Journaling is a self-development and self-healing tool that involves writing down your thoughts and feelings. There are no rules to journaling, it can be used in many ways. All you need is a notebook and pen, and a quiet space to connect with yourself and release your mind onto paper. A daily journaling practise is an opportunity to grow every day and learn more about who you are. Here are 7 ways you can use it on your journey to become the best version of yourself.
Self-improvement
Journaling gives us space to think about how we can become better people in different areas of our life. It is a good starting point for our personal growth, allowing us to expand our self-awareness by understanding our strengths and weaknesses.
2. Prayer and spiritual growth
Allow your journal to be your safe space. Create and use this space to do the transformative work on your spiritual journey such, as healing or shadow work. Writing to yourself allows you to go within and listen to your inside voice rather than focusing on the external. Journaling is a safe space not only for you to write to yourself, but to write to God. Writing down your prayers is a powerful alternative to speaking them out loud. It gives you a chance to connect with your creator and build a stronger relationship.
3. Self-discovery
Journaling is powerful alongside other self-development activities such as self-help books or audios. This will help you to learn more about who you are, your purpose, and your values. The more you gain knowledge of yourself and feed your mind with positive information, the more you grow and realise your potential.
4. Creativity and ideas
We are creative beings by nature. Use journaling as a tool to express your creative ways and ideas. Have a business idea? Write it down! Feel like writing a poem? Go for it! Your journal is a judge-free space to explore the ideas in your mind and tap into your creativity.
5. Goal setting
When you think about your goal in your mind, and write it down on paper, you are bringing the unseen world into physical form where you are now able to see it visually. This increases our motivation and gives us a clearer vision of what we want to achieve. Journaling also allows us to document the process and track our habits along the journey.
6. Emotional development
Writing down your thoughts and feelings allows you to process your emotions and become present with how you feel. This helps us to declutter our headspace and avoid suppressing our emotions. It is also a way to express yourself emotionally. Sometimes it may be difficult to describe how we feel verbally but writing it down maybe another form of self-expression. Be comfortable with putting your thoughts onto paper and create a non-judgmental space for yourself to be vulnerable. Journaling can be a form of self-therapy, especially if we are uncomfortable talking to others about how we feel. If you experience anxiety or depression, this can help you cope and gain control of your emotions.
7. Gratitude
Raise your vibration by writing down everything you are thankful for. Expressing gratitude daily allows us to focus on the positive aspects in our life and our current blessings. It also helps us to feel more grounded and present and is a key contributor to our happiness. Try it! Spend 10 minutes in the morning writing and reflecting on at least 10 things you are grateful for.
8 Journal prompts to help you step into this new year with a free mind.
New year new you? Usually, we use the new year as a time for change to free our minds from anything that does not serve us mentally, spiritually, or physically. You can use your journal to reflect on these areas, write them down, then decide to begin that change.
- Write down 5 things you are grateful for this year.
- Write down 3 things you have done this year that you are most proud of.
- Reflect on any habits you want to release, change, or begin.
- Write down all the things you want forgiveness for and who you want to forgive.
- Write down any thoughts or self-limiting beliefs you want to release.
- Write down your intentions/what you want to manifest in 2021.
- What is the biggest thing you have learned this year spiritually?
- Write down 3 things you want to work on for your mental wellbeing.