Episode Transcript
How You Journal Is Up to You
Here’s How I Do It
Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about what it means to journal and why so few people do it. One of the things I’ve concluded is that guys see journaling more like a diary. Keeping a diary seems more like something a girl would do … not very manly. At least that’s how I used to feel about it. But not anymore.
Now I see my daily routine of journaling as one of the most productive things I do.
It should be less about whether you call it a journal, a planner, or a diary and more about the benefits it provides. It can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. It can be typed on a computer or written on paper.
Some of the benefits:
Process thoughts
Gain clarity
Reflect on experiences
Learn from mistakes
Celebrate successes
There isn’t one process that’s better than the others. It’s about what works best for you. It’s about doing it rather than avoiding it. It’s about starting.
So, where should you start?
I recommend starting simple. Like I said in the earlier post, my journaling started with the Not a Fan study in September of 2013. It was a simple process: a morning quote or verse, a suggestion or question to think on, something at noon to keep me focused, and a space in the evening to reflect. That was it. Nothing deep or profound, just a tool to help me think through my day.
Then after the study was over, I took that simple layout and started my own journal in October of 2013. It consisted of: morning thoughts to get clear on the day ahead, a mid-day pause to refocus, and an evening reflection to look back.
In January of 2016, I added some additional things to my journal. This was in part based on Donald Miller’s “Storyline Productivity Schedule”. It was also just a part of my personal growth. I started tracking a “Life Theme” as I worked to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be. I included a “Scripture of the Day”, started calling my morning thoughts “Revelations”, and added practical stuff like my appointments, projects, and tasks.
Then, in January of 2017, I moved some things around again. I started reading Andy Andrews’ The Traveler’s Gift, and his Seven Decisions became a daily part of my daily routine. I added them to my journal and focused on how those ideas could shape the way I lived each day. I also started asking myself questions at night like, “What did I learn today?” and “What am I going to do with what I learned?”—not just what happened, but what it meant.
Midway through that year, I made some more changes. I changed “Life Theme” to “Life Mission”. I moved the “Scripture of the Day” from the beginning of the day to the middle to give me a second moment daily with God’s Word. And I started reading The Seven Decisions again at the end of the day, not just the beginning.
The next change came in November of 2021 from an Andy Andrews video course about The Seven Decisions. At first, I started the day by writing five things I was grateful for. Later on, in February of 2022, I moved it to the end of the day.
Most recently in January of 2024, I added a “Word of the Year”. This was something our pastor shared with us. She included a related theme and Scripture as part of her “Word of the Year”. So, I did the same.
This brings me to the daily journal that I currently use and it’s probably not the last one. Journaling is like life, we are continually learning and changing. But for now, here’s what my current journal includes:
Life Mission – this was more focused on who God had made me and what my mission in life is
Word for the Year – as randomly drawn from a basket at church
Scripture for the Year – a Scripture that supports the word
Theme for the Year – a quote or say that supports the word
Seven Decisions – link to the reading page – day number – title of the decision
Morning Revelation –
Looking forward today I will – a more precise focus for the day
Things I get to enjoy today – looking forward to the day in a positive perspective
Scripture of the Day – using the YouVersion Bible verse of the day
Mid-day reminder – a mid-day pause to get recentered
Seven Decisions – link to the reading page – day number – title of the decision
Evening reflection – reviewing my day and what stood out to me
Things I did well today –
What did I learn –
What am I going to do with what I learned –
If I could live today over again I would – a way to give myself grace for the things not done, shift my focus from work and worry and reset my mind for the next day
5 things I’m grateful for –
My sharing all this is to show you that YOU TOO CAN JOURNAL.
Start with something simple and build on it. Add new things, remove ones that aren’t beneficial, move things around. This is about helping you to be the best version of yourself. To build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses.
It’s a place to sort through your thoughts and get them aligned and ready to go through the day. Looking back to see what you did well and where you need to do better.
It’s all about building the best version of yourself!
If you would like some help getting started, we are working on a journal template that could be done on your computer or printed and put in a binder. We’re also working on a physical quarterly version. We’ll keep you posted when they’re ready to go. In the meantime, if you would like to get started, set up a free 30-minute meeting and we would be happy to help you.
