Why do you (want to) Journal?

Today it's a question for you to ponder over - and of course write about in your journal. Why do you journal? If you have been doing it for years, what keeps you going? And if you are wishing you were regular journaler, why do you want to be one? What do you think you will get out of it? 

Art Journal Page - Tenerife

Analyse your Self through your Journals

If you have kept a journal for a decent period if time, looking back at it, it will reveal far more than your actual words. Of course it does depend on the quality and quantity of your journaling - but on the whole, our journals do tell us much about us. It is a good tool for analysing habits and behaviour.

 

When I look back at my journals, I see all different goals I have focused on, various things I have obsessed about, the progress I have made, failures faced. Looking back at it - my journals not only tell me what I have tried to achieve, but they tell me why I have failed or succeeded. I don't sit there writing theories of reasons. I simply record my obsession, what I am doing, what I wish to achieve. This applies not only to goals, but to your general life. Perhaps looking at your teenage journals, you might find yourself obsessed with boys/girls, in your middle age with work/family, loneliness, illness - anything. How did you cope with trials in life? How did you appreciate the joys?

 

When you look at your journals with the purpose of analysing your life, and more importantly, your self, you can see the patterns of behaviour. Is there a habit you need to change? A fear you need to overcome? Is there something  that is consistently holding you back?

 

All the answers there - if only you have the patience and the courage to look for them.

 

And if you haven't kept a journal for a consistent period of time, it is never too late to start.

Journals Through The Years

I had a look at my journals today to make an index. So this is what I found:

Journal 1 - 24 May 2000 to 25 September 2002

Journal 2 - 25 September 2002 to 21 November 2002

Journal 3 - 26 November 2002 to 11 June 2003

Journal 4 - 12 June 2003 to 01 December 2003

Journal 5 - 02 December 2003 to 07 June 2004

Journal 6 - 12 June 2004 to 12 September 2004 - 75 pages

Journal 7 - 12 September 2004 to 13 February 2005 - 299 pages

Journal 8 - 14 February 2005 - 27 April 2005 - 141 pages

Journal 9 - 28 April 2005 - 09 January 2006 - 195 pages

Journal 10 - 11 January 2006 - 24 May 2006 - 199 pages

Journal 11 - 24 May 2006 - 31 August 2008 - 381 pages (BIG HULK OF A4 JOURNAL)

Journal 12 - 01 September 2008 - 13 January 2009 - 165 pages

Journal 13 - 15 January 2009 - 15 February 2009 - 138 pages

Journal 14 - 15 February 2009 - 24 April 2009 - 138 pages

Journal 15 - 25 April 2009 - 10 October 2009 - 255 pages

Journal 16 - 11 October 2009 - 17 March 2010 - 239 pages

Journal 17 - 18 March 2010 - 25 April 2010 - 95 pages

Journal 18 - 25 April 2010 - Present

I discovered: 

I didn't start numbering pages of my journals, and keeping indexes until Journal 6

The numbers of journal used increased dramatically in 2009. That is when I consciously realised how important journal writing was to me, and what difference it could make in my life. That was the year I completely fell in love with journaling as a life-time thing. 2010 is set to continue just as strongly. 

Over the years I also learned the importance of quality journals. Most of mine are good, but there are a couple of cheap ones that are not standing the test of time well. 

Looking at this index, I feel that I would like to start a new journal at the beginning of each year, but I also don't like to waste journal space, so from now on, I am going to try to make sure that I complete a journal by 31/12. Then a fresh new start on 1st of January. 

Journal Writing Your Way

Over the years I have regularly explored different techniques for Journaling, and in the process have learned a lot. Sometimes, other people's journals inspire me; sometimes, a book on journaling becomes a great source of ideas. But what I continually notice is that despite best intentions to try include more visual methods (sketches, pictures, doodles), I inevitably go back to words. Not just any form of words - neat, paragraphed words. Sometimes there are lists too - and yes you bet, they are either bulletted or numbered.

It frustrates me at times because this one side of me wants me journal to be full of different things; I want spontaneous drawings in there and random doodling. But when I think about it carefully, it tells me that I am only journaling my natural way. I don't sit down every day, open my journal, and try to decide what method I should use. For the most part, I open the journal and I start writing.

When I am consciously trying a new technique then I would sit down and do just that, but every day journaling has to be spontaneous. It is not an assignment or a chore - it has to come from heart, not obligation. So however much I have tried to move on to other things, my natural method sticks with me. And though sometimes I rebel against its "sameness" - I like having my natural way.

What's your natural way to journal? What does your instinct push you towards?

I must point out that you should not confuse Fear of Trying with Natural Way. If you are doing the same thing again and again because you are afraid of exploring other avenues, then it's a problem. But once you have tried various things, and find one that suits you, that is you Natural way.

So share your journaling techniques, rituals, methods, or just madness....

Missing Moleskine

I love my current journal. I really do. But while I was flipping through my writing journal (moleskine), looking at its well-worn look, with salad stain on the front cover (when my husband knocked over the cheesy pasta salad tub), I sort of miss having it for my regular journal.

My current every-day journal is a fancy one. So I only use it at home. It won't handle mistreatment of commuting much, so I am careful with it. Sometimes I like that. But at other times, I want to be able to carry my journal around with me, just for random jottings or just to filp through it when I have a moment, and moleskine is the best thing I have found for that.

When Life Gets In The Way

For last few weeks, my journal has been quite neglected. It's not abandoned, as I still manage to jot down bits now and again, but I haven't done "proper" journaling. It's funny, because I always notice it now when I am not spending enough time with my journal. Sometimes I think I haven't written for ages, and when I open the journal I find it's been two days.


But I also feel that I have to be in the right mood to journal. Currently, I am so bogged down with other tasks I want to complete. Learning Spanish and Editing my book are the main priorities and it's bad enough keeping up with them, along with everything else that must be done. And a part of me wants to write all the details of this in my journal. I want to record it all - ups and downs. But then I find that I am so busy doing it that I don't have time or energy to write it. 


Not a good feeling. So I believe some regular journaling time - at least every weekend - will have to be scheduled. Eventually I get back into journaling groove when nothing stops me from scribbling, but on downtimes like this, one must not neglect the journal. At least not for too long.