The Journey Journal Chronicles Episode One
EPISODE ONE: The Youth Leader that wants to make sustainable change
Welcome to The Journey Journal Chronicles, where we share with you the different instances on how our Journey Journal can be used and/or has been used to transform lives and instill the habits that align with living one’s dream life. Learn more about the Journey Journal HERE.
You can listen to and share this episode of the Journey Journal Chronicles on YouTube by clicking HERE.
Background:
Here we have Jackie who is part of an organization that focuses on teaching and mentoring youth in leadership, living a healthy life, living and pursuing their purpose and providing resources for academic support.
Jackie is a youth leader that wants to provide the youth in her specific group with sustainable tools that they can always use.
Jackie is in charge of a group of 15 youths.
Jackie’s group meets once per week after school.
The youth in Jackie’s group range from ages 8 to 17.
Jackie was looking for tools that are applicable to all age groups that the group could do together.
Jackie is also looking for tools to teach the youth in a practical way that they have ownership over their lives and future.
Jackie learned about the Journey Journal and loved that the structure of the journal and planner is different from other journals and planners and is truly perfect for both children and adults.
So this can be a tool that her kids can continue to use even when they have left the program.
Jackie purchased a set of journals with the customized cover of her organization’s brand to use for her group.
A quick refresher on the format of the Journey Journal:
The Journey Journal is an undated 90 day daily planner and journal
The Journey Journal was created to support an individual in reaching a goal or establishing new habits that are aligned with the individual’s aspirations or values for themselves.
The Journey Journal is designed in a way so that each day the user is fortifying new behaviours and perspectives and actions that are aligned with their ideal/true version of themselves
So, here is Jackie’s Goal & Approach with the Journey Journal:
Jackie got clear on what her goal was for herself and the group first.
Jackie wants each child to set a goal for themself that is aligned with who they want to be
And identify what are the underlying traits and habits of the person who has already reached their goal; and how to start incorporating/adopting those traits and habits from day 1 and build on it
Jackie wants to work with each child on how to break down their goal to be accomplished over 90 days or less
Jackie wants to support each child in how to use the practice of journaling and a daily planner to set healthy and practical goals to reach their goals and establish healthy habits each day towards their goal.
Jackie’s complete goal is:
o Support each child in using the practice of journaling and a daily planner to reach a goal
o Instill the habits of financial wellness in herself
o Receive training in financial wellness to teach the kids
o Save one month’s living expenses as an emergency fund
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
Jackie handed out the Journey Journal to each child and walked them through the different sections
Jackie gave each child time to determine what goal do they want to accomplish in 90 days or new habits do they want to instill in 90 days
Each child shared their goal and shared how they will feel once they achieve their goal
As each child shared their goal, Jackie and the group shared supportive suggestions on how to break down their goal into manageable milestones over a 90 day period so they can see and measure their progress
Jackie printed and handed out the free worksheet from our website for each child to tape on their wall when they get home. The worksheet is a great visual summary for their 90 day journey that has a space for them to write their goal and milestones.
Each child took time to fill out their plans for day 1
Jackie started by sharing her day 1 so the children know how to fill out their pages tomorrow
Moving forward each week the group would share their successes and any challenges and any reflections they want to share
So here are some highlights from their 90day journey from Jackie’s perspective as the youth leader
Week 1 or Day 7 of Jackie’s journey
- I am
o I am the light and remind others of their light
- Quote for the day
o You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips ~ Oliver Goldsmith
- Intention for the day
o Be Present in each moment
- My Standards and Reality
o I am living my purpose
o I am great at empowering children to reach their goals
o I am financially free
- Three actions
o Start the journey journal with the kids
o Register for the financial wellness training course I found
o Meal prep for the week to help with savings goals
- My emotions are congruent with my desired reality
o Empowered
o Joyful
o Grateful
- Reminder of Upcoming Goodness:
o Park day and Picnic Party for the kids when most of them reach their first milestone
o My sister’s birthday cookout
o Friday game night and pizza making with my friends
o Reaching my first savings milestone
o Sunday hike with my brother and nephew
- Something that made me smile today was:
o The kids are excited about our journey journal project
o The kids’ joy when they shared their goals
o Samantha made her famous cookies for us at work
- What did I notice/experience today that is aligned with my true/ideal/loving self and reality:
o I registered for my first financial wellness course
o I budgeted how to reach my savings goal in 90 days
o I prepared some yummy meals and snacks for the entire week
- Notes:
o Send kids a mid-week check-in email
o My financial training comes with 3 free personalized consultations
o The kids are interested in adding entrepreneurship to our topics we cover this year
Here are some of Jackie’s Reflections, Successes and Challenges she encountered with this process:
Some of the kids’ goals were so ambitious that I hope I can provide the support they need
The kids are all really into this project and I notice a spark in them
A few of the kids have set goals that seem too comfortable. I need to reflect on how to support them in stretching themselves and believing in themselves.
