5 Reasons I Love Journaling
Journaling is something I have done on an off since my elementary school days. When I look back at my diaries I giggle at the thoughts I put down. “I learned a new swear word today!” “My *crush* smiled at me in class, I wonder if he likes me too.” Of course, some were more heartbreaking. “Two friends of mine have died this week, it is a little scary.” “Someone who I thought was my friend, was really mean to me.” And some things were not memories at all. “I just came up with the best idea for novel ever…..” (It wasn’t a very original idea).
My journal has had new purposes for me over the years. When I was younger, it was to write out my memories and reflect on my emotions I couldn’t process. In my teens, it was a way to scribble out my artwork, reflect on new experiences, and a creative outlet that I explored short story and novel ideas, while simultaneously dealing with the scariness of adolescence. In my early 20s, it was my means to record my travels. Today, I journal for multiple different reasons: to maintain and improve my handwriting, to help me remember my dreams, to process and deal with grief, anxiety, stress, and all the emotions that come with being an “adult.” I also use it to explore new ideas, goals, academic thoughts and best of all, record my unique vivid dreams my brain creates to digest my reality.
Journaling can mean different things to different people, which is why I love it and wanted to share some ideas of why you would want to journal, what a journal can look like, and the benefits of journaling, as I reflect on what journaling means to me.
Self Improvement
It is very easy to get focused on the negative parts in life. Today, it is easy to come across simple prompts that can support you in your goal creation, guide you towards looking at the positive things in life and, at its simplest, be a tool for self reflection. Truthfully, my first goal I ever had when I picked up journaling again in my teenage years was to improve my printing and handwriting. I was repeatedly told I had illegible “doctor’s” handwriting and wanted to prove that that was not the case. While it did help immensely for this goal, the whole process became so much more.
Self Discovery
As you write and the ideas flow, you start to learn more and more about yourself. When struggling on where to start, look for prompts where you can ask yourself questions that you may not be willing to share with anyone else. For me, a prompt that I repeatedly reflect on, as it changes as I grow, is “What do I want? Does it make me happy?” I have been fixated on trying to obtain goals of things (I think) I want but come to realize that it doesn’t make me happy and often bring a fierce negativity into my life. The simple check in keeps me motivated, while I know I am doing what is best for me.
Positive Mental Health and Self Esteem
Journaling has probably been one of the most valuable tools I have ever used for my mental health. It is a non judgemental and private avenue where you can write down any and all thoughts you have. This is so beneficial, especially when you can’t process all the thoughts in your head. Emotional management is not always easy, and using this simple tool can provide an avenue to get things off your chest, which can free up energy that was being burdened by negative thoughts. I personally am very visual, so if I am frustrated I might just scribble aggressively to let my frustration out. Looking back at my scribbles afterwards, sometimes I can see the frustration oozing out of me onto the page.
To Remember Things
Moments can fade overtime and you grow new memories. Some things stick vividly in your mind, while others get lost as new memories are made to take their place. There are events I want to remember and just know while they are happening that they are significant. There are also times when I know we are living apart of history and am going to want to share those memories with my kids or future grandchildren. Pictures can jog your memory and add to your journal but writing them down preserves the thoughts and feelings associated with that memory. When I am dead, it is a part of my soul I can pass down if I choose.
Simply Because I want to
This is probably the most important reason. The best part of journaling is that you can have it look and be anything you want. My personal journal is a mixture of doodles, scribbles, pages and pages of random thoughts, a mixture of colours and basically the chaotic-ness of my brain spilled onto a page. I do it because I love it and it makes me feel good or better. It is not for everyone but I strongly recommend trying it out.
Please share with me some of your favourite journal prompts in the comments!