This is a guest post by Rebecca.
Journaling is not a new concept. Ever since humans transposed their language into writing, they have kept a recorded history. You may have kept a secret journal or diary when you were a teenager. It was probably hidden in a special place so no one could read your deepest thoughts.
There are no steadfast rules for journaling. Some people just write down the events of the day. Others may also record their reactions to what happened. A journal is a place where people can record their dreams and innermost feelings.
Many therapists recommend that their patients keep journals. It is a good way for them to look back on how they felt a certain day, and what may have triggered a negative experience. Journaling can be a tool to combat depression, reports WebMd.com.
If you have thought of starting a journal, there is no better time than the present. You can either buy a nice blank journal or use a plain notebook. Here are some ways that keeping a journal can benefit you:
Journaling Creates A Personal History
Have you ever wondered what you were doing on a certain day in the past? Keeping a daily journal will chronicle your life. It is easy to just jot down events that you feel are significant. You can see how certain happenings affected the future.
There are a lot of famous people who kept journals. Some ordinary people recorded historical events which made their work famous, such as Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank. You can use your journal to record family traditions and history for your children and grandchildren.
Journaling Allows Your Subconsciousness To Communicate
There is a constant conversation between you and your mind. It is often the things that you do not tell anyone. Expressing your feelings in written words can be therapeutic for you, says an article in PsychologyToday.com. It is a better alternative to keeping your feelings bottled up.
When you review past journal entries, you may become aware of thoughts and feelings that you did not realize you had. No one needs to read them. It is just a way for you to vent and see what may be bothering you. Journaling can give you clues to improve your way of thinking about yourself.
You may have experiences in your life that have left your heart wounded. Let your journal be a personal confidant. It can put you on the path to healing.
Journaling Is Your Creative Outlet
Have you ever wanted to write a book? You can get a lot of practice through journaling. You may choose to use your journal to write down story and character ideas. If you write things down as soon as they come to you, then you will be less likely to forget them. You can also add sketches in your journal if you are artistically inclined.
You can describe a place you are visiting or even jot down some character traits of someone you met. These fine details might help you build a description in your book. If you lean toward poetry, your journal would be the perfect place to keep all of your favourite verses. Journaling improves your skills as a writer.
Journaling Sets Goals For You To Achieve
In order for you to complete a goal, you need to know what the goal is. Your journal can keep track of things you want to accomplish and how to do them. Write concrete goals and what you are doing daily toward them.
While you record your activities and thoughts, you may find things that inhibit your goals. Once you identify the problems, you can do something to change them. Make a record in your journal for each step completed. It will encourage you to continue working until your goal is met.
Whether you call your book a journal or diary, it will quickly become a treasured resource. You build self-discipline when you faithfully add entries every day. It is also beneficial to flip back to earlier writings to see how you have progressed.
It is up to you whether or not anyone gets to read your thoughts. When you keep it personal, it is easier to be honest with yourself. This honesty goes a long way toward healing and finding more satisfaction in your life.
About Rebecca
Rebecca is an author, entrepreneur and most of all a wife and mother of 2. What she enjoys the most is helping normal people reach their full potential. Rebecca uses her ever growing skills in writing to inspire people and not settle for a normal life. As an entrepreneur, she has no shortage of failures and that is why Rebecca is the ideal person to talk about this.
