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Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor

Jen Taylor encourages people to create daily habits that allow for incremental progress towards previously unimaginable results. Jen Taylor shares inspiring journal prompts to help you get out of your own way and do the things you've always wanted to do. Jen Taylor is a clinical social worker, play therapist and Certified Journal to the Self Instructor. Jen is the creator of the original 2017 Play Therapy Summit and was a co-host for The Play Therapy Great Migration conference in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022. Jen is a travel enthusiast, an avid reader, and a girl who lifts weights and runs for fun.

Stressbusting: A Therapeutic Writing Workshop August 16th
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Join Me for Stressbusting: A Therapeutic Writing Workshop on August 16th!

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #13 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change Go from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and stuck to feeling calm, empowered, and in control Hello Reader As we near the end of summer, the stressors tend to pile up. Sometimes its' because you didn't get the relaxing vacation you were hoping for; or you slammed back into life after a vacation and feel that work has piled up. We never escape stress. Every completed project leads to something new...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #12 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change This lesson will change your life Hello Reader If you can learn this lesson, you will change your life. It's about rejection. It's a lesson that my favorite author, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about when she shares her strategy for managing rejection letters. She would say to the letter "you can't scare me. There are people who haven’t even been born yet who are gonna reject me someday – that’s how...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #11 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change Three Questions To Start the Week Hello Reader This one is really short and simple. My three favorite questions to ask myself and my clients are: How are you doing? How do you know? What do you need? The first question, usually gets a thought or a feeling like "I'm tired!" The second question requires you to check in with your body. "I can barely keep my eyes open." And the last question gives...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #10 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change Revisiting the "Reverse Bucket List" Hello Reader I was revisiting some old newsletter issues and updated this old post with some new thoughts. The Bucket List -you probably have one (whether it's written down or just in your head). Mine is forever long. I want to see all the things. Literally. In my original post on the reverse bucket list, I shared about a family vacation to Niagara Falls and...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #9 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change Purpose Makes Hard Decisions Easier Hello Reader Make purpose your bouncer. -Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering This lesson about purpose is from Priya Parker, author of NY times bestselling book, The Art of Gathering. But, what does that mean to "make purpose your bouncer"? In terms of gatherings - it means that you need to be really clear about WHY you are doing something. What is the purpose...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #7 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change All the time is easier than sometime Hello Reader Are you struggling to keep a journaling habit? I often hear from people that they "wish" they could journal more or that they try to maintain a habit, but it always just slips away. Reminder: You do not have to journal daily. Repeat, you do not have to journal daily to have an effective journal habit. However, if you DO want to create a journaling...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #6 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change The Power of a Question Hello Reader "Do you have a favorite journal prompt book?" is a question someone asked a while back. And my answer was no. It's ironic that I send out journal prompts every week, but actually, I sort of hate collections of journal prompts. They all feel so random - after all, they are just a bunch of questions. But, answering questions is actually the secret to journaling....

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #5 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change Permission to Take a Pause on Progress Hello Reader My Facebook memories brought me some unexpected joy the other day when I was reminded of a post I made several years ago giving my then toddler permission to "not learn anything" at preschool that day. As we transition into summer, this is often the time that I press pause on this newsletter. Typically, it is a time of creative rest. I have...

Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor Issue #4 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change You can't always see progress Hello Reader A year ago, I started Invisalign treatment for my bottom teeth. I couldn't always see the progress and for a while it seemed like a terrible investment. For those of you who don't know, Invisalign is a plastic tray that sits over your teeth like a mouthguard, but the process requires the dentist to glue these little "buttons" onto your teeth so that...

BONUS Pen to Progress with Jen Taylor June 1st, 2024 Intentional Writing, Empowered Action, Meaningful Change It's time for your Month End Review You are receiving this bonus edition of Pen to Progress as your reminder to complete your end of the month review. This process is my absolute favorite of all of my writing habits. I believe THIS exercise is the most powerful writing habit that you can create. Here's the most recent feedback from someone who just started doing these reviews a few...