Book Review – The Good Morning Journal: 5-Minute Guided Reflections to Start Your Day with Inspiration, Purpose, and a Plan by Molly Burford
Book Review
The Good Morning Journal: 5-Minute Guided Reflections to Start Your Day with Inspiration, Purpose, and a Plan
by Molly Burford
Publisher: Adams Media
176 Pages
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
I’d like to start with the fact that I approach journals like these with much excitement, but always with a dash of skepticism.
With a journal, I hope to see some progression in the prompts, as a journal is usually (as expected) the same page copy and pasted throughout the whole book. I was firstly disappointed by the lack of such a progression in this book.
The journal invites you to take 5 minutes each morning to reflect on how you feel, and how you want to feel later, and asks you to write and plan what you will do to achieve that feeling. This is very good if you already have those tools available, however, this journal offers none of these tools. Someone without knowledge of some path, be it focused in mental health, or spirituality will get little use out of this journal, as it offers no suggestive actions.
Also, since the prompts don’t progress, you answering the same questions over and over without variation, leaving you feeling like you’re spinning the wheel. If you don’t have the answer in the first page, you won’t by the last. So I would definitely not recommend this book for a beginner.
However, if you do have the tools available in your toolbox, this journal gives you the space to use those tools mindfully. The repetition ingrains the prompts into your head, giving you an awareness of your feelings throughout the day. You’re constantly aware of the goal you set for yourself, and the actions you’re taking to accomplish that for the day.
It offers something of a ruler to measure your progress, as you’ll see as you progress through the journal, you get better and better at doing the things you’ve promised yourself automatically. More and more, you’ll see yourself stepping into your own power, and you’ll remember, you’re in control of your own destiny.
For the beginner, I would say this book may not serve you at all. If you’re truly lost, this book will not help you find the way. In contrast, if you have your feet firmly planted somewhere, on any path. Even if it’s just healthy coping mechanisms, this book is the perfect accessory to your journey. I look at this journal as a sword. Very useful to a skilled weirder, but useless, and maybe even dangerous for someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing at all.
Aesthetically, it is beautifully rendered, and formatted very well. The intent behind the book is magnificent, but clearly written by someone who is an expert, and maybe a little more advanced than they expected. If you are a beginner, I’d highly recommend having a spiritual teacher, or therapist help you get started in the beginning to give you a little more direction.
For me personally, I loved it, and am still using it, and this will definitely be something I’m aiming to work into my daily routine lifelong, as it has made me very mindful of my emotions, and permanently so. For the experienced spiritual practitioner, and those well verse in mental health. It could also be helpful for a beginner, but I’d greatly recommend guidance in that particular case. Judging the composition solely however, it’s a great addition to your brain and bookshelf!
Molly Burford has been a mental health advocate for over 10 years. She covers such topics as anxiety, depression, sexual health, cannabis and more. Her works have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Allure, Cosmopolitan and Teen Vouge. She is the author of The No Worries Workbook: 124 Lists, Activities, and Prompts to Get Out of Your Head and on with Your Life!, Say Yes to Yourself: 50+ Uplifting Lessons in Self-Empowerment, Self-Confidence, and Self-Worth, and DIY Bucket List: 100+ Prompts, Lists, & Ideas for Planning the Rest—and Best—of Your Life! Check her out at MollyBurford.com or look up her Instagram. For a list of her works visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Molly-Burford/164011342
***
About the Author:
Alexiel Raynes is a shaman, philosopher, and musician from Louisville, Ky. He has studied religion and science for over 20 years. His spiritual path focuses on self realization, the liberation of the constraints of the mind on consciousness. He also studies plant medicines and their use in indigenous cultures world wide. He is fascinated with exploring the world beyond the veil of mainstream western science, and postulates at what lies beyond general consensus reality. He, together with his business partner Hallie Walker are the owners of Saol Bandia, a holistic herbal apothecary based in their hometown. They are also very active in raising pagan awareness in their community, and helping give witches the courage to stand up to a world that has forgotten our ways.
You can visit their store at Saolbandia.com
For contact visit Facebook.com/AlexielRaynes2020
Or email [email protected]
