The Top 5 Reasons To Keep A Journal (Guest Post)

In recent years, the art of journaling is making a resurgence into people’s daily lives.  No longer is it a pastime just for children or artistic types, now journals are becoming a popular tool for people to use in different ways.

But if you are trying to figure out if a journal would be a good tool for you, here are the top five reasons I have found to keep a journal.

1. The memories you make you will be able to remember.

You will be amazed as you record your daily life how things progress over time.  Your daily routine may look very different years from now.  Relationships that are new today may grow in ways you never imagined in the future.  You can see how your priorities change and how your goals play out in life.  Plus, the simple moments in life that we tend to forget about, such as morning walks or jokes told at dinner, can bring a smile to your face when you read about them again years from now.

2. You will be surprised as what you ‘say’ when you start to write your thoughts on paper.

The process of writing out your thoughts freely in a journal, not stopping to ‘edit’ your words, is an incredible tool for thinking things through.  Not only is it useful for venting about your troubles, it is a great tool for getting your ideas on paper so that you can find a solution and plan for what to do next.  This process brings clarity, focus, and the ability to weigh the pros and cons of an idea you may have.  By simply writing out what pops in your mind, you will be surprised at what you may discover.

3. It is a place to record your life in a variety of ways.

There are many different journals to keep for different reasons.  Don’t feel like you are stuck with a regular daily journal.  To shake things up and bring fresh inspiration, try starting a new type of journal, such as a gratitude journal to remind yourself of the good things in life; a vacation journal to remember all the experiences you had while traveling; an ideas journal just to keep your random thoughts, dreams and plans all in one place; or start a transition journal to record your life as you go through big life changes including jobs, parenting, moving, or school.

4. You will leave a legacy for future generations that far outweighs mere possessions.

Think of how much of what we know today about previous generations was discovered by reading the writings of random people in their journals.  I know several books that are just based entirely on the journals of people during a specific time period (such as the exploration of a foreign land, a war or other key moments in history).  What you might think of just being your own random thoughts today might be a key for future generations to understand our current time and lifestyles.

5. You can see create a road map that you can pull from to help other people.

You have in your hand the steps you followed, the doubts, fears and triumphs of whatever you set out to do.  Whether it was emotional damage that was healed, relationships renewed, businesses grown, careers strengthened, or your spiritual needs finally met, you can see it all in one place and can pull from it to help others.  You might be able to pull from the lessons you have learned in your life to create books, courses, blog posts or tools for consulting others through a similar experience just by reading from your journal.

So pull out that old notebook in your corner drawer and see what new things you may discover about yourself through the adventures in journaling!

Guest Post BIO:

Liesl is a reader, writer and lover of all things pink.  When she is not reading the newest book at her local library, she can be found writing articles for local publications and updating her blog, ThePinkBookworm.com , about her latest writing adventures.

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