Journaling For Fun and Sanity

Once upon a time, I was a huge fan of journaling.  I would bust out at least 3 pages (handwritten no less!) in my favorite Moleskine, and enjoy the mental clarity, the ease of mind and the peace that came with it.  Then somewhere along the way, I stopped.  Between blogging, screenwriting a bit at work and journaling, I felt like I was on the road to running out of words to say.

I’ve happily found the path of journaling again and I can only say that the practice is one that continually provides healthy doses of clarity and sanity in twenty minutes or less a day.  Handwriting used to be meditative, but time consuming.  I could easily spend thirty to forty minutes journaling, which began to be a bit much as I grew busier.

Today, I’m using a website, 750words, to write.  750Words is based on the concept of morning pages – mentally unload 3 pages every morning and you’ll be more creative - which was developed and explored by Julia Cameron in her powerful book, The Artist Way (highly recommended).

Journaling is a powerful tool.  Not only can the process be fun, but it can also be extremely productive.  When I have trouble coming up with ideas, turning to journaling can often be the most effective solution.  Within moments of getting out the first few words, I’m able to start resonating with what I want to do next, instead of wandering through my mental landscape.

Journaling can be an outlet to express your self and your emotions. I’m not a poet, but there have been multiple times where the practice of journaling has led me to feel quite poetic.  A journal helps me process the events of my life, as well as planning for the future.

Journaling helps you say what you couldn’t otherwise.  There are some things that you may be ready to say, but not in public and not to anyone else.  When you write it down, it will help you find the words that you need to share when you are ready.

Journaling is an awareness flood.  If you’re honest while journaling, you can often unconsciously lead yourself to new truths about yourself.   Sometimes this will happen in the moment and sometimes this will happen when you go back and read your entries.  Either way, what’s not to love about a growing sense of self awareness?

Journaling can also create greater trust and deeper bonds.  Imagine sharing something as intimate as a journal entry with someone that you are close to you.  Do you find it a little terrifying?  I did too at first.  There are occasions where doing so has been an extremely healing process.

Speaking of healing, journaling can be deeply healing.  All of the emotions we experience are just forms and expressions of energy when you take the label off.  Moving this energy through writing can be cathartic and therapeutic when you need it the most.

And what sparked this entire pro-journaling post from me is that journaling can provide a way to check in with yourself.  Taking the time to communicate with your own mind can be eye opening and profound.  It helps you know where you are at and why you are on the path that you are.

If you are seeking more consciousness and self awareness in your life, consider opening a journal and beginning to write.  There are no rules, no framework and no rubric that you need to follow besides your own instinct.

So take some time for yourself, and get to know you.  Have fun!

Photo by mrbill