want to be in terms of your career progression; what is it
that is being neglected while you work?
Write down ten skills you possess that you’re proud of.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Break it up
M
any people think that mindfulness practice is all about
meditation, slowing down and, essentially, doing nothing. In
reality, mindfulness teaches us not to over-reach; to stop
multitasking because instead of helping us stay on top of work, it causes
us to feel out of control and overwhelmed. Be more productive by
splitting your tasks into reasonable chunks. Think of a big task that
you’ve got coming up and break it up into smaller, more achievable
pieces. By giving yourself a slower, more mindful start to a project, you
can understand what exactly it is that you need to get done by what date.
Work towards giving yourself achievable milestones – you’ll feel more
positive about the work you have done and the upcoming stuff to do.
Think of a big task you’ve got coming up, then split it into
smaller sections to make it more manageable.
Life is too
complicated
not to be
orderly
Martha Stewart
Now I’m grown
C
hildren dream big. You may have had plans to build the world’s
biggest treehouse, or dance on the stage for the Queen. Take a
quiet moment to remember what did you dream of being when
you grew up? Do you still feel that way and why?
Calmly and with kindness ask yourself, honestly, when did you start
shrinking your dreams? If you find these thoughts to be upsetting, take a
moment to reset your thoughts and take a break. The work isn’t designed
to trigger you. It’s a rare person that can say they have achieved their
childhood dreams. Instead focus on the main quality of your childhood
dream – did you want to entertain, to teach or to be powerful? Is this still
a priority for you now? How can you take a little sliver of that childhood
dreaming and bring it into your life now?
Make a list of six people you’ve lost touch with and why. Then, if you
feel it’s appropriate, reach out to them to say hello.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Changing values
T
he things that hold value to us can change over a lifetime or over a
shorter time frame. If your focal point has shifted over the year,
some items or concepts that we consider important can drop away.
For example, if a brand-new baby arrives in your family, work may take a
distant second place. We can also change our approach and feel towards
material goods when we start a mindfulness routine – the memories
attached to an object can be more important than the object itself. Also,
when prioritising our emotional wellbeing, we can prioritise our own
physical care, which is often overlooked.
O
ur dreams grow and evolve as we grow up. As a child you may
have imagined a different career to the one you have now. But
how do you feel now? Describe your dream job in the present. Is
it achievable? If so, how would you get there? If you are looking to move
towards a realistic dream job, remind yourself frequently of the skills you
possess! By doing this, it’s possible to work through unrealistic
expectations that we set ourselves, and get to the bottom of why we think
in this way. Change, though scary, is good - and in job-hunting we need to
remember our ‘whys’ to work towards a change. The dream job that suits
your needs and values is out there, you just have to focus on getting it.
Sit in a quiet outdoor place and listen to the sounds around you
for ten minutes. What did you hear? How did they make you feel?
The earth
has its
music
for those
who will
listen
Reginald Vincent
Holmes
Take care of yourself
M
aking time for you is so important. We all need different things,
and self-care is unique to everyone. Think hard about what you
need to unwind, how you recharge and what helps you reset and
feel at peace. What settles the chatter in your mind?
For some, self-care is having a large glass of wine and a sumptuous
bubble bath, or a thick slice of chocolate cake. To others it means a
five-kilometre run or private time taken to meditate alone. The most
important thing to remember is that no matter what your definition of
self-care is, you should not feel guilty about it. It’s for you and nobody
else, and it’s something you must make time for. So treat yourself and
remember to make time to look after you.
T
ravel can look like the answer, if we’re feeling like our life is running on
auto-pilot. We look for new environments and experiences when we’re
feeling bored with life; we look for excitement ‘out there’. But, there’s
nothing wrong with enjoying a new adventure. Make a list of the places you
want to go to. You can either use this list as a proper ‘bucket list’ and use it as a
selection of travel goals, or you can use the list to identify what kind of
experiences you want to incorporate into your day to day life. You may see a
trend in the kinds of places you’re listing; busy capital cities may indicate
you’re looking for more excitement and culture, whilst beach getaways may be
a sign that you’re looking to slow down and escape!
Make a list of the places you want to go to. For each destination,
write down why you want to go there.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Travel is never a
matter of money but
of courage
Paulo Coelho
Role models
M
entors and heroes play a big part in our lives, both personally
and professionally. Is your role model someone you know in life,
or are they a hero from your industry, or even a celebrity you
admire? Often we look up to someone that we want to emulate, but what
is it about them that you wish to channel? Please also remember that your
role model is as human as you are, with faults and flaws that you may not
know about. Beware of putting people on a pedestal and judging yourself
against them unfairly. Treat yourself with kindness and endeavour to use
the sort of talk that you would use with your friends.
If you owned your own schedule, how many hours a day would you
like to work? Why?
Your
purpose
in life is to find
your purpose
and give your
whole heart
and soul
to it
Gautama Buddha
Achieve the unachievable
N
obody spends as much time with you as you do, so you need to
learn to praise yourself as if you were your closest friend. Allow
yourself to feel proud of your achievements and start a cycle of
positivity rather than a downward spiral. Dismiss the idea that believing
in yourself is vain – arrogance and bragging are definitely unattractive,
but confidence and self-love are powerful and beautiful traits.
What have you done that you never thought you could do? Think about
why you thought you could not achieve these tasks and how you managed
to do them. Learn to be kinder to yourself and have more belief in
yourself. Celebrate your biggest accomplishments and carry that feeling
with you – it will help you to achieve more in the future. Realise that when
you try, you can do great things.