Week 4 or Day 28 of Jackie’s journey:
- I am
o I am the light and remind others of their light
- Quote for the day
o The secret of change is to focus all of [my] energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. ~Socrates
- Intention for the day
o Remember who I want to be and am working towards
- My Standards and Reality
o I am living my purpose
o I am great at empowering children to reach their goals
o I am financially free
- Three actions
o Schedule one on ones with all the kids who have not reached their first milestone -and/or- who have lost momentum
o Prepare my financial summary and questions for my first consultation with financial advisor
o Get a Costco card
- My emotions are congruent with my desired reality
o Free
o Joyful
o Grateful
- Reminder of Upcoming Goodness:
o Friday game night and tacos with my friends
o Reaching my third savings milestone
o Sunday hike with my mom
o Kyle’s first open mic comedy show
o Kid’s Entrepreneur Day with Family and Friends
- Something that made me smile today was:
o Corinna told me that she reached her third milestone and her family has also set their own goals too to do together
o I am jogging faster and more easefully
- What did I notice/experience today that is aligned with my true/ideal/loving self and reality:
o My car insurance went down because of my good record
o Our organization won the $10,000 grant we applied for
- Notes:
o Monitor the RSVPs and volunteer list for Entrepreneurship Day
o Send kids a mid-week check-in email
o Start each group session with the kids with uplifting music and mentally rehearsing them achieving their goals
Here are some of Jackie’s Reflections, Successes and Challenges she encountered with this process:
I am more financially savy than I realized. I reached my second milestone much faster than I thought.
Some of the kids who have not reached their first milestone feel discouraged. I need to develop a solution or approach that empowers them and supports them without taking this opportunity to overcome away from them.
Week 7 of Day 49 of Jackie’s journey:
- I am
o I am the light and remind others of their light
- Quote for the day
o The secret of change is to focus all of [my] energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. ~Socrates
- Intention for the day
o Remember who I want to be and am working towards
- My Standards and Reality
o I am living my purpose
o I am great at empowering children to reach their goals
o I am financially free
- Three actions
o Schedule one on one with the kids for entrepreneurship day
o Send out my draft of my financial wellness habits and worksheet for kids to my advisor
o Review which of my bills give a discount for autopay and signup
- My emotions are congruent with my desired reality
o Free
o Empowered
o Grateful and Happy
- Reminder of Upcoming Goodness:
o Friday game night and pizza making with my friends
o Reaching my third savings milestone
o Sunday hike with Samantha and my sister
o Finalize my financial wellness product videos and products for kids
o Kid’s Entrepreneur Day with Family and Friends
- Something that made me smile today was:
o We have an overflow of volunteer parents and guardians for Entrepreneurship Day
o I just realized all of the kids have reached at least 2 of their milestones
- What did I notice/experience today that is aligned with my true/ideal/loving self and reality:
o My progress with creating my financial wellness program for kids
o My discipline with my financial goals
- Notes:
o Monitor the RSVPs and volunteer list for Entrepreneurship Day
o Send kids a mid-week check-in email
o Start each group session with the kids with uplifting music and mentally rehearsing them achieving their goals
Here are some of Jackie’s Reflections, Successes and Challenges she encountered with this process:
Reaching my third milestone is challenging with the unexpected costs that I have been coming up. I have had to be disciplined and cut out all nonessential expenses so I can stay on track.
I did not think I would be creating a financial program for kids when I started this. This was unexpected.
Day 90 of Jackie’s journey:
- I am
o I am the light and remind others of their light
- Quote for the day
o “One of the things i love about my dreams is that they are big enough to share.” ~ Sophia Senyo
- Intention for the day
o Remember all I have accomplished and that I am whole
- My Standards and Reality
o I am living my purpose
o I am great at empowering children to reach their goals
o I am financially free
- Three actions
o Hand out invites for the 90day journey journal celebration for the kids and their family
o Hand out the congratulations baskets to each child and a copy of my financial wellness program to each of the kids
o Purchase another set of 90day journey journals
- My emotions are congruent with my desired reality
o Free
o Empowered & Capable
o Bright
- Reminder of Upcoming Goodness:
o 90day journey journal celebration for the kids and their families
o Friday game night and pizza making with my friends
o Sunday hike with the family
o Demonstration of my financial wellness program
o Celebration brunch with Samantha and my sister for the launch of my financial wellness program! Woo hoo!
- Something that made me smile today was:
o Each child shared what they learned from the journey journal process
o Each child gained something positive and feel encourage, even those who are still in the process of reaching their final milestone
- What did I notice/experience today that is aligned with my true/ideal/loving self and reality:
o I am a great mentor and guide for the kids
o I felt random joy just thinking about my life
o My website and youtube is complete for my financial wellness program for kids
- Notes:
o Joshua and Kelly are helping with transportation for the celebration ceremony
o Check in with InHeritage Herbs on the status of the next round of journals
o The kids are interested in learning about how to grow vegetables if you do not have a yard or garden
Here are some of Jackie’s Reflections, Successes and Challenges she encountered with this process:
I thought I would be a failure if not all the kids reached their final milestones but I achieved exactly what I wanted for the kids. They feel empowered and encouraged.
I am pretty great. I am capable of more than I thought and I have more support than I thought.
Insights from this story:
We love this use of the Journey Journal because every child regardless of age was able to participate
Every child was able to see that they have ownership over who they want to be
And Jackie, the youth leader in this story, also benefited from her own transformation and growth too
Her journey evolved to her creating her own financial wellness product for kids
And best of all, this is a keepsake that each child can keep that reminds them of what they are capable of
As you can see the Journey Journal is a wonderful and practical tool for youth leaders, youth groups, children and families.
If you are interested in buying the Journey Journal for yourself or a loved one then please click HERE or if you want the Journey Journal for your organization or want to order a bulk or custom order, then you can click HERE.