The Joy of Journaling
For years, I’ve considered myself a writer. I’ve had many authorial endeavors as well, spanning from fiction, to academic, to yes, even one screenplay that will remain on the cutting room floor of my memory forever (think scrawny kid with Taken-level fighting and survival abilities who becomes a bounty hunter… painful!) And while I’ve never been short on inspiration, the missing piece for any productive project has always been (for me)… consistency. And that is at the heart and soul of good journaling too. How consistent are you?
As journalers, no one is doubting our ability to go deep, to introspect, to practice the rigorous self-honesty that gives all good written pieces their distinct flavor. Today’s technology also makes it nearly impossible to be at a loss for words and with AI, our half-written projects are guaranteed to cross the finish line. But what is journaling actually for? Why do we do it? Careful reflection and self-examination are both essential pursuits but they’ll benefits will never fully pay out without a daily commitment to the art form.
You see, you’re the audience for your journaling. You’re the only one you have to impress. You’re the only one you’re talking to and you definitely have a vested interest in the quality of your work (and if not, let’s explore why). But without a daily commitment, you’ll only get momentary glimpses at the real issues and so much of journaling exists in rummaging through the noise to find the gold!
Keeping journaling joyful is as easy as knowing what your approach to it is in the first place. Is this where I come to unwind? To be myself? A lot of these questions may be telling as you confront the only audience member (you). And remember, don’t hold yourself hostage to unfair expectations like processing the entirety of a difficult personal issue. Your journaling should be your space to be honest, free, and uniquely yourself, which involved being imperfect. So leave the perfect grammar and spelling to AI. Only you have a heart and only you truly know what it’s saying. You, and God. And if journaling truly becomes a place of freedom, honest self-expression and joy, you won’t mind doing it every day.
