People will joke that the mind is the first thing to go as we get older. I would argue that it's the one thing we can continuously strengthen, without the physical component, as we get older! Focusing on that which moves you in the direction of your greatest desires will build incredible "mind muscle". But how do you stay focused when all around you the swirl and dust of chaos gets in your eyes and throws you off balance? You've probably heard there is dead calm in the middle of a tornado? Your job, your exercise, is to find it because what it will give you true power and control. In the swirl of all that's happening, it's what people are reaching for most.



So how do you find that center, that calm? There are a number of tools to support you and it's just a matter of selecting the right "fit" for you. So let's kick off the series of looking at tools to support building your "mindset muscle". Let's begin by looking at one of the most powerful, but little used tools - journaling.

Some people feel that journaling is a "new age", fluffy kind of thing. Not really business or career related. Not so tactical or strategic. I'll remind them that journaling is ages old. You need only look at all the religious documents which serve to guide many people, not only in the lives but in business. Aren't they the accounts or journals of those who lived in those times? What are our history books composed of, if not journals and writings of those who experienced the events? And what have we always been told..."those who do not learn the lessons..." Well you know the rest. Journaling or writing is a fantastic tool to get out and down on paper all that you're currently experiencing and that which you want to experience.

Imagine setting aside some quiet time each day, it doesn't have to be hours upon hours; even if it's 5 minutes to capture your thoughts of the day in a sentence or two. It doesn't require a lot of thought or contemplation - just you. You'll find when you begin to write, more and more thoughts show up, knocking at the door of your mind to be expressed and let out! The more you let out, the more ideas, creative solutions and possibilities show up to build the "mindset muscle". Now you're filling your mind and life with greater possibility, bigger thoughts and inspired action. Wow! All this from just writing down what you think and what you want! Yes, it's truly possible and just that powerful.

Writing a journal is an age old, powerful tool to help you build and maintain your "mindset muscle". It will help you to open to more possibilities and options for your life. If all you're thinking about over and over again is what's currently happening, you'll not see all that is available to you. Once you "dump" that out of your mind, you let in the fresh air and creative thoughts which catapult you forward, creating more muscle and the stronger mindset, ready for any storm.

Get a notebook, it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive unless you want to purchase one, but try to find one that inspires you. And just start simply. Write down how you feel about writing something down. Then step back and take a look at it. The flood gates will soon open and you'll find it rewarding, just to have a place in the center of the storm to unleash your thoughts and creative juices.

- You can also pick a theme or topic to get you going.

- Use an observation from your day, something you saw that stayed with you.

- Write about what you want for yourself, your life, your family, your career.

Remember, you always come first...like the oxygen mask on the airplane. Try a little journaling 2X a week to get started. Choose another day just to read what you've written so far. You'll be greatly inspired! And then increase the time as it feels good to you. There is no set process or timing, only the value that you get to experience in the journaling.