A simple practise with life changing results…
#2 November / December 22
“Keeping a journal of what’s going on in your life is a good way to help you distill what’s important and what’s not.”
In life it is easy to be knocked off course, to be distracted one minute and paralysed the next. Sometimes our head can feel like it is going to explode as we try to process everything that is going around us, make key decisions and try to make sure we don’t drop the ball, at work and at home.
Alongside this we want to make progress in life, to grow, improve and be fruitful.
Do you feel like this?, Do some of these things resonate with you?
Well, imagine if there was a tool or practise that can help you make progress and keep you on track…
There is, try Journaling.
Growing up, the closest I got to journals or diaries was to read the secret Diary of Adrian Mole, 13 & ¾. I loved the series of books, but would never consider writing my own thoughts on paper, why would I do that?
In adult life, with marriage, 3 children, church, work, when was there time to put my thoughts down on paper?.
But then in season of illness and overwhelm, I reached out looking for help, looking for a way to quieten my mind, slow life down, and focus on the things that matters most. I gave journaling a try.
It was not easy to begin with. Often I just sat there, pen in hand, paper remaining blank. Occasionally the pen would find itself in flight mode as frustration set in. Then I found the write questions to ask myself and things began to flow.
I have been journaling now for well over 8+ years now and it is a key component in my daily life and routines as I strive to be as fruitful as I can be and do what matters most. Over this time some major benefits have become clear:
1) It provides an ANCHOR POINT for us in our turbulent world.
The last few of years have been like no other, with the Covid Pandemic sweeping the globe and war in Europe potentially changing lives & living conditions for forever.
In situations like this it is so easy to be swept along, loosing our bearings and ending up not knowing whether we are coming or going.
Regularly journaling provides an anchor point to help you keep rhythms in place and know where you are at. A place you can keep coming back to when times are tough and you want to get perspective, or mark an occasion or achievement.
For me the discipline of journaling slows the pace and helps me see what is important and matters most. If you are a film fan, it is a little like how Neo sees the Matrix at the end of the movie.
2) It helps you to be EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY.
I am a person who tends to hold things in their head, an internal processor. I used to think that journaling was not for me, I can simply keep it all up top and think it through - Can’t I?
The simple truth I have found is that there is something about getting things out of your head and onto paper (or screen). There is a release, a freedom, as though someone else is holding your thoughts and they will be kept safe.
“Your Journal is like your best friend, You don’t have to pretend with it, you can be honest and write exactly how you feel ”
Sometimes our thoughts can feel heavy and it feels like we are carrying ‘baggage’ with us everywhere. Moving these thoughts into a journal is like sharing with a trusted person.
Being emotionally healthy is about being in control of your thoughts, behaviours and feelings so that you are able to cope with challenges and keep things in perspective. Journaling can be a trusted companion on this journey.
3) It helps you to GROW as a person
To grow, is to increase, to multiply, to get bigger or better at something. To know whether you have grown, requires you to understand what your current reality is, where you are at.
When you note things down in your journal, you are automatically creating ‘benchmarks’ or records of your current reality. Our mind and memories are so wonderful and I marvel at how they work, but over time our recollections get clouded by our subsequent experience. Noting in a journal captures that moment in time.
“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, is not only life-changing but life-expanding”
As I mentioned I have been journaling for a while now. Only when I look back at past journals do I see the growth and fruitfulness that has gone on in my life. I see the obstacles I have overcome as well as the ‘I can’t believe I was like that’ moments.
A simple example...I wanted to improve my sleeping, so I noted down my current reality, hours, quality, frequency of sleep and habits around that. Over a period of months, I set in motion changes to improve. I kept recording and noting. Now I look back and see my length of sleep has not changed, but the frequency and quality of that sleep has. Growth has occurred.
These are just a few benefits that I have realised through journaling, there are many, many more. This practice forms the core to my productivity system, because it is simple, scaleable and helps me keep on track.
In the recent videos I have released (see below) I delve deeper into different facets around journaling, giving you some questions to get you started, tangible time & energy benefits and a method of reviewing your journal (which is crucial if you are to fully realise the benefits). Take a look I hope they bless and help you.
SO WHAT NEXT?
I hope in some way that I have inspired you about journaling and that this simple practise can play a key role in how you manage your time and energy and ultimately help you do what matters most.
So what now, “these are good reasons James” you may say, “so what should I do next?”
If you feel stirred to start, can I encourage you to simply grab a pen and a notepad and try it.
Dedicate 30 mins of your day to this practise and start with the questions I outline in this video.
I promise you, you will more than gain this investment back and I hope & pray it will help you realise some of the benefits I have shared and ultimately lead you to do what matters most.
Every Blessing
James.
