9 ways journaling can super charge your life
Journaling, much like meditation, is one of the things you hear about being “really good for you.” However if you don’t set aside time for either, then you simply won’t do them. It’s a matter of building a habit; writing in the same place at the same time every day that creates a lasting impact. One you build the momentum, it’s actually harder to stop. I bring my journal with me anytime I’m out of the house overnight so I can be sure to write as a way of centering myself.
Since committing to a journaling practice in summer of 2018, here are some ways journaling has super charged my life:
I can see patterns of behavior. When I write the same thing over the period of a few days or weeks I notice that a patter is starting to form. For example, I might be writing “I want to hike more” but am I actually getting outside and on the trail? If not then I see what actvitites are blocking me from soething that I know will really fill me up. On the other side of that coin, if I keep writing “I love being among the trees” it helps me to see how much joy hiking brings to my life and I want to do it even more.
I don’t sweat the small stuff. When I write down “Rob left his shoes in the middle of the living room again” I can explore if this a big thing or something smaller. The smaller stuff I can let go of. By writing it in my journal I am allowing myself to feel the emotion (annoyance for the shoes in this case) and then discharge it. Feeling it >> letting it go. We can’t let go of something until we feel it and process it.
I am more present. Getting out my fears, worries, ideas, successes, dreams, etc means I am able to listen better to others. I’m not always thinking about a response or what I want to say because I have gotten it out already. The safe space of the journal grants me permission to be present for myself so I in turn can be present for others.
I am able to share gratitude more deeply. If I ever get stuck with what to write, I’ll start listing things I am grateful for. The size and magnitude doesn’t matter. I can be grateful for this cup of hot tea as well as the fact that I have access to running water in my home. The really neat thing about gratitude is that by cultivating it, we bring more of it into our lives. It’s why I offer time at the end of each yoga class I teach for students to think of a person, place, thing or experience and share gratitude for it. It truly resonates at a cellular level.
I am less judgmental of my own thoughts. When I write down my thoughts, however “boring” or “weird” they might be, I release them from the judgment of how they “should be.” There is no “good vibes only” in my journal, only the real, raw detail and emotions. By observing my thoughts as they are written on the page, I’m able to let them go…I simply notice.
My mornings are activated with intention. The ritual of sitting in my zen den with tea, on my meditation cushion sets the whole day to be an intentional one. In the winter I have my blue light on while writing and maybe a heater too. Sometimes I’ll listen to music, other times not. Writing 1st thing in the morning gives the day clarity and purpose. I’ll write in the evening too if my morning is very busy but it feels a bit different. My preference (and suggestion for anyone starting out in a journaling practice) is to write first thing in the morning before the day gets away from you.
I spend less time on social media. From June 2020 - November of 2021 I was largely off social media. I didn’t have IG or Facebook apps on my phone which I would totally recommend if you’re craving time off social. Through my journaling practice I was able to examine my relationship to social media and how it was (or was not) nourishing me. It’s part of why I set a limit on Instagram for 30 mins / day. When I reach that limit, no more scrolling. This has been a game changer not just for productivity but for my mental health.
I feel more creative in other areas. I believe creativity can take many forms and shapes. Yes, it is creative to dance, play an instrument, act in a movie or write a poem. There is also creativity in designing a yoga sequence or making a meal from scratch. Even more creativity if you don’t have all the ingredients and it’s raining so you don’t want to run to the store. Creativity comes with parenting or teaching. When I journal, I tap into a deeper well of creativity and this feels so damn good.
I’m able to tap into the power of my dreams. Writing down my dreams and their symbols 1st thing in the morning is so much fun to me! There are times I have an intense dream and I literally spring out of bed so I can take a seat in my Zen Den to process them. Have trouble remembering your dreams? Set an intention as you are going to sleep to remember them. When I consciously say, “Spirit, please use my dreams to guide me” I remember my dreams in more detail. Writing them down amplifies this effect and I’m left with guidance from a different plane of consciousness.
If you’d like some help getting started with a journaling practice please let me know in the comments below. If you’re currently journaling, I’d love to know how you’re feeling about it.