In this post, I listed journalling as one of the ways we can get in touch with our true selves and deepen our self-knowledge. So how does journalling work?
Journalling Clears Valuable Head Space
Journalling gets thoughts out of our heads and onto paper. If you’re a list person, think of it like a ‘to do’ list. Before we write a task list, there are many ideas about what we have to get done swirling around our heads in a disorganised manner. Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start until they’re all in front of you on paper or screen. It’s the same with internal thoughts and conversations. Having feelings, thoughts and facts all jumbled up in our heads like a thought salad can be confusing at times.
It Helps Us Recognise Patterns
Every day we experience so many feelings, sights, sounds and sensations that sometimes it’s difficult to see the cause and effect between events and emotions. Keeping a journal over an extended period of time helps expose those patterns, whether it’s that eating sugary foods makes you cranky or that seeing a particular person usually leaves you feeling a certain way. This is all useful information to have and, over time, enables us to make conscious decision that are in our best interests.
It Sends A Positive Message to Ourselves
We live in a society based on demands, expectations and the constant effort to meet them. In day-to-day life, there is very little time to look at our own feelings and needs and take stock of where we’re at. Nothing says to yourself ‘Hey, I’m interested in you’ like journalling. It provides a chance to reflect, observe and express that we might not have at any other point in the day.
Journalling Encourages the Flow of Thoughts…
Once you’ve gotten those initial thoughts out and cleared that valuable head space, new thoughts will pop up to take their place. These are often very revealing and there may be times when we surprise ourselves, thinking ‘Wow, I never knew I felt that way about X’.
…Which is Helpful When We Need Clarity
This is especially true if we’re trying to get clarity on something we feel unsure or foggy about. Trust that your subconscious already knows all the answers – you just have to give it a voice.
It Helps us get a Third-Eye Perspective
This also relates to those ‘Wow, did I really write that?’ moments. We all have voices in our heads. It doesn’t mean we’re crazy – actually, they’re helpful. Think of it like a board meeting (or if that’s too corporate, neighbourhood watch, jury discussion or any other metaphor that resonates). Every voice has a different perspective and opinion to offer – not all of them are going to be likeable but they’re there for a reason nonetheless.
Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash
