Lesson 1 Enrich Your Life
The Magic of Morning Pages
Welcome to my ____ Good Habits!
This is Regan, your ____ host.
Today, I’m going to talk ____ a way of starting the day that many people, including me, find enormously useful.
It’s a kind ____ journaling called “the morning pages.”
There is no ____ at which it is too late to form this habit.
I started eight years ago as a high school student, and that’s why today’s episode is especially for my ____ subscribers.
The morning pages are three pages of “free writing,” ideally done first ____ in the morning.
The concept is simple.
Get up every morning, pick up a pen and a notebook, ____ write whatever crosses your mind until you have filled three pages.
The technique was originally developed ____ help writers and artists overcome a loss of creativity, but anybody can use it to create a better life.
There is no right or wrong way to write your morning pages, ____ there are two rules.
First, don’t judge your writing as good or ____
These pages are meant to ____ a “brain cleansing,” so don’t worry about writing correctly.
Second, ____ your writing completely private.
It is ____ for you to write freely and honestly.
You’re even advised not to read ____ writing yourself for weeks.
Now, let me share the experiences of some people I ____
David
David, a ____ and kitchen manager, who has been writing morning pages for two years, says:
My job tends ____ be very stressful.
When I started writing morning pages, I just wrote a lot ____ complaints about my hard life.
Later, I began to ask questions, ____ “What would make my life easier today?”
“How can I improve ____ recipes?”
Sometimes, I keep asking questions until I reach a sort ____ “click moment.”
It feels like a door opening to great ____
Nowadays, I feel ____ stressed, enjoy my job more, and am more productive.
Now, let’s listen to Yuna, a high school junior:
When I started ____ exercise last year, I simply wrote random thoughts like this:
I’m sleepy. A slight ____ starting.
I need to finish ____ math assignment today …
I ____ know what more to write now.
But ____ I found I had deeper and deeper thoughts.
Now, I normally start by writing ____ today’s tasks or worries.
After that, I write ____ my dreams and how to move towards them.
I often come up with great plans and a clear sense of purpose to start ____ day.
Most ____ I’m much happier than before.
I ____ totally relate to these two people because their experiences are similar to mine.
Like Yuna, ____ started this journaling during my first year of high school.
At that time, I felt lost, stressed, and unsure about the future, and it wasn’t easy ____ me to concentrate.
When ____ first tried writing three daily pages, I didn’t expect to stick to it.
But ____ did, and it changed my life!
Releasing my feelings
Releasing ____ feelings onto paper every morning helped relieve my emotional tension.
I gained more inner peace, which ____ my schoolwork performance.
Like David, I asked many ____ for instance, “Why was I so angry yesterday?”
“Why are things ____ fun these days?”
____ I started raising more challenging ones: “What could make me happier right now?”
“What is my ideal ____ Can I reach it? How?”
Answering these questions showed me what kind of person I was and what ____ needs, values, passions, and talents were.
More ____ I came to know what I truly wanted!
I remembered my childhood dreams ____ being a writer, songwriter, and radio host.
Gradually, vague ideas became clear plans. Years ____ here I am, a successful podcaster and vlogger!
I’ve ____ published a book and a music album.
My morning pages, which I still write every day, have given me ____ drive and ideas to achieve these aims.
Dear subscribers, will you try writing ____ morning pages, too?
You never know what creative energy or ideas ____ have until you start exploring.
Don’t be a perfectionist, though. If you ____ a few days, simply open your notebook and start again!
The ultimate aim is to improve your mental health and help you lead a ____ more creative life.