My D.r.e.a.m. Journal—For Student Leaders
30 Day Authentic Journaling—Clarity. Purpose. Direction
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“To Thine Ownself Be True” ~ William Shakespeare. ------------------- What Is Authentic Journaling? ------------------- Authentic Journaling is how we talk (or in this case, write) to ourselves when no one is watching. You’ve probably said to someone before: “C’mon Get Real!”? Well, Authentic Journaling is how YOU Get Real - with yourself! It is when you take off the “mask” and let your guard down; when you allow that weak or unsightly part of you show. I see many young people today love to express themselves freely. They love to talk freely to people, and allow people to talk freely to them, or at them. However, it seems they seldom speak or listen to themselves. Better still, they very rarely allow themselves to hear “the Gentle Whisper”; the “Still Small Voice”6 from within them. While they do not seem to have any problem listening to every voice around, they hardly listen to their own voices! It would appear that many are lost in the struggle to become who someone else wants them to be. In a desperate bid to be like, sound like or look like someone else, they lose sight of who they were created to be! Living real and authentically in this fast-paced world is becoming somewhat ‘endangered’! The “populism phenomenon” is costing many youths their true identities. Very few are keen on discovering who they really are. Many seem satisfied acting like everyone else. But “everyone else” is No One….No Identity….No Uniqueness….No DNA – and that’s pretty boring! There’s however a lot of interests now in becoming celebrities! And there’s nothing wrong with that in itself, but at what cost? To what end? Who or What do you allow to shape the trajectory of your life? Who influences your decisions? TV personalities? Actors? Musicians? Politicians? Is your happiness tied to the many ‘Likes’ you get or DON’T get on social media? Who or What is your greatest influence? I doubt that anyone would knowingly tailor their lives after the similitude of these “celebrities” if they were consciously aware that many of them hardly represent the best models of character. Yet, if all I see as a young person are these “celebrities” as we do on TV, movies and the social media; then that’s the highest standard that I’m likely to believe possible; after all as they say: “monkey see monkey do”! This is the era where it seems unwholesome behaviors attract the most attention and are too quickly glamorized. Role modelling has become less about character and virtue and more about popularity and who can make the loudest noise! Sadly, too many young people are unwittingly adopting these as enviable and even acceptable standards of behaviour. This unfortunate trend makes me very unhappy and keeps me up at night. I’m not sure which is worse for me: the level of moral decadence in our societies, or the lack of sensitivity towards it by many. Just because something is “popular” or “acceptable” to a lot of people should not make it right or acceptable to you!7 My dream is to see more young people like you, all over the world give keen attention, deep and careful thought to Who they truly are, Who they want to become and What it is they were put on this planet to achieve. This is where True Success comes from. The truth my friend is, you can only be the counterfeit of someone else! But I would rather you took some time every day with yourself and with your Creator, to discover your True and Authentic Self and the reason for which He put you here. Then you will receive the strength to proudly give that REAL YOU as a gift to the world! The world needs a new generation of leaders; leaders who will be true to themselves and lead from the heart. I believe that generation is yours! The goal of MDJ is to help you become that great leader that the world seeks. For that to happen, you must first lead yourself. You will only succeed at leading others when you have succeeded at leading yourself. YOU my friend, are your most difficult follower! “Hear this, young men and women everywhere…..you are needed now more than ever before. Take up the mantle of change….for this is your time!!” ~ Sir Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill made this call to the youths of his generation. But it is ripe and relevant even today. So I say to you dear Student Leader, this is your time! Let the change that this world needs begin with and in you. Start leading your life so you can begin to lead your generation! Don’t settle for less than YOU! Don’t stoop to the level of someone else’s opinion of you or accept their standard of success as yours. Your Creator invested so much in making you an Original. Don’t short circuit the greatness He embedded in THIS ORIGINAL - by pursuing the flawed image of a Counterfeit. A Tailor needs a pattern to make a dress, a Designer creates something new; something that has never existed, from the inspiration he receives. Start receiving the inspiration you need to create Your Own Pattern! Be Your Own Life’s Designer! Let My Dream Journal provide you with the inspiration and space you need to Design Your Best and Most Authentic Life! Remember, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU! And it’s that unique YOU that I’m cheering on! Coach Lara
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About the Book
The teenage and early adult years can be confusing and sometimes depressing. There’s a lot to juggle: changes in the body, relationships – falling in and out of love, grades, college essays, college admissions, peer pressure, cyber-bulling, drugs, alcohol, issues at home, sibling rivalry...oh and keeping up on social media! The list is endless and a lot to sort through for a growing teen or young adult. I didn’t have as much to contend with in my days, yet many times it felt like I was losing my mind. I was “depressed” most of my teen and early adult years, until I discovered how and where to anchor my soul. How? By Authentic Journaling! Capturing and journaling my thoughts helped to focus my mind on what is and what could be, rather than what is not. I found my purpose on the pages of My Dream Journals. Once I discovered the cause to live for, every pain, disappointment, heartache and failure paled into insignificance. The day I became aware of who I could be, my attention shifted from what I was or what people thought of me, to the possibilities that lie within me. Suddenly, people’s opinion of me didn’t concern me anymore. I had discovered a Higher Opinion that pushed me beyond every opposition! I found this Higher Opinion through Authentic Journaling. I pursued and received the Blueprint for my life, and now I’m living it! You too can, as you start your life’s journey with My Dream Journal. Let’s journey together to Dreamland, where All Things Are Possible! Get ready to receive your life’s Blueprint and discover the problems you were put on this planet to solve. BECOME all you were created to be!
About the Author
Lara Ejizu is a Holistic Coach. She is a certified member of the John Maxwell Team and creator of The Servant Leader - a value-based leadership programme designed, to raise early leadership awareness in youths. An alumnus of the Coaching Academy London, Lara holds a Master of Social Science Degree from the University of Birmingham, England. She is the Founder of Servant Leaders Foundation, a leadership development organization set up to lead and fund Leadership Development education in Schools around the world. Her company, High Impact Learning Services – provides leadership and people development training, coaching and speaking services to organizations, schools and NGOs. While Lara loves to work with children, youths and their families and has for over 13 years, she also serves as Executive Coach to leaders in business, religion and government. She describes her mission as ‘raising Servant Leaders - leaders who will lead from the heart; by serving. She works holistically with leaders, helping them achieve Focus, Clarity and Purpose. Working with Coach Lara enables every leader young or old, to achieve Harmony in their personal lives, their health, careers or businesses. Lara has a passion to help young people live a life of meaning and purpose. She helps youths discover and live their true and authentic self. She is a mother to three grown children. Her servant-leadership mantra is: “The Way Up is Down”