Like most people I have kept a journal on and off since my teenage years. Sadly for one reason or another these journals have ended up in the fire pit or shredder over the years. Recently I came across an article on the Oprah website - An Exclusive Look at Oprah's Journals that has inspired me to think about the importance of putting pen to paper not only as a way to release my thoughts, but to also capture my life's story and in a way create a book of memories.
After forgiving myself for having discarded the journals of yesteryear - after all there is no point in dwelling on something that cannot be undone - so forward I go. I started journaling again a couple of months ago and there is certainly something magical about seeing your thoughts written by your hand on paper. Writing my thoughts has also been instrumental in releasing negative emotions that may have been holding me back from freely moving forward. I'm also starting to see patterns, changes and shifts in my life - enabling me to make better choices that are inline with what I want in my life and who I am at my core.
How I write...
5 tips I hope will inspire you to start or get back into journaling:
1. I write at the end of my day, when the the house in quiet, the dogs have been let out for their final evening business and I will not be disturbed. Often half hour to an hour before I'm ready to go to bed. This is also great for disconnecting from technology gadgets before bed - thus relaxing the mind.2. I aim to write for at least 20 minutes each evening.
3. I write for myself NOT censoring what goes down allowing my emotions to release freely.
4. I don't worry about grammar or spelling. I'm journaling for me and no one else.
5. I write not only about what is happening in my life - I use my journal to write about the dreams I have for my life and the things I am grateful for.
If you are a long time reader of HHL you will already know that I am a believer in the power of our thoughts. Think of journaling as a gift to yourself - a place where you are able to release negative thoughts, making room for positive ones. A journal will become your personal reference on how you have lived your life. It will empower you to build upon what you have already created or to make changes for self growth which are inline with the life you are dreaming of.
Would love to hear about your experiences with journaling ~
what worked for you, how long you have been journaling? etc.
Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...
I have kept a journal off and on since I was eleven years old. I just write uncensored and don't worry about grammar or spelling. I find that when I am emotional and in that moment when I feel something, the writing is powerful, although I usually don't realize it until I go back later to read it. If I don't write in my journal the moment something happens to make me feel a certain way, it is impossible to go back and recapture those emotions because they are gone. Some of my best writing that later ended up published were excerpts from my journals.
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Dearest LV ... you are so right about it being impossible to capture that feeling if things are not written in the moment. Too often when I've been emotional I have not written - that is something I'm working on. Thank you for sharing... hugs, C.
DeleteI've kept a Gratitude journal for years, but this is not the same. I'm going to give it a go.First I have to buy a nice journal that is a pleasure to write in xx
ReplyDeleteI too have kept a gratitude journal ... and am finding combining my thoughts, gratitude and dreams into one journal has helped to stay consistent. As I go back over the past few weeks of writing I can really see how each area mingles with the other... Hugs and blessings, C.
DeleteI have for years thought about doing this to let my grandsons know how technology is compared to when I was a child etc
ReplyDeleteI am going to do it even though i'm late LOL
thanks
My friend it is never too late! I wish my grandmother had kept a journal it would be amazing to back and read her thoughts, dreams and learn more about what life really was like. Your grandsons will treasure it!! Hugs and blessings, C.
DeleteDearest Celia,
ReplyDeleteJournaling is always great! I've done it till the year 2000... Guess I got tired of writing and writing and I also got very sad after I learned that my sister had trashed all my detailed letters that I'd sent to my Parents. That was my ambition to once put it all together as a book about our travels. My memory is by far not sufficient for putting those memories back again. So best is to let go...
Hugs to you and happy weekend!
Mariette
Oh my dearest Mariette ... I do hope you will start journaling again ... you are such an inspiration and anyone one be so blessed to be able to read your written words. Your sister has no idea how blessed and loved a person is when they receive a letter ... I hope one day she will understand and realize the loss she did. Hugs and blessings to you. xo C.
DeleteI used to journal when I was a child. Now I have a journal which I'm writing for my daughter: when she grows up she will find in there some memories about her early childhood and my feelings as well. It's not like jotting down everyday my feelings, which I don't feel like doing right now :-) thank you for sharing your experience dear C! Big hugs
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Journaling is a gift not just for yourself but your loved ones. Your daughter is very blessed to have a mama like you. I hear you - sometimes life is not what we want staring back at us in print - i have been there many a time - hence the burning and shredding ..:) write from your heart ... hugs, C.
DeleteHi Celia,
ReplyDeleteMy blog is the closest I have ever come to journaling. As you mention though, it is highly censored. I have been questioning recently how close to who I am is my blog. I definitely tone it down, maybe afraid that people I have built relationships with over the past 3 years might not like the "real" me that, in real life is very outspoken, controversial, opinionated and fairly loud :-) I guess I present my best and thinking I should address this. How do you handle this?
Great post Celia, as I have come to always expect from you.
Have a great weekend my friend!
Di
xoxo
Dearest Di... I so understand where you are coming from... especially in a virtual world ... it is so easy to put out there only the "good" stuff. And I think part of that is that in the virtual world so many people want to escape into a perfect world. ~ I have found over my couple years of blogging that actually there is a place for being real (sharing what we chose to - the pretty and the ugly) - I think people also need to know they are not alone - so when they can read something that relates .. they feel better about themselves.
DeleteShare .. my friend ... you will be surprised - and you may just make a difference in the life one or many people. Wish we lived closer would definitely enjoy sharing a cup of tea with you... hugs and blessings. C.
Great advice Celia. I will unleash one of these days. I am a genuinely happy and totally unrealistic optimist so am not hiding anything, just censoring the savage in me :-)
DeleteIt would be wonderful to meet for tea. We live on the same body of land - one day!
Di
xxxxxx
I've just realised you're in Canada, I'm in UK so it may take a little longer to meet up. Don't know why I thought you were in the UK :-)
Deletexxxx
I enjoyed reading your post and just read through your comments, too. I agree...blogging has been a type of journaling for many. It helps to get a record of things you've done. I've kept a journal for about 40 years. I had to sit here and figure it out! lol I started by writing things in the squares of calendars....years ago. Then I used journals....now I use a day planner with pages that come out. I store them in notebooks. It has helped me through a lot of hard times and been fun to document vacations and trips. I write every night. I think everyone could benefit from it! Sweet hugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to figure out how I missed this post! I love it. I have SO many journals it's ridiculous. When I packed for our upcoming move I finally saw how many I have. I also saw why I purchased every single one of them. Some have cool sayings on the front of them, some are incredible LEATHER, some are faux leather but supple and pretty, some I just bought "just because". I also noted how few I'd used so my new rule to myself is to do exactly what you said - UNPLUG from electronics, then journal. I've discovered my favorite fountain pens from Pilot and have fallen back in love with using them. So now I enjoy my pen, my journal - and unpluging! Win-Win-Win!!
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