Do It For Yourself: A Motivational Journal

by Kara Cutruzzula, Tessa Forrest (Illustrator)

A bold motivational journal for anyone seeking to boost their productivity, Do It For Yourself combines the pop-art-inspired graphics of Subliming with 75 thought-provoking prompts by the author of Do It Today, Kara Cutruzzula, and illustrator Tessa Forrest.

Whether you’re embarking on a new project or planning your future, understanding what makes you tick is the crucial first step in making things happen. Choose any goal and work through the five stages of the Or just open it to the phase you’re in now. Each exercise is designed to help reorient your outlook, overcome roadblocks, and encourage mindfulness, with powerful typographic quotes to inspire you along the way.

Kara Cutruzzula has chronicled her creative output (highs, lows, in-betweens) and offered productivity tips and insights in the newsletter Brass Ring Daily. Vanity Fair called it, “A life coach in your inbox.” That’s what she does for you here!

In her introduction she writes, “Motivation. Want more of it? Of course you do. Motivation is the not-so-secret sauce to getting closer to what you want. Sure, you can dream and plan and plot, but without motivation to see a goal through, often your wild ambitions can feel stalled—or worse, like they’re nowhere to be found. You need motivation to blow past the roadblocks that arrive in every shape, size, and form.”

In these pages, find the much-needed space to focus your energy, clear up mental clutter, and set yourself up for success. Because isn’t it time you did it for yourself?

Includes Color Illustrations

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Writing, Journal, Journaling

144 pages, Paperback

Published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one reads like a series of motivational tweets. It's not bad but it doesn't offer much in the way of unique insights.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do It For Yourself (Guided Journal): A Motivational Journal could not have come out at a better time. I've been following the author, Kara, for years and her motivational words of wisdom bring me so much inspiration. This book harnesses the power of her words, coupled with action items to help direct you in your quest for what's next. In a time when so much is up in the air and feels out of our control, Kara's book has helped remind me each and every day that whatever's next, it's important to do it for myself. If you're looking for the right place to start on your journey to figure things out, wether you're a parent or professional or creative or student, this is it. Can't recommend this enough.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful design and great probing questions for professional and personal development.

[Samantha]

i actually bought it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Khaled Qaderi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great journal for those who need a little push of confidence with their work. There’s a lot of insights that are helpful for the creative process, and the design matches well with the content. The interactive aspect is also nice; it’s fun to write in a book. I did have moments where I felt like I’ve passed the phase/stage and was already familiar with the idea. However this doesn’t make the quality of this book less. I’d say it’s best suited for creatives who are just starting out on their journey. All in all a fun experience :)

[Nasim BP · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love a good guided journal to invoke some self discovery, so I was excited to order this book and dive right now. While I can see it working for someone who is a journaler in general, and loves open ended questions, this was not my favorite.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been following Kara for years. She has a way of simplifying complex challenges and inspiring me to act. I like her interactive approach to speak broadly to everyone, but I was hoping for more of her quirky storytelling.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great workbook to help push you over the goal line of whatever project you are working on. I got it as an ebook which meant completing the tasks were often a step harder since I couldn't just write in the book, but still well-done and expect to be coming back to it again and again.

[dyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly, the advice is decent. what really carries this book? the pop art-inspired graphics. so fun, so bold, so aesthetic. it’s like a motivational pick-me-up that actually looks cool sitting on your desk. if you need a little push and love a good visual, this one’s a vibe

[Orual · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me encantó todo el diseño y la parte visual del libro, es realmente hermoso. El contenido es bueno pero siento que va dirigido más como a un público adolescente. Los ejercicios pasan a ser un poco superficiales y ambiguos, no siento que aportan profundidad en la introspección.

[Allie Diaz]

💖

[Nancy Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it so much great for if you wanted to achive something in life this is a great book for it. loved it to bits great great great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a promoted journal. Promotes a lot of self care + is pretty creative

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good journaling prompts here, but I’m just too old and tired for them.

[Wei Jiun · Rating 4 out of 5]

General bite-sized motivational prompts, helpful as reminders.

[Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and has really great quotes!

[ace americano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought a journal from @simonesquared, and it didn’t work for me. But this one is a match ✨🤍

[Purrumiau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lindo, pero meh.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful.

[Rosaurasaurio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me gusta lo que hace Kara (sigo su Brass Ring Daily desde hace rato, sin saber bien cómo llegué allí): los gajos de inspiración que comparte son breves y jugosos. Es verdad que también son un cliché. Inevitablemente. Sobre todo, esas frases acerca de las comparaciones, la disciplina, el "start before you're ready", etc., que escuchamos hasta el cansancio cuando somos jóvenes y que no pelamos mucho hasta que un día nos sorprendemos rondando los 40 y repitiéndolos en voz alta (para una misma 😐).

Pero, a veces, son otro tipo de cliché, uno irritante. Sobre todo, esas frases que pretenden inspirar haciéndote sentir culpable por no tener tiempo para seguir adelante con un proyecto, ignorando el montón de factores que atraviesan la fatiga o la imposibilidad de TENER tiempo para seguir.

Entonces, por un lado, algunos ejercicios propuestos me parecieron interesantes y creo que sí funcionan como detonadores. Pero muchísimos otros me fastidiaron por su ¿supersimplificación?, ¿blanquitud?, ¿tufillo a discurso de coach de vida? 🤷