The Transformative Power of Journaling

One of my most important tools on this journey of life is a journal.  Not a diary as such, although yes, I use that too, but a journal.

A large book of clean white paper where I can write down my thoughts, hopes, fears and inspirational ideas, to try to make some sense of my life.

• Journaling frees the brain from negative thoughts – once on paper they seem less powerful and easier to deal with.
• Journaling allows you to capture any wonderful ‘ah-ha’ type inspirations. The sometimes fleeting thoughts that you need to remember and keep for posterity.  They are the wisdom of the universe speaking to you, and should be treasured.
• Journaling is a safe place where you can be 100% honest with yourself.  Your hopes, fears, desires and dreams. It is a place of non-judgement where it is safe to express emotions and the true essence of you.

How to Journal

1. Find a quiet space when you can sit for a short while and get a little introspective. It might be your favorite chair, propped up in bed, or even in your car if you have arrived at your destination and 5-10 minutes to spare.
   

   

2. Open up a fresh new blank page, put your date and time on the top of the page (you can write on the left or right sides – totally up to you) and just start writing.

3. Without focusing too much on it, write in a size of font and style that flows and is easy for to both write and read back.  If you want to you can even write sideways – although personally this drives me nuts!
4. Write down whatever flows to you. It might be a quote that comes to mind. A load of worrying thoughts. Or, lines of gratitude for the day you are experiencing.  Tears might come and that is actually good – signs of some emotion your body needed to release.  Don’t fear it or fight it.  Just go with the flow (pun intended).
5. Write until you feel you are done and there is nothing else you feel you need to say. (I’m actually writing this post to you in my journal at 5am in the morning after being awake since 4am, as this post is obviously desperate to be written.)
6. Don’t just use words.  Feel free to draw, circle, asterisk, doodle, and use arrows in your journal.  As the song goes ‘…I’m free to do what I want any old time“.   I use all of these ideas to highlight and mark the most important thoughts upon the page.
7. Bonus tip – For those of you who feel connected to a Higher Purpose (God, Universe, or whatever you want to call it).  Journaling is a wonderful way to get answers/guidance to any questions you may have.

a) Simply write down your question on the first line with a “Q” in front of it.

b) On the next line below, write and “A”, and then next to it keep writing as if you know the answer, and you will find that the answers will flow. (It might be a little strange at first but when you start writing stuff/words/phrases that you don’t normally use, you will know that this exercise works.)

What is the best kind of journal?

This is really up to personal preference.  You need something that isn’t too big or too small.

I prefer a firm or hard back book (easier to write on) that is properly bound, (ie made with thread stitches – not stables or glue). Your thoughts are precious and you don’t want to lose any if pages fall out.

Size-wise – I find A4 and Legal a little too big and rather daunting, and A5 too small as I need to turn too many pages to get my thoughts out.

For me, B5 or Letter is the right size. Try a few different sizes and see what works best for you.

You might want to use spiral bound, but it didn’t work for me.  The huge rings got in the way of my hand and I found it hard to flip back and re-read precious comments as the pages didn’t turn easily on the spiral binding.

That’s it.   This brain dump (my first post) is complete.  It is now 5.49am and the birds are starting to sing outside.  Time for me to quickly grasp some more z’s before I get up, for real this time.

Happy Journaling and let me know how it works for you.

Yours in love and light,

Kristina x