1
2
3
4
5
Money matters
T
o be mindful about money means being conscious of how much we
have and what we spend it on. We also need to take a look at our
emotions surrounding money – are you fearful or shy of talking
about it, or do you have the privilege of not having to think about it too
much at all? Take a quiet moment to think back. What is the best piece of
financial advice you’ve ever received, and did you act on it? Consider the
person who gave you the advice and how it made you feel. How is that
affecting your emotions now? If you took the advice, make sure to send
gratitude to that person!
1
2
If you want to be happy,
set a goal that commands
your thoughts,
liberates your energy and
inspires your hopes
Andrew Carnegie
3
4
Aim high
I
t’s likely that we all have a long list of things that we wish for in order
to enrich our lives, whether your wish is to one day own a house, get
married, move abroad or even own a business. All too often we feel
like a lot of our life goals and dreams are unattainable and far-fetched, so
instead of pursuing them we push them to the back of our minds.
However, once you begin to really think about them you’ll hopefully
realise they are not impossible. Stop pushing your goals to the back of
your mind because they feel unattainable. Start making plans, thinking
about how you can really achieve them. What do you need to do, or
change, in order to make them possible? Take charge of your long-term
goals instead of pushing them aside.
Describe four long-term goals you are hoping to reach one day.
1
2
All who have accomplished
great things have had a
great aim, have fixed their
gaze on a goal which was
high, one which sometimes
seemed impossible
Orison Swett Marden
3
4
Learn to battle through
P
ain can take various forms, and different people deal with pain in
different ways. Emotional pain can be just as bad as – sometimes
worse than – physical pain. Everyone has varying levels of tolerance
to both; pain is unique to each individual. You should never compare your
pain to others’ because it simply doesn’t work like that.
Think about the most painful thing you have ever experienced. Was it
physical or emotional? How did it make you feel? Did it change you as a
person? How did you overcome it? Was it something you just had to
endure until it was over, or did you fight against it? If thinking about this
is bringing negative emotions back to the surface, make sure you
acknowledge them, but also know that you got through it. Whether you
think it made you stronger or not, you overcame it.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
August Wilson
Be good to others
T
ake a quiet moment and think deeply – when was the last time you
performed a random act of kindness? One small action of yours
could make a big difference to someone else’s day, or even to their
life. Kindness is not a superficial act – we can be inspiring through it, and
many times it is ‘paid forward’ to other people. Acts of kindness have so
much in common with mindfulness practice; they both require
intentional action and focus. Both are good for our wellbeing, too.
If you can’t think of your last random act of kindness, get out there and
do something. Notice what happens if you offer a mindful and kind
phrase or gesture to a stranger or an acquaintance – and remember,
practice makes perfect.
This is not a task to make you feel guilty or like you aren’t acting in a
way that’s serving your community. So, answer honestly.
If you have a savings goal, write down how much you’ve saved so
far, and where you hope to be at in six months’ time. Next, write
down some things you could do to help reach your goal.
Your budget:
1
2
3
4
5
6
You don’t know what
you’ve got ‘til you lose it
T
hey say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and this is
definitely true of all of us, at one stage or another. These things can
be from any area of your life; a special person, a ritual you enjoy, or
even a favourite treat! Most of us would miss our first cup of coffee in the
morning, but try to go a little deeper into what is individual to you.
This exercise can help you consider what really is important and
meaningful in your life. It is very easy to rush through life not considering
or cherishing the things that make life special to us. When we take the
time to earmark these things, we remember to enjoy them, and live our
life to the full.
1
2
3
Your own self
I
t’s easy to forget about achievements in your personal life. We all work
so hard and live in such fast-paced environments that often we are
only living in the present and the future, constantly thinking about
tomorrow’s to-do list instead of appreciating what we achieved yesterday,
last week or last year. Take a moment to think about what achievements
and milestones got you to where you are today. How far have you come in
the past few years alone? Have you been through great sadness and lived
through it? Perhaps you’ve worked really hard to get to where you are
now. It’s so important not to forget what you have achieved and
appreciate your journey. You might be surprised by just how successful
you have been once you start writing it down, and hopefully it will spur
you on to keep achieving and improving yourself.
Make a wish list of the big things you want to do with your finances
– buy a house or car, pay off your debts, etc.
1
2
3
4
Wealth consists
not in having
great possessions,
but in having
few wants
Epictetus
Yours sincerely…
T
he cheerleaders you’ll encounter in life often come along when you
least expect it. Think over your past, about who surprised you and
believed in you. Self-belief is a skill that we all have to learn, and it
is something that can be very easily knocked. Often someone outside of
ourselves can see our potential better that we can. Every one of us has a
person who impacted us in wonderful ways, which they may never know
about. So, write a letter to them to tell them. You don’t have to send the
letter, although it may be a very special surprise to your subject if you did!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Challenge yourself every day
to do better and be better -
growth starts with a decision
to move beyond your
present circumstances
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Become a master
L
earning something new helps us to feel accomplished and will add
to our overall confidence and feelings of self-worth. Valuing yourself
is so important, so continually adding value to your life can only be
a positive thing. Is there something that you have been meaning to learn
for a while? Have you always wanted to speak another language, or polish
your cooking skills? Write down what you would like to learn and then
make a plan to start on a path to learning it. The act of writing it down
will help you to make a commitment to yourself to start learning.
1
2
3
4
5
Own Your Life
An Interactive Journal
Begin your path to a more focused life with
this guided journal. Get back to feeling like
you could take on the world (and all it
throws at you) by completing a wide
variety of journal entries, designed to help
you gain some clarity in your mind.
Each task will challenge you to change
unhelpful thinking, be true to yourself, and
be honest in your writing. If you’re new to
journalling, it’s the perfect place to start, as
the useful prompts – covering a variety of
important themes in your life – will point
9021
Digital
Edition
SIXTH EDITION