Of all the goals or words for the year that may be crossing your mind, I'm guessing they have something to do with personal growth. Whether it's taking the stairs instead of the elevator or increasing your random acts of kindness, most things we strive for are related in one way or another to personal growth and self-improvement. We often want to do a little better at something.
In my years and years as a memory-keeper, and now sharing it as a business since 2005, I have discovered four truths about personal growth in relation to memory-keeping. While we think about our goals and growth for the coming year, I'd like to offer these four truths for you to consider in coming days, weeks, and months. The blog posts I'm sharing with each truth go into much more detail, so you'll definitely want to read each one!
Here are four truths I've learned about personal growth through memory-keeping.
- Making time to sit, feel, remember, and engage with your photos and your stories gives you peace, gratitude, and happiness in a way nothing else can. Putting your photos and stories in something tangible gives credence to them is actually therapeutic. Read more--including statistics and studies about the benefits of memory-keeping as well as advice on HOW to be a memory-keeper--at {Personal Growth through Memory-Keeping}.
- Hobbies are not for people with too much time on their hands; they are for people who want to expand their minds and use or find their talents. Hobbies challenge your brain, give a needed break from stress, and increase positivity while lowering depression. (As you might guess, preserving my photos and memories is my favorite hobby because it combines the therapeutic benefits I mentioned in #1 with these benefits of a hobby.) Read more on {The Importance of Hobbies to Personal Growth}.
- EVERYONE IS CREATIVE, and everyone needs to use their own creativity for personal growth, happiness, and satisfaction! An understanding of what creativity actually is frees you to create. If you want your heart to feel good right now, read the inspiring words at {The Importance of Creativity to Personal Growth}. You'll come away knowing much more about yourself.
- Memories are important to personal growth! At first glance, it seems strange--how can memories (looking back) mean so much to growth (going forward)? Our memory, in fact, is wholly responsible for our connection to other people! Memory is also what makes it possible for us to grow and change. I had never thought of that. I learned so much from the expertise in {The Importance of Memories to Personal Growth}.
So what DOES memory-keeping have to do with personal growth? Actually , preserving your photos and memories by taking the time to engage with them and remember has EVERYTHING to do with personal growth!
And it would be the perfect goal for the coming year because {it's good for you and good for your family} at the same time!
{Get started right now!} There is (quite literally!) no time like the present! This is gonna be SO good for you!
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| We all need these therapeutic benefits--so Pin and share! |
Happy New Year! See you there.
2023 UPDATE about references to Heritage Makers: Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013). YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased in previous blog posts is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was.
Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:
· creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software
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This is an awesome article! I especially loved your suggesting about engaging with our photos and memories. I just got a printer for Christmas that prints from my cell phone pictures. I've been doing just what your article says....enjoying memories! So wonderful a feeling! -Mari
ReplyDeleteI love your four points! 1 and 4 have been extremely evident to me as I've watched our daughter take time to flip through her baby book over the years. She's noticed and commented on various obvious and not-so-obvious things over the years that have become apart of her growing up process. For example, she could answer immediately the oft-asked question "did you and your sister [who is almost 9 years younger than her] look the same at her age?" While I (who hadn't looked at our first's baby book in years) was trying to think back to help our eldest answer the question, our daughter quickly answered, "yes! we look almost exactly the same!" She has a connection to her sister (looking very similar in the baby and toddler stages) that I didn't realize until our baby was almost a year old. And to your Point #4, that connection to her younger sisters has informed part of her identity - as a big sister, as a daughter in our family, as a standalone indvidiual - in ways that couldn't have been created without her baby book. Thank you for sharing this very insightful post on #HeartandSoulLinkUp <3
ReplyDeleteThere are so many benefits from reliving our memories. We learn from our mistakes, develop gratitude, and become an overall happier person. My kids love pulling out their scrapbooks and showing them to their own kids now. It is so powerful!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear it, Mari! :) It really does make a difference to actually SEE and engage with our photos instead of just taking them and forgetting about them. I'm happy to hear you're enjoying the benefits. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes, Jen! That's exactly what I'm talking about. It matters. :) Thanks for this great comment! I love knowing your daughter is experiencing the blessings of this whole concept.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Lori. A scrapbook or photo album is such a simple but powerful way to boost mood, increase self-esteem, and really FEEL that sense of belonging. It's good for you! I love that your kids get to experience that. Thanks for the comment. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to think I was just wasting my time when I did creative projects, but then I realized many benefits and I actually need to do more! Love this article!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad, Janine! Yes, that's a really a common misconception. Creativity is so healthy, and it really does benefit us in many, many ways. And it benefits others around us, too. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. :) Go be creative. xoxo
ReplyDeleteJennifer, this is an excellent post. I am working on a memory book for for my very young granddaughters! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Pam! I really appreciate that and am glad you enjoyed the post. I'm glad you're giving such a treasure to your granddaughters. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely post, thank you. You've inspired me to up my creativity. Terri
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri! I'm so glad to hear it! :)
DeleteJen, I love these 4 truths. They make absolute sense. Pausing to reflect on your words here today.
ReplyDeleteThanks bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
I'm so glad! Thanks so much, Paula.
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