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Tips for Writing in a Journal
1. Pick one fun thing to write about.
2. Write about something that happened to you.
3. Use words that will help readers picture what happened.
4. Tell why the event was so much fun.
5. Check your spelling and handwriting.
Many people get it into their heads that journal writing has to be done
every single day, or else it's not worth doing at all. They try forcing
themselves to write daily, whether they feel like it or not. This turns journal
writing into a chore that's about as pleasurable as flossing your teeth.
Eventually, they toss the journal aside.
Do you believe that journal writing must be done daily? Maybe you got this idea
from reading about some famous writer who made journal entries every single day,
no matter what. Wherever the idea came from, you can let it go. So what if days,
weeks, or months go by without an entry? Who's keeping score - except you?
Journal writing is not a school assignment or a test of self-discipline. Journal
writing is yours and yours alone, to be used for your benefit.
It's true that journal writing is a place for honest reflection. However,
if you continually rehash the bad stuff without taking that extra step to try
and work out some possible solutions, you won't get the full therapeutic
benefits of journal writing.
Journals encourage wonder and curiosity. When you write about anything for an
extended period of time, you begin to see new things in new ways. Try writing
about your location for a bit. Why are you here? What was here a day ago? A
year? A century? Why? Ask questions, and talk about them in writing--even
without coming to an answer. Questions lead to more questions, which will spur
your journal. Over time, inquisitive, individual thought becomes more natural.
Journals help you work out confusing issues and deal with emotion. Seeing a
troubling problem in writing can make all the difference. If you are angry,
upset, afraid, joyful, surprised, or anything else, writing and reading your
thoughts can help focus the issue and come to a solution. If some person really
annoyed you one day, for instance, you might write about what happened and try
to write possible reasons why. Why did you react as you did? What else can you
do? If you're afraid of some future project, event, person, or anything at all,
a journal entry can help by putting into writing exactly what the issue is and
why it is frightful.
Journal entries capture a point in time. Even after only a week, reading what
you were thinking in the past can be interesting and informative. I noticed I
tended to get quite upset over details that had been resolved in a few days.
Journal entries of the past can be valuable. If you are searching for ideas,
reading old journal entries is a great way to start. Write an entry on your
reaction to a past entry. See how you've changed. See what lessons you learned
in the past. Your own writing can be quite informative--don't underestimate
yourself!
A journal improves your writing. With practice, any skill will get better.
Get the big picture of your life by completing our Life Map process
to begin to identify your life issues and potential. You’ll get a sense of
priorities for attention.
Too busy or unclear about what you want for your life? Try our get control
resources with time management and goal setting resources.
Mature the personality as you master physical skills, then calm the
emotions, then develop your mind and then intuitively connect with and express
the soul. In other words - first know yourself, then accept and control
yourself, so you can love and express yourself and then love and serve others.
In essence, we journey through life in two directions simultaneously. We explore
inside to release blocks to allow our authentic, true loving selves to express
more genuinely. We also move out to expand our own natural and unique ways of
expressing and serving. Take the Revealing Subconscious Shadows process to get
clear about what’s holding you back. Take the manifesting and healing processes
to attain what you desire. Keep writing down your thought on a notepad for
review later. Make notes on subjects that interest you and write them down to
put in your journal later.
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