Reasons to Keep a Journal

Books/Literature/Writing - Creative Writing

By: dptstretch     23-Jun-2012

Introduction:

This could be one of several lists I create on journaling because if I were to drill down a little more, we could get into different kinds of journals. I kind of keep a basic journal that I write in a few times a week and sometimes everyday.

Capture What Happened

I like to capture the highlights of the day. It's nice to write down what went well or what I am excited about on any given day. Certainly, it is nice if you can capture and quantify results.

Get Clear on Events

I view this as documenting. Sometimes we experience differences of opinion. If there is a situation that is being pursued and there are opposing viewpoints, a journal is a good place to capture the entire situation. If things go badly, you might be able to come back and learn. If you take notes during a meeting in your journal, people will see you and it will be difficult for someone who changes their mind to refute what you wrote down last week.

Capture Feelings

Sometimes it is beneficial to get in touch with what we are feeling and examine all the options; a journal can be good for this. I caution doing this unless you have a separate journal for personal matters. My feeling is that I kind of what me journal to be read after I'm gone...but I write as if someone were going to pick it up and read today.

Explore Ideas

This is really similar to capturing feelings, but serves a less private function. A journal can be a great place to doodle and map out ideas-one could even make columns for pros and cons, draw a flowchart, and make a mind map. When it's time to execute, your ideas could be easy to get in order.

This also is something you might consider when you decide on what size journal to get...and whether you want lined pages or blank pages.

Leave a Legacy

I've kept a journal off and on for several years now and have four or five volumes filled. Most of what I've written will bore my kids and grandkids to pieces. I also know that there will be some wonderful memories and heart wrenching struggles covered in those pages.




Final Thoughts

I find keeping a journal a worthwhile endeavor. I'll close with a piece of advice from Jim Rohn on journaling (and I might not have it exactly correct). He said don't spend so much time capturing life that you forget to live and don't live so much that you capture none of it.


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