Top 4 Benefits of Journaling Everyday
Journaling may not be for everyone, but millions of people across the world benefit from doing it daily. From gratitude journals to pregnancy journals – there are plenty of themes that you can rally your thoughts around in the written word.
Journaling may not be for everyone, but millions of people across the world benefit from doing it daily. From gratitude journals to pregnancy journals – there are plenty of themes that you can rally your thoughts around in the written word. Today’s world is consumed with video marketing, vlogs, and endless streaming movie series across every genre imaginable. Frankly, it is overwhelming. In this fast-paced society, how do we bring ourselves back to a peaceful and centered state?
At JournalOwl, we believe in two primary methods to centering oneself: journaling and meditation. Expressive writing, journaling, and “writing it out” have been shown to lower stress levels dramatically. Let us take a moment to explore JournalOwl’s Top 4 Benefits of Journaling. The cumulative affect of journaling daily in a repetitive fashion has been seen in many people across the world, from the unknown to YouTube sensations like Tim Ferriss. In fact, here is what Tim had to say about journaling:
I don’t journal to ‘be productive.’ I don’t do it to find great ideas or to put down prose I can later publish. The pages aren’t intended for anyone but me. It’s the most cost-effective therapy I’ve ever found.
— Tim Ferriss
1. Priorities are Distilled. It is easy to get lost in today’s fast paced society. Technology is chasing us from every direction, and we can often think that everything is a priority. Unless you take the time to slow down and re-focus your attention on what truly matters, burnout quickly ensues. Going deep within yourself everyday for at least 10 minutes of journaling can help you distill what is important and what is not in your life.
Keeping a journal of what’s going on in your life is a good way to help you distill what’s important and what’s not.
— Martina Navratilova
2. Courage is reborn. Two quotes come to mind when I ponder the statement: courage is reborn. The first quote is from a famous scene in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart where the young boy has a vision of his deceased father lying next to him. His father turned to him and said, “Your heart if free – have the courage to follow her.” What a beautiful piece of wisdom to pass onto anyone. Many people struggle to cultivate the necessary courage to follow through on their dreams. They make excuses about their lack of education, their lack of money, or their lack of family support. Building confidence in oneself is a discipline that can be strengthened with journaling. Expressing your thoughts and “shaking off everything” as Anne Frank once said can put you in a much more confident state of mind to follow your heart.
I can shake off everything as I write, my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.
— Anne Frank
Your heart is free – have the courage to follow her.
— Braveheart
3. You create stillness. How often in the last month have you felt true stillness deep down inside? If you are a meditator, then perhaps you create stillness daily. Journaling is another tool that can be used to “go deep” on a variety of life topics. According to David Goggins, retired US Navy SEAL:
We live in an external world. Everything, you have to see it, touch it. If you can for the rest of your life, live inside yourself – to find greatness, you have to go inside.
— David Goggins
4. Free Your Subconscious Mind. Some people call it your inner voice, while others call it the Holy Spirit. Whatever your belief system, there is an inner voice speaking to you – but if you don’t make the time to listen, it will never be heard.
Your subconscious mind is trying to help you all the time. That’s why I keep a journal – not for chatter but for mostly the images that flow into the mind or little ideas. I keep a running journal, and I have all of my life, so it’s like your gold mine when you start writing.
— Jim Harrison
By distilling your priorities, regaining courage, creating stillness, and hearing your inner voice – you can literally re-create yourself overtime. Make not mistake, journaling is not a “quick fix” to your everyday problems. It can definitely help “shake off” nervous energy, but the cumulative affects of journaling is what makes it such a powerful tool to overcoming challenges.