Journaling is a practice where you can get to know yourself better. Take a peek inside what is happening in your brain.
When you journal you get to enjoy the positive things that come along with it. Those positives are:
- Clearing your mind of cluttering thoughts making space for others
- Being able to look back at where you came from
- Set a picture of what you want your future to look like
Journaling is not a new idea but rather something that has been around for centuries. Although, you can now use technology to write in a journal I am still partial to the pen and paper method.
There is a connection that is very different for me than using a laptop or my phone when I use my journal (plus who doesn’t love shopping for a new journal?!). Writing it out by hand brings a deeper sense of existence to the words.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all Wisdom”
-Aristotle
No matter what way you choose to journal I recommend that you do it regularly. This doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment it can be ten minutes in the morning or evening. I think you will be surprised what journaling can do for you.
To get you started I am going to give you 25 journal prompts you can use when you aren’t sure what to journal about.
1. What is going on in my mind right now?
2. What is a thought that I have been consistently having recently?
3. What are three things that I am proud of today?
4. Who am I?
5. Who do I want to be?
6. What emotions am I trying to create in my life?
7. My dream life would be…
8. How can I take one step towards my dreams today?
9. 10 Things I want in my Life
10, What have I accomplished today or in my life?
11. What do I believe about myself?
12. 5 Things I want do this (week, month, year)
13. The thing that makes me smile the most in my life is…
14. What have I learned this year?
15. What are 3 Wishes I would make given the chance?
16. How do I make your wishes come true?
17. List 20 things I love about yourself
18. What am I grateful for today?
19. How is my life a result of what I have been creating?
20. What is my biggest fear?
21. How am I spending my time?
22. What is something negative I can let go of right now?
23. What are my priorities?
24. One word that describes my day is…
25. What gives me energy?
Negative Emotions While You Journal
There is no right or wrong way to journal. Some ways of practicing to journal will be more beneficial to you than others.
Never judge yourself for what you are writing. The journal should be a safe space for you to put your thoughts into.
Some of the thoughts that you are going to have are ones that give you negative emotions. Don’t get stuck in the negative emotions, put them down on the paper because they are the reality but just be aware of them.
Beating yourself up about having negative thoughts is not helpful.
Instead use your journal as a way to get them out of your head so you can look at them a bit more closely and reveal why you are having them.
Final Thoughts
I think everyone should journal. It can be a way to empty your mind of all the things that are swirling around up there.
You can set yourself in the direction you want to go in using a journal. Life can get busy and you get sucked into doing your routines day in and day out forgetting that you could do whatever you want. ‘
Commit to using a journal on a regular basis and see how it helps you.
