My Good Friend Called Journal

I met Journal (a weird name I know) in 1984 and since then have become the best of friends. I have connected with her most days and rarely go a week without engaging with her. She listens, provides insight and holds me accountable to what I said I would do. She is non judgemental, never criticises but kindly absorbs my highs and lows and points the way forward.

You have probably guessed that my friend called Journal is an actual book in which I engage in the process of journalling and yes, in many ways it is a like a daily catch up with a good friend.

What I Write

• The events of yesterday
• How I am feeling today (emotionally)
• What I am grateful for
• What I am challenged with
• My prayers for the day
• My dreams, goals and plans
• Concepts, reflections, learning’s, reframing events and challenges

The Benefits

• I gain a sense of how my yesterdays (the choices and responses to events) are creating my todays
• Tunes me in to myself, assisting in understanding the authentic me
• Hones me in to the deep seated causes that are affecting me emotionally – both the highs and lows
• Helps me see perceived negative events in a positive light (the art of re-framing)
• Promotes my spiritual journey
• Broader perspective on time periods. I might read the last month, the last quarter or a period of time from many years ago where I recall I was challenged with something similar or was progressing through a similar stage of life.
• Assists in celebrating my personal growth and wins
• Increased gratitude for my life and what it consists of

My friend Journal is willing to be your friend to. She is available for purchase at any stationary outlet. My Journal these days is a moleskin with blank pages. I use a quality pen to write with. I generally write first thing in the morning and always travel with her. I have found it difficult at times to consistently meet with her but as with every habit, discipline always precedes it.

I trust you find her friendship as beneficial as I have.