Journal a first-hand account of your sacred life adventures. It isn’t just for teenage girls, although it’s an excellent outlet for them too. Powerful and successful people regularly keep journals, and they center our thoughts and reflections in a way that little else can. A journal can record your life and serve as an emotional release. More than a diary, it can serve as a record for your children the lessons and fluctuations of a real-life experience. It’s also a great way to observe your daily thought flow, indicate patterns, and even back up your aging memory! If you’ve never considered keeping one, please reconsider.
Keeping a Journal is simple:
- Decide on a format. Nearly any form of journaling can be effective. A notebook, word processor, or dedicated journal can serve you well. You can even record one online. It’s entirely up to you. A blog can serve as a journal. Or, if you’re more of a visual connector, use your sketch pad to capture the thought and emotional flow that affects your being daily.
- Stick to a schedule. Try to write something at least a few times each week. Ideally, you’ll be able to record your thoughts daily. You’ll find that the journaling habit is easier to create if you write each day.
- Keep it casual. You’re not writing a novel. You’re writing for yourself. You don’t even have to use complete sentences! Scribbles, doodles, and capturing quotes that struck you with insight are all perfectly okay. Use a style that suits your wants and needs. Some days you’ll write more than others. There will be days without much to write about and days where you fill page upon page without hesitation. If you need help deciding what medium will work best for you, click here.
Anyone can enjoy the benefits of a journal. Choose a format that you enjoy and start writing. Make it a sacred part of your daily routine. I promise, you’ll be amazed by how much you write over the years if you just write a little each day.
A journal serves many purposes:
- A journal serves as both a record of your life and your progress. Failures are difficult to forget, but successes can be difficult to remember. When you’re frustrated with your progress, pull out your journal and remember all the successes with clarity.
-
- As we get older, the details of the past become fuzzy. A record of your life keeps the details readily available.
- It can reveal the truth. Things seem a little different on paper than they do in your head. Putting your thoughts to paper reveals things you never considered and gives more insight than your thoughts alone.
- A journal can hold you accountable. Fleeting thoughts and ideas are easy to ignore, but written records are more compelling. You’ll find that you’re more conscientious and more accountable when you keep a journal.
- It is a perfect place to record and track your goals. Goals require attention. The biggest challenge with achieving goals is forgetting about them after the initial excitement has worn off. Make a short entry each day regarding your goals to keep them fresh in your mind. Numerous studies have shown that 15-20 minutes of writing, done for a few times each week, reduces stress. Write about your thoughts and concerns. You’ll feel better and enjoy your life more.
- Keeping a journal puts you in good company. After all, you spend your entire life with you, so it serves you best to ensure that it is an amazing, attentive relationship. Many of the most successful people in history kept a journal. If there’s one single thing that they gained most from it, it’s clarity. It enables you to become an inspiration unto yourself and can encourage you to live a life worth recording. After writing the same thing for a few days, you’ll be inspired to make something interesting happen!
Record, Reflect & Cherish
Who knew that a few minutes of writing could accomplish so much? A journal is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to enhance your life in numerous ways. It gives you a place to honor the sacred pauses, center yourself, and record your perception of this beautiful life experience. Your children will appreciate the effort, and there are numerous mental and physical health benefits. Why not start today?