The modern term for keeping a diary is journaling. No matter what you call it, both are methods for writing down your thoughts and feelings, your struggles, your fears and your excitement.
In childhood it was a place to express your inner most thoughts and feelings without judgment or punishment.
In adulthood these concepts still apply. But a journal is more than that. It is a place to write down what causes you stress, your anxieties and the situations that make you feel depressed. It is also a place to focus on your gratitude, your hopes and your dreams.
Journaling
There is no right or wrong way of journaling. It is simply a method of understanding your thoughts and feelings. You have a better chance of understanding and calming your swirling thoughts when you document them. You can gain insight and self-awareness by identifying when your anger is really betrayal, abandonment or disappointment.
One of the important factors about journaling is that you do it consistently. Every night before sleep. Or every morning when the house is quiet and you are having your first cup of coffee. Or on your way to work while on public transportation. Anytime that works consistently for you.
For some people, daily journaling is a sleep aid. By journaling, you can empty your mind of anything stressful that you might dwell on once the lights are out and you are attempting to drift off to sleep.
There is one other thing to think about when you begin journaling. Unless you have a “safe spot” for your journal, it will be accessible for others to read. You may be the proverbial open book and having someone else read your journal isn’t a problem. But for others who may be writing about concerns about an abusive significant other, it may not be safe for you if it is accessible for him/her to read.
Benefits of Journaling
There are many benefits of journaling. The following are just ten of those benefits. Journaling can help you to:
- Reduce your stress levels
- Prioritize problems, fears, and concerns
- See a situation from multiple angles
- Set and accomplish goals
- Regulate your emotions and cope with anxiety and depression
- Track symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers
- Identify negative thoughts and behaviors
- Be more in-tune with your emotions
- Break you free of ruminating over something unpleasant that happened
- Break the cycle of stuffing your emotions
- Be more relaxed and at ease with yourself
- Open-up and write about your feelings, struggles and accomplishments
Types and Styles of Journaling
Journaling in the past might have been handwriting in a small book or diary. Today, journaling is so much more diverse! You can still handwrite your journal, but you can also draw, use your phone’s notes app or use your computer. It is the method that works best for you!
It isn’t just the physical act of journaling, but it is also the style of journaling you decide works best for you. There are many:
- Bullet Point Journaling: This style of journaling is more about to-do lists, reminders, one-liners.
- Drawing Journal: Sketches and drawings that explain your emotions and experiences.
- Expressive, Free Style or Stream of Consciousness Journal: Continuously writing down your emotions without any filter or regard to spelling or grammar.
- Gratitude or Affirmations Journal: Keeping your journal writing positive with a focus on what is going well and supportive affirmations.
- Highlights Journal: A journal highlighting parts of your day that make you laugh or things that have gone well or poorly throughout the day.
- Manifestation or Dream Journaling: Writing about your dreams, your goals, and your desires in life.
- Poetry or Song Lyrics Journaling: Sometimes words flow better when you are writing in the form of a poem or song lyric.
How to Start Journaling
Starting a journal can seem intimidating at first. Like any other habit, it takes a while before it becomes a repetitive part of your lifestyle. The following are some ideas about how to get started:
- Find the journaling type that works for you; paper, computer or drawings.
- Determine a comfortable place and set a time which you can journal consistently.
- Keep it simple, especially in the beginning by journaling only for a few minutes at a time, maybe even setting a timer.
- Journaling is a judgment-free zone. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar or what other people might think.
- Keep your expectations realistic.
- Don’t be afraid to express yourself and be creative.
- To get started, answer questions, for example, “What is going well?”, “What am I struggling with?”
Negatives of Journaling
People tend to only highlight the pros to journaling. However, journaling is not for everyone and there are a few cons. Journaling may:
- Cause some people to overthink what is happening in their lives
- Make some people live more for their journaling experiencing life
- Inflate egos, making someone self-absolved
- Be a source of blame, shame, and guilt
- Contain information that can be used against you if it is placed in the wrong hands
Relationships Relearned: Learn. Unlearn. Relearn
To be in a healthy, successful relationship, what you learned in childhood about relationships may need to be unlearned and relearned in a different way as an adult.
You may have journaled as a child and found it to be a rewarding experience. Maybe you observed a sibling or a parent writing in their diary or journal. This may be one of those times you do not need to unlearn what was observed!
Your journal may give you some insight into what is going well, and not so well, in your relationship. It may be beneficial to your relationship to have a place where you can write down your thoughts and experiences within your relationship. Unless a friend or family member can be completely objective, sometimes talking with someone else about your relationship with a significant other can only make your relationship worse!
Summary
The most important thing about journaling is to start. There is no best way to journal; it will look different for everyone.
Journaling is something you do for yourself. Keeping a journal may be the calm in the storm of your life. It can be a place where you can be alone with your thoughts and the opportunity to sort out pleasant and unpleasant experiences.
With warmest regards,
Thank you so much for reading this blog. If you enjoyed the content, please check out other blogs at:
https://relationshipsrelearned.com/my-blog/
https://rvingnomads.com/blog/
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