Why journaling is important and how to start writing a journal

The lessons I have learned through my struggle with keeping a journal

I have frequently struggled with writing a journal or diary. I have always liked the idea of doing it, just fallen down in the daily practice of actually doing it.

I used to think of writing a diary as writing a story; the story of me, that someday — when I am famous — that would be published to great acclaim. So I wrote accounts (with sketches and illustrations) of my days as if I was a character, thinking about who else might read it, rather than what I might gain from the process. While writing I pictured a future where people were gushing over my witty insights and gasping in response to my wonderful adventures.

As if.

Why journaling is important

I have a slightly more enlightened view on both the limited interest of my life to others and, conversely, the much larger power of effective journaling beyond just a record of events.

That is because the power of journaling comes in the process of creating time, on a regular basis, to reflect. This reviewing of our time allows us to explore our feelings and examine our decisions. It is an awesome psychological hack and self-coaching…