What should you Write in your Journal?
Journaling is an incredible practice that can help you on your journey toward intentional living. Whenever I talk about my own journaling practice, I get asked a really basic question. Keep reading to find the answer to, “What do I Write in my Journal?”
Recently a friend asked my, “What do I WRITE in a journal? Do I have separate sections for different topics? Does it all go in one spot? How do I organize all of it?” So I thought I would share my answer here, in case you've had the same questions.
Okay, but first of all, let's be honest:
When I started journaling, I did NOT know what I was doing! I was 11, full of angst (and hormones), and I was thinking that boys might be cute, after all. Maybe. 😂 It just seemed like such “romantic” thing to do, and I was definitely channeling some Anne of Green Gables vibes at that point in my life.
I had NO CLUE what it would turn into. 😍
To be honest, I rarely share my journaling practice online… Partly because it's incredibly personal for me… but mostly, it's because I've journaled for so long that it feels like breathing. I don't think about it anymore, it's just a part of how I live my life with intention. (And it's been really interesting to break down my journaling practice so I can teach it in The Wonder of Journaling course!)
BUT: I also know it's helpful to learn about what someone else does, so that you can see what's possible! So today, I want to share my (current) process with you, in the hopes that it will help you feel more confident if you're ready to try something new. So:
WHAT do you Write in your Journal?
First of all:
Journaling is WHATEVER you want it to be!
I'm a firm believer that each person's journaling practice is THEIR OWN. Yours shouldn't look like mine, (and that's something I'll help you uncover in the course!)
The next thing I would tell you is this…
YOU DECIDE what to put in your journal.
It's your empty book, with your empty pages! There is no right or wrong way to journal. (And if you're looking for the “right” way, that means you're also telling yourself there's a “wrong” way… which is just a limiting belief that's stopping you from making any progress.)
I use my journal as a dumping-ground for ALL THE THINGS. If I’m feeling stressed out — it goes in my journal. If my creative juices are flowing, then I will put them all in my journal. I pray in my journal. I unload in my journal. It’s like a best friend with great listening skills, and ZERO opinions! 😆
But I will definitely recommend that you…
Keep it SIMPLE, sister!
A lot of the time if you're starting something new, you end up wrestling with that limiting belief of wanting to “do it right.” So you end up over-thinking, over-complicating, and you stop trying. (or you never start at all!) Don't over-complicate it! You don't need a million different books when one would do the trick.
But I know it can get complicated, because… HOW do you sort through all the things you write down? (especially when you're putting all your thoughts into one book?) 🤯
ORGANIZATION TOOLS can help!
I actually use my personal journal and my bullet journal TOGETHER. My journal is the dumping-ground for all the things. Thoughts, prayers, ideas, emotions, good days, bad days… it all goes in there. If there is ANYTHING that I need to save, I put it in my bullet journal. (Or occasionally in a note on my phone.)
So, the next logical question is:
