I have been keeping a journal for 5 years now and the benefits of journaling have been huge in my path to growth and learning. Even now when it has been four months into lockdown, one of the thing that has been keeping me sane during this time is journaling.
We have ample of time but most of us still forget to connect with one most important person in our life- that is, with our own self.
One powerful benefits of journaling is that it is the best way to connect and get more in touch with oneself. Because I write, I feel I am never far away from my true self.
In one of Anne Frank’s diary entries, she has written:
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn”
I couldn’t agree more! By writing a diary one becomes one’s own best friend, one’s own greatest listener and supporter.
Let me further share with you what are the benefits of journaling which I have personally experienced
Powerful Benefits of Journaling
Table of Contents
1. Gives Clarity:
I feel that when I write I come back to my senses.
Writing a journal gives clarity to our thoughts. It filters out unnecessary thoughts and makes our thoughts clear.
As thoughts become clear, my feelings also start becoming clear and I start to feel much better and at ease.
Whenever I am feeling down or angry over something, as I write in my diary I come to see things from a bigger perspective. I feel as if my heart is speaking to me.
2. Becoming one’s own best friend:
‘Paper has more patience than people’- Anne Frank had written. Another benefit of journaling is that a person who writes is never alone.
Writing a journal is much like sharing our thoughts, feelings, hopes, fear or dreams with our friend, except that answers you receive from your friend, you get it from your own self.
It enables us to have positive self-talk and in this process, my relationship with myself has grown strong. Through journaling, we become our own best friend.
I am always eager to write especially on days when something interesting has happened or when I’m feeling particularly hurtful. I can’t wait to share and know more about how I am really feeling.
3. Self-discovery
Writing a journal is an act of self-discovery. Most of us feel that we don’t understand ourselves well enough. But one of the greatest benefits of journaling is self-reflection.
The things that were not clear earlier suddenly become clear as we write down our thoughts on paper. Often I find myself amazed at some of my thoughts that arise as I write.
The things that I learn, I write and as I write, I learn much more.
Who am I? What makes me truly happy? What is my purpose? How do I want to spend my day? These are all big questions and I have found that the answers to such questions become clear as we write a journal.
Because I write, I know that I will never go astray or far from my goals.
4. It is therapeutic:
Anything that leads us closer to our true self is therapeutic. And writing, as I have already said is one of the best and also easiest ways to connect with our self that helps us uncover our true self.
Journaling has also made me emotionally strong. Anyone can have a pen and paper.
Writing in a journal only requires you to come back to your self and to a quiet place so that you can listen to your thoughts better and just be with your own self.
Writing in a journal is not merely jotting down events that took place in your day. It is more about writing down how you felt or feel as you go through your day.
It is the best medium to release your emotions and in this way, writing is therapeutic. You become your own listener and supporter.
And because it improves our mental health, journaling has the power to improve our overall wellbeing. Studies also show that writing a journal is a powerful stress management tool.
Those who write and express themselves also strengthen their immunity and has a lower risk of illness.
5. It teaches impermanence:
Lastly, another greatest benefit of journaling is that also teaches you about impermanence.
When I read my previous journal entries, I find and learn about the various events that took place and about the various emotions I felt- sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes extremely determined and sometimes where I am struggling to come back in track.
It makes me realize the fact that everything is impermanent. Our emotions and feelings are impermanent.
There will be times when you’re extremely happy and there will be times when you are sad but both won’t last forever and it helps you to reach an acceptance that every day is unique in itself in the way you feel and in the way you experience life.
It also makes me feel that I have come so far, I have learned so much, but that there is still so much to learn as the day and years unfold.
Journaling teaches us that all our emotions are what makes us human, and our attempt should only be to make our life meaningful and fill our pages with hope and love.
Thank you. If this encouraged you to give it a thought to start writing a journal, please feel free to comment and share
If you how to start writing in your journal but have no idea how to go about it, here is my guide to journaling with 21 journal prompts for 21 days.
It is perfect if you want to develop it into a habit in 21 days.
I hope that you will start writing your journal too and start experiencing for yourself the healing power of writing!
Would love to know how journaling changed your life too.
P.S The morning routine that changed my life
How to let go of anxiety and heal yourself
Why be okay with wasting time
How it feels to not hurry with my body
How embracing slow growth can help you
A loving guide to get clarity
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