Braveheart, yesterday I invited you to join me in letting go of the expectation of the “perfect way“ of journaling/planning—and simply start with pen-to-paper?
🦄 The monthly theme for May (in the Right Brain Planning Basics Guide) is [finding freedom], inspired by the above poetry by May Sarton.
The first step is to (practice) letting go of ➡️➡️➡️ 1) the expectation of the 🙈 “perfect way.” Because, Braveheart, you and I discover our way (the way that serves us best) by experimenting.
- Trial and error repetition is how we discover the way that works best for us; the way that is doable and useful for us. 🧡
If you find yourself repeating the same patterns over and over, it’s time to take a pause and reflect.
Anne-Laure Le Cunff
What if … You allow the month of May to host your [Day One tiny experiments]?
📙 My practice recently changed, and that happened because (after a bit of angst) 😝 I admitted to myself that I [needed] a more “structured” practice (for less decision fatigue). ✅🧮🗂️📋🗃️
I knew I needed more lined writing space, and I wanted my collage planner focus to be monthly (instead of weekly).
😉 So-o, I sorted through my collection of incomplete 📙 planners and journals 🤭 and chose one to use in the new way I envisioned. 😊 Added stickers—and it was ready to use!
➡️➡️➡️ From there, I decided on the following sequence:
- ✅ Continue compiling a list-journal of daily tasks and appointments for the month.
- ✅ Continue using my weekly dated planners for personal and creative work appointments.
- ✅ Continue with my daily-ish journal entries in my 5-year journal and 12-month foldout calendar.
- ✅ Use a designated deck of oracle cards along with the monthly themes/guide words from the Right Brain Planning Basics Guide.
- I am using the weekly art marker from the Any Day Can be Day guide. (It is the perfect size for what I need!) 🧡
- ✅ I begin daily with written and collaged “entries” while listening to music or podcasts; also adding to a 2-page, monthly collage of images, marks and doodles + quotations and notes (to the orange journal-planner from the image above).
- “May I have peace even with uncertainty” was yesterday’s grounding statement (from this download).
- The plated cake 🎂 images are from a magazine (chosen because the colors coordinated with the Washi tape I used to frame the page). 😊
- The two word phrases are content and themes from the May download.
- The fortune is from the Secret Message Society app.
- The art card is from a set included in the Day One Guide.
💁🏻♀️ All of this may sound complicated BUT it tames my neurodivergent 🌈🧠✨ brain and keeps me ⚡️ focused (while also feeding my curiosity and taming my anxiety)—and thereby ultimately saving me time and energy. 🥳
✅ The Right Brain Planning Basics Guide includes a simple template page offering you a monthly Life Quad prompt + color prompt + a theme and guide word + a dated line journal—along with white space to add your notations, doodles, collage or whatever serves you, Braveheart 💙
😊 If you would to begin using the page for May as a starting point experiment, here is that page as a free download:
What if you begin moving toward a new freedom, Braveheart?
- Letting go of, 1) the expectation of the 🙈 “perfect way” along with, 2) perpetuating the self-loathing 💢 outcomes of repeated cycles of 🔄 [try hard, give up].
- Because repetition is how we learn; there is no factual reason to shame ourselves when we experience starts and stops … 🧡
I saw a direct connection between consciously expressing our creativity and healing our lives.
Jacob Nordby
Thank you kindly for your presence here, Braveheart.
I appreciate your interest and support.
~love & good wishes~
2025 Right Brain Planner theme is [Chapters 📖 The Magic of Your Story Unfolding]. I offer cyclical resources (via Ko-fi) + quarterly guides with art and instructional content. ✨
Right Brain Planning Basics | Day One Guide | Guide 3 | Guide 4
⭐️ I am an artist and curator; I am one who communicates with color, found words and collage, inky marks and doodles as I cycle like the moon (as my calendar), chronicling oracles and abiding with the sky as a meditation.
⭐️ I host creative communities, safe spaces for gathering and sharing. I choose love and creativity for coping with the ongoing challenges of this world and I go to work—not because everything is fine but because I believe art heals.
❤️ Braveheart, as the Creator/Artist of Right Brain Planner I am ever-grateful to have the opportunity to share my creative work online + support other creators! 🎉 For almost 20 years I have had the privilege of sharing my art and writing about right brain planning while also hosting kindred 👭🏽💞👭 communities. ✨ I consider it an absolute delight to continue this portion of my creative work (even as I retire from full-time work).
- This is possible, in part, by {you} and your presence here. But also because of the support of my Ko-fi patrons and the other member/subscriber communities I host (via their presence, input and paid subscriptions). 🫶