Keeping a journal is revolutionizing the way I do LIFE.
It’s a struggle to write every single night, but it’s paying off handsomely. In a way this blog is a journal, yes, but I’m talking about an actual, hand-written diary documenting every single day of my existence. I like writing a journal because I think I’m interesting. Your results may vary.
Journals are definitely not just for little girls. Journals rock for many, many reasons:
- Journals Give Value To Everyday
The only time previous that I kept a journal was on the New Zealand trip. I call it ‘the New Zealand trip’ instead of ‘my trip to New Zealand’ because it sounds more important the first way. That trip meant a lot to me and I have a written document to prove it. Most of us keep an account of our vacations (i.e. pictures and scrapbooks) but neglect to do so for the other times in our life. Are our lives only interesting and important for 2-4 weeks out of a year? - Journals Force You To Do Something Cool Everyday
“Well all the fun stuff happens on my vacations. Should I write about sitting in a cubicle today?” Journals are amazing because you don’t want to let them down. You can’t write boring dribble in your journal. You have to make each day count. Go out and do something worthy of writing about tonight. - Journals Turn You Into A Storyteller
If you stick with it and consistently keep a journal, you will eventually become a better teller of stories (storyteller). You’ll figure out ways to turn even the dullest of stories into magical tales that have lessons and morals. Your car will suddenly become a giant fucking steed and the morning commute is an epic journey through a dense, impenetrable forest. - Journals Make You Think Critically
Over time, you begin to analyze your day and certain situations in a more critical light. Since every day is now important and worthy of being put into words, so too is every event that happens in your life. You begin to question and pick certain occurrences apart in your mind to find the meaning in it. Why do I towel off the exact same way every morning? - Journals Reinforce Your Beliefs
Putting your thoughts into writing is a powerful way to help reinforce your beliefs. If you think something, then write it, that thought becomes more ingrained in your psyche than just thinking it alone. Mind your thoughts and what you write because it will become your reality. Don’t reinforce negative beliefs about yourself (unless you’re into that). - Journals Keep Your Memory Fresh
Jotting down notes from your day helps you remember what happened. When you start to reflect, you’ll likely remember things you would have otherwise forgotten. The best way to make a memory last for a life time is to write it down. When you’re really old and still capable of remembering that you wrote a journal, you can look back and relive the good ol’ times.
Most of all journals track your progress. You can look back through the records and see how far you’ve come, or haven’t. They hold you accountable.
Journals can help you recognize trends in your life and help you correct or change course. Are there certain days that you don’t accomplish any of your goals? Are there certain hours during the day that you seem to be the most productive? Are hangovers killing half of your day? Was that 10th beer necessary?…sometimes it is.
Most of the “great” people in our society have written journals. If Da Vinci did it, it might be worth trying. Ben Franklin – wore tights, kept a journal – not a sissy.
