Jackal and Giraffe Journaling

Journaling helps me understand myself

I use my journals for recording times when I feel unhappy about how I handled a situation in my life, and I want to explore different ways that I could have responded, or to better understand why I acted the way I did, or perhaps to understand the motivations and behaviours of the person who triggered my pain. By using a Jackal Journal, I can use the Nonviolent Communication principles of recognising the Jackal and listening to the unmet needs expressed by the Jackal to identify the unmet needs for myself and the other person.

The Giraffe Journal is a place to celebrate the times when I have been able to translate my Jackal judgements and criticisms into Giraffe language, when I have gained insights into mine or another’s reactions, or when I have been able to make powerful requests that meet my needs. Or maybe I have been able to compliment someone in a way that they could fully recieve my acknowledgement.

I have created a new Journal covered with a collage of torn coloured paper. This new Journal has a Giraffe on one side where I celebrate my learning and insights, and a Jackal on the flip side, for mourning my mistakes, and exploring and learning from my Jackals.