Skip to main content
WHY KEEPING A DAILY JOURNAL IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR PERSONAL GROWTH
Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions, not knowing how to process them? Do you wish you had an outlet to explore your passions and innermost feelings? If so, then keeping a daily journal might be the perfect solution for you.
A journal is a powerful tool that allows you to express yourself in any way that you see fit. Whether you want to write, draw, or collage, it provides a safe space to get your thoughts down on paper and out of your head. Not only does journaling help to de-stress and get to know yourself better, but it also enables you to explore your emotions and ideas and work through your personal journey.
Journaling is a soothing practice that has great benefits for your spiritual growth. It helps you to grow in the areas you are most passionate about and acts as an outlet for your feelings. By understanding your emotions and letting go of them, you can act rather than react to the circumstances around you.
While it’s great to talk with friends, family, or a service provider about the things happening in your life, there’s not always someone available to listen when you need to get things out. With a journal, you have a way to share your thoughts and reflect on them. It can act as a vessel to show the person you want to share with, so you don’t have to find the words on the spot. Whether you choose to keep a private journal that only you see, one that you share with others, or even an online journal to share with the wider community, the choice is yours.
So, what should you write or put in your journal? The beauty of journaling is that there’s no right or wrong approach. You can write about specific areas that you’re passionate about or would like to explore. You might want to write a commentary on your day or focus more on how you were feeling or responding to the day. A good question to ask yourself is “What had meaning and caught my attention today?” You can write about your feelings, thoughts, dreams, insights, conversations, memories, questions, or ideas. Above all, be honest with yourself. If you can’t be honest with yourself, who can you be honest with? You can only grow when you take a good, hard, honest look at yourself.
Writing with an open heart is key to unlocking the full potential of journaling. Experiment with how and what you write, draw, or paste. Some people draw or paint pictures or doodle along with their writing; others write poetry or songs. Some do it ‘scrapbook’ style. One way to go about it is to address the journal as if you are speaking with yourself or another person.
You may wonder how much you should write. Well, the answer is, it’s up to you. You can spend hours at a time on it and fill pages, or you can limit your time to 30 minutes or less. At the very least, aim to put in 5 to 10 minutes every day and at least a paragraph or pictorial equivalent. Doing something often is better than doing more, or less.
Getting started can be the most challenging part of journaling. You may tell yourself that you’ll write when you feel inspired or when you have more time. But trust me, time will never be found, nor will you feel inspired enough to be consistent. It’s essential to put regular time aside, in a regular place with a regular routine, and just do it! Start by going through the motions, and soon you will begin to stir emotion. Remember that a journal has nothing to do with good writing, grammar, spelling, or perfection. It’s all about self-exploration and discovery. Avoid being critical of what you of what you write.
It’s important to approach journaling with honesty and authenticity, recording your true thoughts and emotions rather than what you believe you should think or feel. Trust your flow and let your emotions spill onto the page. Your journal is a safe space to explore problem-solving, express creativity, and delve into different parts of your personality.
Make your journal unique to you, experiment with different tools and techniques, and don’t take it too seriously. Journaling can be a great way to reflect on your journey and see how far you’ve come. However, it’s important to be aware of when you’re avoiding writing because of discomfort. Facing our fears and confronting our challenges is key to healing and self-knowledge.
Remember, persistence is key. Give yourself at least two weeks of daily journaling before deciding whether it’s helpful for you.
As Henry David Thoreau said, “Each thought that is welcomed and recorded is a nest egg, by the side of which more will be laid.”
So keep writing, keep exploring, and see where your journaling journey takes you.