Episode Transcript
What Does it Mean to Journal?
Here’s Why I Do It
Journaling. What does it really mean to journal?
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. I journal three times a day and I’ve been doing this consistently for a little over twelve years.
But why?
Before then, I had made a few weak attempts at journaling. But to no avail. There were always other things that I needed to do, keeping me from making it a habit.
Then something changed.
We did the Not a Fan study at church. The point of this study was that it’s much easier to be a fan and watch from the sidelines. But it takes real intention to be fully invested in the process and become a committed follower.
That six-week study included a structured follower’s journal with daily entries like:
Morning quote – an insight from the author or a Scripture verse
Morning suggestion – a question or suggestion with space to write your answer or thoughts
Noon reminder – an insight or exercise with space to write your thoughts or do the exercise
Evening reflection – a space to review your day and write what stood out to you
End of the day thought – This is just what it says, a closing thought to consider as your day comes to a close
Once I commit to doing something, I’m in for the long haul. With my commitment to this process, I didn’t miss a day. All forty-two days, I filled out the journal.
This taught two important things:
If I could do this for forty-two days, I could keep doing it.
I was better after doing it.
This process helped me commit to building a better me.
As a young person, I never had a diary. I didn’t do much writing or reading. In fact, I saw them as distractions that kept me from doing the hands-on things I wanted to do. Younger me would never have imagined that I would be doing both every day.
Like most things in my life now, I attribute the change to the accident in 2012. That’s when God got my attention with a board upside the head. This was when I became aware that things didn’t have to stay the way they were. It was a turning point. I started paying attention to people that I admired, who had radio talk shows, blog posts, podcasts, etc. I began to see things differently and understood that something needed to change. So, I started reading the books they wrote or recommended. And I started journaling.
Back to the question, what does it mean to journal?
As I was researching this question, I found a post that answered this question well: What Is Journaling and Why You Should Try It?
“Journaling allows you to gain clarity on your thoughts and it’s a space where you can reflect on your experiences, learn from your mistakes, and celebrate your successes and accomplishments.
Journaling is different for everyone because it is such a personal and subjective practice.
For some people, it is a way to process their emotions and gain clarity on their thoughts and feelings.
For others, it is a way to document and record their experiences and memories.
There are many benefits to writing in your journal on a daily basis and it is an excellent habit to build for many reasons! Here are just some of the best reasons why you should try it:
Improves Mental Health – Keeping a journal can help reduce your anxiety, stress, and depression by allowing you to express yourself freely which helps you to process your emotions and thoughts.
Increases Self-Awareness – Writing in a journal can help you to gain insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behavior which allows you to understand yourself better.
Boosts Creativity – Journaling is an incredible creative outlet that allows you to express yourself through writing.
Creates A Growth Mindset – Journaling can help you to set goals, track your progress, and reflect on your experiences with gratitude which leads to personal growth and development.
Reflection – Using a journal allows you to record your memories and experiences allowing you to reflect on them in the future which is a great way to acknowledge growth and progress. It also allows you to identify your negative beliefs and thinking patterns. And once you know what these are it is easier to change them!
Strength – Keeping a journal helps you to deal with difficult circumstances and situations. By looking back at old journals and notebooks you will also be able to see how you’ve grown and changed thereby helping you to make better decisions in the future.
Spirituality – Starting a journal is a great way to connect with God in a meaningful and purposeful way which can help you discover what your purpose in life is.”
This is how my journaling began and some of the reasons why I do it.
Next week, I’ll share how my journaling has changed over the years and how it helps me to be more productive.
If you have questions about how journaling can help you and your business, let’s talk. Schedule a free 30-minute call and we’ll dive into it together.
