Effective Methods on How to Journal
You have probably noticed that I bring up journaling a lot.
‘I did, but why?’
It’s because journaling is a highly effective life hack to level up your life.
‘Is it really though? All I’m doing is scribbling some words on a paper. What’s the big deal?’
Those words are giving you clarity.
Those words are giving you a deeper understanding of life.
And most importantly, those words are helping you stay accountable.
A few years ago, I was in the same boat as you.
Thought writing daily was a waste of time.
But in reality? It is a modern-day life hack.
Let me explain why.
Benefits of Journaling
In this life, there will be plenty of conflicts that are thrown your way.
You will be lied to, manipulated, cheated on, backstabbed, etc.
But two things that will always tell you the truth are the weights & the words.
The gym & the journal will always find a way to bring you back to reality.
In many ways, the journal will serve as one of your best friends.
The journal will bring you:
- Emotional clarity
- A deeper understanding of your experiences
- Enhanced writing skills
- Ability to communicate effectively
- A creative hobby
These are just a few benefits that you can guarantee to see once you pick up this life-changing act.
Should I journal by writing or typing?
I get this question a lot.
And to be honest, it really is up to you.
Some people like to write with a pencil & a physical notebook.
Some people like to write it on Microsoft Word.
Both methods work!
It really is about your preference.
Don’t worry too much about which channel to use.
Rather focus on just starting!
If you are really concerned about this step, try 1 week of handwriting & 1 week of typing.
From there, make your decision.
‘What if I like both?’
Then do both!
How often Should I Journal?
Everyday.
You are not making this an activity that you do every now & then.
You are making this a lifestyle.
It is going to become an extension of you.
Just like you brush your teeth on autopilot, I want you to write on autopilot.
That’s how you witness the life-changing effects of this act.
If you are going to half-ass it, then you will still see results.
That’s just how powerful journaling is.
You just won’t see the next level benefits as you would of doing it every day.
Remember grasshopper, 5 minutes a day is better than no minutes a day.
5 Methods to Journal
Now after experimenting with journaling for some time, I discovered 5 very effective ways to approach it.
You can mix & match it in order to build your writing chops.
5 methods to Journal:
- Freewriting
- Reflective
- Gratitude
- Future planning
- Storytelling
Let’s break down each one.
1. Free Writing
There is not much structure to this method.
You are literally writing whatever comes to your mind.
This method is highly useful for the days where you feel like something is wrong, but can’t pinpoint what it is.
So you just write.
And as you begin writing, you’ll notice yourself getting much more clarity.
You are putting words to your emotions, a highly effective way to build emotional intelligence.
‘Gotcha, and how long should I free write?’
As long as you desire!
Your body will be a better indicator of your duration than me.
You’ll just know when you have said everything that you wanted to say.
After doing this exercise, you will feel a weight has been removed from your internal world.
2. Reflective
This method will require a rough framework, otherwise you will just end up free writing.
I want you to either focus on your past or present for this one.
If you are going to focus on your past, then make sense of an experience that you have been regretting for a long time.
Whether it was a rough breakup, a past failure, how you used to be toxic, etc.
Just make sense of it.
No need to judge, just aim to understand the lessons.
If you are going to focus on your present, then talk about your day & introspect your current life trajectory.
Are you happy with the person you’re becoming?
What can you do to improve?
How have you evolved?
Ask yourself the tough questions & answer them honestly.
3. Gratitude
If you haven’t noticed, I am a big proponent of the gratitude movement.
I think it is one of the most effective ways to exercise your mindset towards abundance.
This journal framework is easy as fuck.
Just write about things that you are proud of.
Count your big AND small wins.
And go into detail about them.
How did you feel?
Why are you proud?
What sort of conflicts did you have to overcome to achieve this?
I always say this champ, there’s no point in accumulating accomplishments if you are never going to acknowledge them.
Your accomplishments are the bricks.
Your acknowledgment is the cement.
The bricks alone don’t mean anything.
But when you cement them together, you get a tower full of confidence.
4. Future Planning
This journal tactic holds you very accountable.
You are now writing your future into existence.
This is a very effective tool to manifest your dreams into reality, no lie.
Visualizing alone is very difficult at first.
But when you begin to write out your future desires consistently, your subconscious mind starts to rewire.
You start seeing the images on autopilot.
Mix that in with visualization & action, then you are on the right track!!
5. Storytelling
This one is my favorite.
I will keep it very simple for ya.
You are the main character.
Now write your life story with your conflicts, other characters, your journey etc.
This is a fun way to exercise your creativity & storytelling muscle!
Plus, it is a highly effective way to rewire your mindset.
You recondition your mind towards failures!
You go from thinking of losses as ‘wins in the making.’
Why?
Because the hero of your story will always find a way to take care of business!
Give these Journal Methods a Try Today
These are 5 frameworks that you can play around with!
Don’t sweat which one you should incorporate.
Just begin & give them all a try throughout a few sessions.
See which one clicks for you.
And if you like all of them, then mix & match all the frameworks into your lifestyle.
You will notice that after each session, you get to understand yourself on a deeper level.
You feel much more confident, emotionally stable & optimistic towards your future.
Why?
Because you have utilized the power of the pen towards your favor.
Your reality will soon begin to bend towards your favor.
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