There’s so much to be said for journaling that I’m not quite sure where to start!

If you’ve ever taken a creativity course or read a book on becoming more creative you’ve probably had the idea of journaling every day shoved down your throat.

For good reason!

Try this. Even just for a week and see if it makes any changes in your life…

Every morning make this your first priority. Sit down with a notebook and write. Everything that comes to mind. Even if all you write is “I want coffee…” over and over again. After 20 minutes you’re free to go about your day. And your coffee.

By the end of the week I’ll bet you’ve seen some interesting ideas, thoughts, lists spill out of your brain and onto paper. And, although it may be too early to tell, you may also notice your creative side peeking through that usually logical, usually predictable personality of yours.

That’s a creativity building exercise for you. Stay on it past the week and big changes are coming your way.

Here’s where the Idea Bank comes into play…

Take that same notebook and flip it over. Now you’re writing back to front but it doesn’t matter, I’m just trying to save you 67 cents for another notebook. Make this side your Idea Bank Notebook. Whenever you get an idea - whether it’s for an ebook you want to write, a recipe you want to experiment with, a new business venture or a solution to a problem that’s been hounding you - jot it down.

Jot it down. Then let it go. You may never see it again. But if you need to, it is there.

Take that little Idea Bank Notebook everywhere with you. You’ll get ideas all over the place. On the streetcar, in your coffee shop, watching television.

If you are passionate about any one of those ideas, or if any one of them are true gold, your subconscious will remind you consistently until you can’t ignore it anymore. At that time you’ll grab your notebook, take out that idea and start to play with it.

If the idea is for a business venture you’ll play at it by writing out a business plan.

If the idea is for a recipe alteration, you’ll head into the kitchen.

Or collaborate with friends.

Or draft an outline.

And your idea starts to grow. All because you had the foresight to jot it down when it entered your mind the first time.