Copyright © 2019 Greta Solomon
Cover & Layout Design: Elina Diaz
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Heart, Sass & Soul: Journal Your Way to Inspiration and Happiness
Library of Congress Cataloging
ISBN: (print) 978-1-63353-974-7 (ebook) 978-1-63353-975-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019935683
BISAC category code: SEL045000 SELF-HELP / Journaling
Printed in the United States of America
Praise for Heart, Sass & Soul
“Heart, Sass & Soul is an inspirational (and practical) guide to harnessing your creativity and using self-expression to create a better life.”
—Karen Swayne, features and health editor, Prima magazine
“In a world where we are often bombarded with other people’s stories, it is vital for our well-being and success in life to make contact with our own stories. Heart, Sass & Soul is the essential guide for how to create that meaningful relationship with self and then become the author and authority of your own story.”
—Zita Tulyahikayo, systemic coach and hypnotherapist
“Behold! You are holding a bright pearl of love. A guide that bridges between your inner being and its outer expression. This work is coming from a mature and ripe place, with deep personal and professional experience. How blessed we are to be gifted with Greta’s work which is profound and inspiring, yet light and accessible.”
—Yair Sagy, yoga teacher, healer, and facilitator at Armonia Alpujarra Healing Retreat Centre
“A welcome and stylish exploration of writing as a way of uplifting your life. Sensitive, sassy and creative.”
―Malcolm Stern, psychotherapist, author and co-founder of Alternatives
“Writing is a powerful tool in delving within, in learning who we are and what we need, and in building a beautiful life on our own terms. Greta Solomon’s Heart, Sass & Soul is an invaluable, accessible, and practical resource that helps us do just that. It is filled with insightful, inspiring, and interesting stories and exercises. And it is no doubt a reference that you will return to throughout your life, throughout different seasons, transitions, and phases. Because it’ll help you discover and rediscover who you are.”
—Margarita Tartakovsky, writer and associate editor at PsychCentral.com
“Greta’s wisdom and warmth shine through every page of this wonderful book. It’s like being gently but purposefully guided toward a more accomplished version of yourself through writing and discovering your voice and your inner light—the you that you’ve always known you could be! This book has really helped me not to waver or stumble with my writing, but to stride confidently forward.”
—Anya Hayes, Pilates teacher, MBCT mindfulness coach, and author of The Supermum Myth
“Keeping a journal has been a daily practice for me for many years. Journaling enriches my life as it helps to hone my craft as a writer. Writing down my thoughts clears my mind and helps me discover the topics that are really grabbing my attention. Greta Solomon’s book is the go-to guide on the art of journaling.”
—Joan Gelfand, author of You Can Be a Winning Writer
“Greta is to writing what Marie Kondo is to tidying. This is a marvel of a book which explores how you can find your creative voice and help clarify your thoughts through the lost art of writing. Creativity is, Greta says, the missing piece of the wellness puzzle, and in this book she shows you how to tap into your own creativity and use it to overcome issues and express yourself more clearly. Through it, we can rediscover the cathartic power of creative writing.”
—Georgina Fuller, freelance journalist for national newspapers and magazines, including The Telegraph, The Guardian, and Modern Woman
“Greta Solomon reminds us of the value and importance of living a reflective, self-reflexive, and creative life, with enjoyable and gently challenging exercises, prompts, and wisdom, along with her own fresh and supportive voice.”
—Deborah Alma, emergency poet (prescribing poems from her 1970s ambulance) and author of The Emergency Poet: An Anti-Stress Poetry Anthology
“We all know that journaling can be a powerful self-care practice; Greta artfully shows us HOW. This is an insightful, inspiring book empowering us all with the tools of self-expression. Very liberating!”
―Suzy Reading, chartered psychologist, mind editor at Psychologies magazine and author of The Self-Care Revolution
“As a writer, I know firsthand how therapeutic it can be to order your feelings on paper (or on a computer). This book is a wonderful resource for people who want to go deeper and really explore both positive and negative emotions.”
―Annie Ridout, journalist and author of The Freelance Mum
Also by Greta Solomon
Just Write It! How to Develop Top-Class University Writing Skills (McGraw-Hill, 2013)
For Krister, Savannah Grace, and Leonie Joy.
With love, always.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Clearing the Blocks to Self-Expression
Chapter 2 Forging a New Creative Identity
Chapter 3 Tapping the Creative Current
Chapter 4 Embracing Moments of Magic
Part 2 | Hot Sauce for the Soul
Chapter 5 Creating Love from Loss and Grief
Chapter 6 Making Meaning in Dark Times