There would be moments in your day-to-day life when you’d feel like you are bursting out. There would be so much you are feeling, and so much you’d want to say. You might think this is where journaling can come in handy.
Yes, that’s true. But just so you know, journaling can do a lot more than just be an ear you can vent to. It can be a great tool for personal development as well, especially after a fresh start.
Wondering how? It’s simple when you write down how you feel, you are choosing a healthy outlet, and directing your feelings in the right direction. Not only it’d help put you in a better frame but will also encourage positivity. Consequently, you’ll be more mature about your emotions, and it will reflect in your outlook towards life and everything around you.
Wonderful, isn’t it? Truth be spoken, journaling has only done well for people. You can reap the benefits too if you start. But, if you’re lost, here’s how you can do that.
How to start a journal for personal development
1. Know your “why “
Starting with the most important, you have to know why you want to start journaling. It doesn’t have to be only because people have told you to, or because it’s in trend. Journaling should be started because you want to.
Going another layer deep, when you know you want to start journaling, you should also know WHY. Is it because you want to vent out? Or is it because you want your life to change?
That being said, when you have clarity about why you want to start journaling, you would be most likely to stick with it. You won’t do it for just a day and abandon it the day after.
Additionally, based on your “why”, you can go for the type of journaling that suits your purpose the most.
i) Gratitude – If you want to develop a positive outlook towards life, then gratitude journaling is the one you should go for.
ii) Self-empowerment – If you want to be inspired, and motivate yourself to grow, then self-empowerment journaling can be your pick. Besides that, if your goal is to become more confident in life, then once again, self-empowering journaling is what you should go for.
iii) Brain dump journaling – if your goal is to simply let go of your toxic feelings or practice catharsis, then you can use journaling to do a brain dump. Not to mention, it’s a great way to deal with stress if you happen to find your peace of mind compromised.
iv) Reach your goals journaling – If you have something to achieve this month or this year, and you are looking for some motivation, then you can use journaling to reach your goal. Having said that, you can write reminders several times during the day in your journal to get that added boost of motivation to reach your goals faster.
2. Get a journal
Your purpose defines the kind of journal you’d be going for. Now if your goal is to simply do a brain dump, or practice gratitude and self-empowerment, you can go for a normal journal/notebook. However, if your goal is to grow and meet your personal or professional obligation, then a planner integrated journal can be of great help.
But don’t just wait to get your hands on one, if you don’t have the kind of journal you are looking for, start anyway on any normal one
3. Take a minute or two before you get started
Now there’s nothing left except finding a perfect pen. Just sit back, and get started. However, before you start, I suggest you take a moment and go back to your feelings. Ask yourself, how do you feel? And let the thoughts come to you.
However, do make sure that journaling does not become an obligation for you. Write what comes, don’t force it. It’s not necessary to write three to four pages, write as much as you can. There are no rules to journaling, just you and your feelings.
4. Make sure to stay consistent
Journaling is not something you do once a month. It has to become a habit if you are looking for personal development. It is advisable to write at least three pages every day. Write anything you want to, once again no rules to that.
That’s all there is to journaling. It’s easy – you just have to be honest and raw with yourself. The goal is to process your feelings and meet your goal of personal development.
Hey there, do you maintain a journal? If yes, feel free to share your experiences about how it has benefited you. I’d love to hear your stories in the comments section.
