When I first started journaling (on an online blog) I loved sharing quotes that I liked. They touched me in some way or reminding me of how I was feeling at the time. Whatever the case may be for why you like a quote; quotes inspire us, they give us a tidbit of thought and a lot of people use them to remind them of what's important. But you can often use these quotes more than you are currently. You can learn from them, you can grow and you can seek the meaning behind the words and why they mean something to you.

How you use quotes when journaling can lead you to revelations about your own life. It's more than simply writing the quote in your journal. It's about reflecting on the meaning or idea behind it and then applying it. Oh, I know, you don't need to do this every single time you find a quote you like. But there are times, like when journaling or when you are assigned to journal but don't know what to write about, that quote analysis could be productive and not just blank page filler.

First, you need to find quotes. There are so many places to find quotes about a variety of topics, from a wide variety of people, places, books and events that it would be impossible to list them all. I've made a short list to get you started.

Where to Find Inspirational Submissive or BDSM-related Quotes

How to Use Quotes for Journaling

Once you've selected a quote that inspires you or speaks you, it's time to sit on it for a bit. That's right I want you to just look at it, read it again, think about it and then think about how it speaks to you. Now you know a bit more about the quote than you started. If you want, you can also look into who said it, the situation it was said in or what other media it came from. Often, how we read a quote will be different than it's intended meaning so learning what caused the author to say it in the first place.  That's okay in small doses and for personal introspection. If you plan to use the quote in something more public, misinterpreting the meaning may look poorly on you.  So learn, explore and understand where the quote came from.

Seems like too much work? Then simply write about your own interpretation of the quote and how it inspires, motivates or speaks to you. It can open your mind and perhaps teach you something about the way you think about submission or other aspects of your life. Tumblr is full of quotes on pretty images if you are seeking something artistic to go in your journal - or make it yourself.

Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere. Words hurt, soothe, inspire, demean, demand, incite, pacify, teach, romance, pervert, unite, divide. Words be powerful. --Inga Muscio

Your turn: share your favorite quote in the comments!