Self-Exploration Through Journaling: Part 1

Back in late March of 2020 I decided to take up a journaling practice in earnest. I picked up the first notebook that I found lying around in my house and from there I made the commitment, to myself, that I would write every day until I filled it up.  It took me two and a half months to do it and in that time a seed of transformation was planted. After filling that first journal, I have continued the practice since.

You might be saying that you are not the journaling type or that journaling is something you have never done before. At one point in your life, you had never driven a car before. Now, I bet, it has become habitual.  Maybe you think that you have nothing to write about.  If you have thoughts and feelings, then you have something to write about.

This journaling practice has allowed me to plumb into some deep places within my psyche. I’ve had conversations with parts of myself that I had kept hidden because of fear and shame. This practice helps shine that light of my consciousness onto those parts of me that lie in the shadows. It is a very cathartic, introspective, and self-discovering practice. I would say that if you truly committed to it, you would see noticeable benefits as well.

If you are serious about taking steps on a new path of positive and lasting change, then I highly encourage you to view journaling as a great tool to use along your way. In part one of this two-part blog, I will lay out the first two points that will help you in starting this process. In part two, we will go over the final three points. The five topics we will cover in both parts we will be:

1.       The benefits of a regular journaling practice.

2.       Why commitment is important.

3.       What you will need to begin.

4.       How to go about journaling.

5.       Some final encouragement.

The Benefits:

The importance and effectiveness of a dedicated journaling practice was introduced to me by writer, podcaster, and insightful sage, Erick Godsey. He has been a big influence and a guide on my journey, and I would be remiss if I didn’t put this kick-ass human on your radar. Full disclosure, we have never met, and he doesn’t know me at all.

There are articles citing numerous studies that have shown the benefits that journaling can have on anxiety, depression, stress, creativity, organization and more. In his article, The Daily Pages: The Life Changing Magic of Journaling, Erick Godsey dives deep into the psychology and articulates numerous benefits to journaling. I also wish to touch on some of benefits here that have been transformative for me.

By exploring honestly and compassionately those voices within, I was able to get in touch with previously unexamined aspects of myself. Those were the parts of me that I had kept shoved down in the basement of my mind.  By giving those repressed personalities a voice, I was able to create a dialogue with them. This allowed for a better understanding of what they were and what they wanted.  In developing this understanding, I was able to relieve internal stress and cognitive dissonance.

I began to take inventory of my thoughts. Writing out my thoughts, feelings and beliefs allowed me to truly examine them and determine their truth in relation to reality. Pouring them out onto the page gave me the opportunity to get them out of my head and into this material realm. It created a gap in which I could examine their repetitive nature. In doing this I have noticed that I have a much more calm, less anxious internal state.

Another benefit is that my creativity has taken off.  By giving these thoughts and voices an outlet into this dimension, I have seen this creative side of me come to life.  I was like so many people in that I thought I wasn’t creative. I had an idea that to be creative you had to be a painter, author, sculptor. I thought you had to be a mad genius. What I found along the way is that creativity lies within us all.

We all have something inside us that is seeking expression in a way that only we can give to the world. As Don Miguel Ruiz says in his book The Four Agreements “Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.”  This creativity must be practiced and nurtured. I didn’t know it at the time, but this is what I was doing when I made the commitment to begin a journaling practice.

The commitment:

A big part of my ongoing path of transformation happened because of that initial commitment and promise to write every day until I filled that notebook. It instilled in me the discipline of taking a positive and actionable step everyday. The discipline and focus, that was previously lacking, formed the foundation of a wonderful and challenging journey.

Committing to a journaling practice, or any other discipline, is a promise you make to you. It will foster a relationship of trust with yourself. Trusting yourself to stick to a commitment helps build character and mental wellbeing. Your mental wellbeing is of paramount importance not only for you but for all your friends, family, and loved ones in your life. Sitting down every day with the firm decision to explore your mind and soul through journaling is one of the greatest things you can do to improve your relationships and your view of the world.

This concludes part 1!

So, what are your feelings and thoughts about journaling at this point? Do you think this endeavor is something you are up for? I hope that this has sparked your interest in what a committed journaling practice can do for you. If so, please read part 2, when it is published. In it you will find out a couple of the things you might need to get your practice going as well as the nuts and bolts of how I do my practice and why I find it so important.