Sometimes what we want is stored deep within the heart, invisible to the eye. Thoughts that make the soul tingle, you know the ones: good ideas, passion projects, personal promises. They have a way of evaporating from the mind all too quickly. Capture them with journaling.
In recent years, I learned to document moments that make me feel like my most authentic self — what I’m doing daily, who I share my time with, what I eat, how I act and so on. I pay attention to these patterns, review and repeat them as often as I can. A simple way to keep track of what lights up the heart is through journaling. IDK much about manifesting, but I know that journaling helps me peek into the heart and materialize desires into the physical world. I want us to start investing our time, energy, money into discovering the highest versions of ourselves, writing it down, and showing up as her every. single. day. I created this article and the Downloadable Journal Prompts to help you fully tap into the benefits of this self-care practice.
Prompts:
Looking at the poll I ran on Instagram, most people said that their biggest challenge with getting started is not knowing what to write about. Lucky for us, in the last four years, I’ve come across a mountain of prompts. I compiled the ones I found most helpful and organized them in the following categories:
- Self-growth: reflections that will help you fall in love with your own routines, actions, intentions and habits
- Relationships: assessments to see if the people in your immediate circle energize or drain you
- Career: insights into your daily actions reveal whether you are getting closer or further away from your professional goals.
- End of Month Audit: process the month, learn from it and bring the lessons/intentions forward into the next phase
- End of Year Audit: opportunities to congratulate yourself on what went well, recognize what didn’t and make mindful improvements that will help you thrive in the year ahead
Benefits:
One of the most significant benefits of journaling is that the habit invites long-term improvement. I reflect bluntly but not harshly, and I try to be gentle but honest. The practice keeps me accountable, saves me from making excuses, or telling myself little white lies, justifications for why things aren’t working out. Applicable to all aspects of life: mental health, close relationships, career and general mental growth. Without self-reflection and organization, there is no way to determine whether you’re better or worse than yesterday, last week, last month, or last year. If done consistently, journaling can bring a stronger connection to yourself and those around you. It can give control over small but impactful changes that can transform your life.
Mental Health:
I also found journaling an incredibly beneficial tool for anxiety management. It’s a way to acknowledge, release and even take control over struggles, fears and stress. Thinking back on how many times I’ve avoided ripping John a new one thanks to a quick journaling sesh. Voicing raw frustration on paper first, discussing with a clear mind later. Journaling truly is a beautiful filtration system for emotions.
Challenges & Helpful Tips:
I’ll be honest; it was a hard habit to jump into a consistent writing routine. After trying with no success for years, in 2018, something finally stuck. One of my biggest tips for keeping a journal is to detach yourself from the pressure of writing every day. Yes, consistency is needed but not at the expense of quitting altogether. If you write every day and it feels right, amazing. If life is moving a million km/hr and you write at the end of each week, or once a month, great. An excellent way to build the habit is by committing to a time frame (daily, weekly, monthly) that works with your lifestyle, pencil it into your planner and stick to it. Another great hack is keeping your journal and a pen in plain sight. If you see it, you won’t forget it.
