Reflecting on Your Life
Journal writing is way of reflecting on where you are going in the different areas of your life, while giving you time and space to ponder.
To begin your pilgrimage of journal writing you need a special book to write in. Flimsy bits of paper get scattered and don’t help you to focus. Your book can be anything from a plain exercise book to a more fancy hard-covered journal.
One of the things you can begin with is writing in your journal about your own concerns as well as the concerns for those you care about. Just writing about things that come to mind for 10 to 15 minutes can free your mind from worry and provide clarity on difficult situations.
Journaling Your Goals
The journal is a place to reflect on your plans to see if your life is going in the direction you want it to go. Here you can write your goals and regularly check on how you’re going with them.
Inspirational Reflections
Journal writing also helps you to gain new insights from the inspirational books you read. Ideas and concepts learned can be lost if they are not recorded. You can write down verses or poems, and writings of other people, and think about their meaning.
Here Are Some Ideas for Your Journal:
- Write the positive things that happen in the day
- Write about the things you are struggling through
- Record special occasions
- Write your own poems
- Have a time of stillness and see what comes to mind. Write it down
- Use art and scrapbooking to record your thoughts
- Ask where today/yesterday you felt at peace and where you felt a lack of peace. Asking these questions over a period of two or three weeks provides rich insights
- Is there a decision you need to make, or a path you need to take?
It’s important to remember that a journal is more than a diary. It’s your life, your story. Your life is a beautiful journey. This is your time for stillness and quiet.
Journal Writing Points to Remember
- Get yourself a good book – there are lots of attractive ones around, or cover an exercise book. If it suits, you may instead choose to set up a devoted file (with a private password!) on your computer
- Keep it private. This is where you can write anything
- Sometimes you might want to share insights with a trusted friend, partner or counsellor
- If unsolved issues arise seek help
- It doesn’t matter what style of writing or recording you use, what matters is this is a place for you to record you thoughts
- Some things will work for you while others might not
- Enjoy the time of quietness
Above all, whatever you’re feeling or thinking at the moment, whatever obstacles you face, you can, through your journal, bring new meaning into your life.
It is a rich way of journeying.
Vivienne May Ball - As a writer and journalist I seek to make a difference in peoples lives and in the world around. I like to ask the questions and to use my ...
