How anbout a 'Goals and Encouragement" forum?
 

The idea behind

'Goals and Encouragement'

is that each thread would be a single members individual real time efforts towards a goal that is about changing their life in a positive way.

Losing weight
Making money
Learning an instrument
Getting a degree
Learning to draw
Getting a new job etc.

The purpose is to give a place where other forums members are expected to give positive support and ideas. Give a 'well done' and other encouragement.

That's an excelent goal, and I encourage this posts creation!

Why not use a journal for this activity?

Good idea but Journals are too far removed from the forum and are not dedicated to this activity. I can't look though all the journals but I can look at a list and quickly see what goals members have.

The point here to to get immediate feedback as well. To tell you the truth I am also it will also help to promote a habit of encouraging feedback in other parts of the forum.
That is happening now but you can never have too much!

you could set a goal to use your journal more. You'd be surprised how much feedback you can get from journal entries.

I don't see the journal as equivalent. This is about using the forum posting system and its regular and guest viewers.

Theoretically any thread could be started in a journal, so why have hte forum at all? Why- because it is far more efficient in getting many to participate.

Forum and journals(blogs) serve different needs in different ways. Blogs are more about you -this is about you within the community.
For example right now if you wanted to know what goals various members where setting for themselves how would you find out? Look through every journal?

It is also important to show and provide a place where the support of the community is EASY to see and feel on a personal level and where you know support is the reason for the post- ie you will not get 'judgements' about what you are doing - just support.

The difference I'm seeing is that your TFP journal is pretty much all about support -- a TFP thread-- you don't get to control what is being written there - you leave yourself open to criticism you may not want - nor advice you may not want...

have you even looked at the journal setup?? It may be alot better than you think.

Yes I have.