Journaling Your Way to the New You

The habit of writing for my eye is good practice.

It loosens the ligaments.

Virginia Woolf

Keeping a journal is one technique you can use to help make improvements in your life. To some people, the ability to keep a journal comes naturally, while others really struggle with it. Whether you keep a consistent daily journal, an occasional journal, or simply jot notes to yourself when ideas come to you, this technique can have powerful implications in helping you attain your goals.

Make Things Happen

Putting your goals, thoughts, hopes, dreams and desires on paper can help you actualize what matters to you most. Help bring your goals and dreams to life by writing them down. Read them as often as you can to focus your mind on living the life you desire.

Here are a few journaling techniques to help:

1. Write quickly and passionately. Let your ideas flow onto the paper without dwelling on one thing for too long. Writing in this manner will allow your goals, dreams and wishes to flow out freely beyond what you thought possible!

• Try setting a time goal and writing freely without pausing until the period ends. Once you are done, you will be surprised with what you have written and gain some new insights and understanding from this activity.

2. Write consistently. You may not be an everyday writer, but formulate a regular routine to keep your journal flowing. When you write on a daily or weekly basis, you will find a greater consistency to your thoughts and reflections.

3. Set goals and make time to reflect on them. Outline your most important self-improvement goals when you begin your journaling experience. Reflect on them often to determine whether or not you are taking active steps toward achieving them.

4. Be brutally honest. You can be completely honest in your journal because no one else will read it but you. Share your secrets, dreams, and desires. Even the ones you cannot share with anyone else. Use your journal as a sounding board, and never sacrifice honesty for any reason.

5. Ask yourself tough questions. Self-reflection is an important aspect of self-improvement, and your journal can aid significantly in the reflection process. Ask yourself questions about where you find yourself in this moment in life and where you want to be so that you can brainstorm the necessary steps in the self-improvement process.

6. Refer back to your past writing often. When you have a bad day, look at your positive writing to help ease your thoughts. When you feel lost or unsure about yourself, look back over your goals and insights to find guidance.

• There will be a wealth of vital information in your journal if you use it consistently, and you can turn back to this information to help you see clearly where to go next.

7. Choose a journal that is right for you. Select a journal that resonates with you, something that you feel comfortable and confident writing in. You can purchase a journal from a bookstore, create your own, or simply collect loose pages in a binder. The right journal will inspire you to use it.

Simply putting your thoughts down on paper will help you clarify your dreams and focus your attention on what truly matters in your life. Work to write in your journal as often as you need, and refer back to what you have written to help you keep those goals in the forefront of your mind. Journaling is a powerful tool. But it is only effective when you are willing to put your passion into it.

To your continued success!!!

Photo Credit: mollycakes via Compfight cc

Read more:

• Use Journaling to Understand What Makes You… You.