Journaling 101
Well, it’s about that time of the year when some of us make New Years Resolutions, some write a wish list of things they desire to accomplish in the new year, and some jump in full speed ahead and just go for it.
However you choose to start your new year, I truly believe one thing. You will want to remember it!
I mean, who doesn’t want to have a memory jogger of the fun places you travel to, impactful people you meet, thoughts and dreams that surface along the way? Journaling can be a great habit to start in the new year, in addition to any other traditions you have. In this blog I’d like to share a few tips that have helped me over the last 20 years of journaling. Yes, I started young, and I have a very large collection of personal writings.
It seems that each time I come to the last page of a journal, and start a new one, a new season of life begins. It could be coincidence or by design. I really don’t know. Although I always look forward to flipping through the newly bound pages of a brand new journal.
I hope that today you will be inspired to begin this journey, or gain a few more ideas to add to your current journaling practices.
Read . . . Set . . . Go!!!
Choose a Journal
Make sure it’s one you really like! Maybe the cover intrigues you, or the paper is nice and thick, or you like the smell and feel of Italian leather.
There was a time that I went to Barnes & Nobles in search of “the perfect journal”, only to realize that I had already purchased and completed writing in about 10 of their best journals. It was time to move on to a new store! Now I enjoy finding journals along my travels. I somehow remember where I purchased each book and what significance it had in my life the very first time I opened the freshly bent pages.
The First Few Pages
I recommend writing your name and contact info in the front so that in the case it gets misplaced, someone can return it back to you. You can also write the start date, and then the end date once you finish it. This helps when you are going back through old journals looking for a specific time period to easily know which book to read.
A Personal Note
In each of my journals I open with a prayer. It goes something like this. “Dear Jesus, I dedicate this journal to you. I pray that what is written on these pages will be pleasing to you and bless your heart. Keep my mind, body, spirit and soul pure as I am on this journey through life. Help me to take every thought captive and live according to how You taught us to live. I pray that you would guide and direct my steps, be the CEO of my life and my businesses, so that in all things I do I would glorify you and share your love with all those around me. Help me process the thoughts and feelings I don’t understand, and may this journal be an accurate representation of my life lived in service to you. I know I’m not perfect. So I thank you in advance for forgiving me of my sins, and I ask that you help me along the way to know the truth of how to live a kingdom-focused lifestyle. I love you! Amen.”
You may choose to write a note to yourself, or to anyone who reads the journal after you’ve passed away. Remember that your words carry a lot of weight. What you say throughout your life, and what you write, have the potential to leave a lasting legacy. It is up to you to speak words of life and hope and truth and justice. You just never know how your words will effect those who encounter them.
Pages in between. So what should you actually write in your journal? Well, anything! Yep, anything and everything that you want to! It’s your journal. Now, with that being said, I can give a few guidelines. Since journaling is one of those things that you can do for fun, or use more constructively. Here are a few ways I’ve used mine.
write about a place you visit, what you think about it, how it impacts you, specific names of streets or restaurants or activities, etc.
people you meet, your interaction with them, if they said something meaningful you want to remember
hopes, dreams, desires - Don’t be afraid to get specific!
thought processes - analyze your Personal Paradigm. This paradigm is how you see the world. It’s the lens in which you look through and assess things you come into contact with. Throughout your life your subconscious has been trained to act and react depending on what has happened to you. When you become aware of this personal paradigm you may realize there are ways in which you see the world that are defense mechanisms, but they may not be healthy ways of integrating with those around you. Or maybe you do have a healthy paradigm about a certain thing but another person close to you does not.
personal analysis - take stock of what you think about a specific topics, issues, events, work, personal health, extra curricular activities, vacation time, work/play balance, family interaction, emotional health, financial stability, etc.
wrote a poem or a song - get creative and don’t let perfectionism creep in. This is a safe place for you to put your ideas down on paper.
write a note to yourself - imagine being your own best friend. Write a note to yourself as if you were talking to yourself and encouraging yourself. Be kind. Be generous with compliments. Be excited about where life is heading. Be optimistic. Be your own set cheer leader.
write Bible verses, quotes and inspiring massages - I’ve been known to take up an entire page in my journal for just 3 words. It’s my way of reminding myself that “It’s okay to have fun” and “Laugh a Little More” and “Sing A Song” and “Jesus Loves Me” and “Smile Big”.
do as a sporadic brain drain of thoughts - use this as a way to sort out emotions, ideas, dreams, goals, etc.
Things to Remember
You are your own best friend and your own worst enemy.
What you think about yourself will manifest itself.
Entertaining a thought breeds familiarity, and familiarity breeds comfortability, and comfortability breeds friendship. Be careful with what you make friends with.
What you entertain grows. Entertain the thoughts and feelings and emotions that are life giving and holy and righteous in God’s eyes.
Remember when I mentioned how I write a letter in the very beginning of my journals? I do this as a way to hold myself accountable to the things I write and the things I think about while writing.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ …” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Matthew 12:34 (NLT)
It is very important to guard what comes in through your five senses - what you hear, see, taste, smell, and feel. Imagine how your life would be impacted if you allowed every thought to go uncensored, or every feeling to run wild. You might be a hot mess! This is why we are called to have self control. In this same way, you can use journaling as a way to reign in your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Allow journaling to be one of the ways you process these things, along with prayer, and taking every thought captive.
Journaling on a regular basis can help you feel more settled and have better clarity about life. Journaling will help get you though many of life’s ups and downs. It’s okay if the pages of your journal end up functioning like tissue paper on occasion! On the flip side, journaling can remind you of the blessings and joys of life. Writing an entire page of things you’re grateful for is the perfect anecdote for getting out of a pity party. I’m quite sure if you sat long enough you could think of 20 things you’re grateful for. This may even be the perfect way to start out your journal in the first note!
Here is one final encouragement for life in general. This comes from the Apostle Paul as he is writing to the church in Philippi.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:6-8 (BSB)
I hope this blog was helpful for you. Feel free to be in touch with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Rose