Former First Lady Michelle Obama is celebrating the one year anniversary of her best-selling book, Becoming, with a guided (or Springboard) journal. The prompts are designed to help each of us find our voice and are inspired by the lessons she has learned in her own life as well as some of her most memorable quotes. For example, the USA Today shared this example:

“When they go low, we go high. How do you put this phrase into practice?”

One of the tenants of Journal to the Self ® is the art of telling yourself the complete truth, faster. In her book of this name, Kay Adams explains that this statement came to her from author Sondra Ray. Kay describes why self-truth in your own journal is so valuable:

“Your own truth is not your enemy. Don’t try to talk yourself out of knowing what you know or feeling what you feel. You’ll get the best results in your journal if you give yourself permission to write your own truth.”

On the Becoming Journal’s webpage Obama is quoted similarly:

“It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about where you get yourself in the end. There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.”

Last year, Obama inspired by sharing her story with all of us. This year, she gives us guided prompts to create the gift of sharing our own story with ourselves.