Why Journal

In case you didn’t already know, I am a big fan of journaling. And, let’s be kind here: I already know that it is adorably old fashioned to carry around a notebook and pen in the age of high tech. But I do it anyway.

Sure, laptops, tablets and AI are really useful. AI can help you write stuff. I still prefer to write by hand with a pen on paper. And you should, too. Here’s why:

Good writing is good thinking.

But I don’t mean to suggest that journaling has to be “good” writing to be effective. A journal is simply a collection – or even a list – of your thoughts and ideas. It doesn’t have to be spelled correctly or grammatical sentences. It can just be ideas or words. It can help you to explore and understand what you think. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a writer or creative.

Here is the big secret about journaling: You already know and think more about your topic than you realize. There are the loud thoughts that are obvious to you. There are also the quiet thoughts that you might never realize are there. Those are the ones you want to capture. Start writing them down and you will find there are more of them than you realize.

Look, we have the freedom to think and write what we like. If we don’t exercise that freedom; if we don’t practice thinking for ourselves, AI, bots, or people with something to sell are happy to tell you what to think.

So, be free! Think for yourself. Write it down so you can come back to it later. Don’t worry about making it great or even good. Just write down whatever comes to mind.

Maybe you identify as a writer, a thinker, a poet, a philosopher, or creative and you already do it. What if you aren’t creative. What then? Why journal?

There are many things your journal can be. Your journal could be a diary – a record of what you did, what you thought, what you felt. That would be great. That would be a great place to start. Journaling can also help you to make difficult decisions. It can help you to focus your attention. It can help you to sort out difficult emotions. It can help you figure out what is on your mind.

How? How do you do that? It’s pretty easy, actually. Make it a practice. Write for ten minutes. You can make it longer if you like. Write down your experience or question and ask yourself questions about it. Why? What if? How? And you keep asking those questions. And you write down the ideas that come to mind. Remember: You get to play with your thoughts in your journal. Have fun with it. No one ever has to see it.

Stay tuned! More information is on the way.