Exploring the Transformative Power of Journaling for Personal Growth

The art of journaling is said to be a panacea for all kinds of health benefits, relieving stress, organizing your thoughts, self reflection and inspiration. You can, if you prefer, keep a journal on your laptop or desktop and there are many online journal apps available. But I prefer the old-fashioned pen to paper method. Not only because I have a love affair with all things paper, ink and pens, but also it slows the process down and allows my thoughts time to “cook.” It works differently on my brain when I am writing by hand as opposed to typing into a computer. And researchers say that the simple act of putting pen to paper fires neutrons in your brain that have shown to help improve memory and comprehension

For my part, I simply love journaling. I have always kept a journal and I am a self-confessed addict of all things writing, i.e. notebooks and pens (especially fountain pens) of which I have a growing collection. The sheer joy of writing on a blank sheet of paper never fails me.

I cannot let a day go by that I do not record that day’s events. It may be just a single line or two, or maybe a couple of pages, but I must write it out at all costs, it helps me focus better on the day.

1. A “morning papers” journal, I learned from the book "The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron and is one I am not altogether successful with yet, It's a timed exercise of free writing with the aim of getting thoughts into words without hesitation. You just keep writing and don't stop and if you don't know what to say you just write "I dont know what to say." So far I have not been consistent with this journal, which is a shame because it supposedly has great value if you want to be a writer.

2. My daily planner is just that, keeping not just apointments and a "to do" list but also a track of my mood swings, health notes and sleep log.

3. I have several Art journals - some dedicated to drawing and others for small watercolor.

4. A Poetry Journal - poems I like and want to remember and have them all in oneplace.

5. Similarly a "Short Story Journal" where I am transcribing all of my favourite short stories.

6. A Commonplace book is my personal encyclopedia - it has facts - news articles - Lyrics of favourite songs- historical events. In fact any kind of article that interests me and I might want to refer back to at anytime.

Journaling has become a friend, a friend I can talk to, and express my innermost thoughts without fear of rejection or judgement. Some famous women in history have found just that in their personal journals, now published and well-read. Check out The Diary of Anne Frank, probably the most famous of all diaries, but also see “The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Mongomery” who wrote the Anne of Green Gables series, and Sylvia Plath, American poet and short story writer.