Start a diary and change your life.
Have you ever just been like, “Oh sh*t! It’s already halfway through the year! It was just April.” The years and their respective months flew by. And you had no idea what you were doing back then, where you were not accountable to anyone, not even to yourself. Yeah, I know how awful this is.
A sheet of paper and a pen can achieve amazing things, and I’m going to prove it to you. In this post, I’ll discuss the positive ways in which keeping a diary can affect your life. Let me break it down for you point by point, so that it is concise, speedy, and straightforward.
=> Know thyself!
The directive to “know thyself” has inspired people to seek self-awareness ever since it was carved on a Greek tomb 2,500 years ago. It’s just as vital to talk to oneself as it is to talk to other people. The best and easiest way to have meaningful conversations with oneself is to keep a journal.
You sit down with a pen and paper, but instead of immediately writing, you pause and wonder, “What did I do today?” “Could I say that I’m pleased right now?” “ Also, am I missing anything obvious?” “Oh my god, I finally figured out how to balance a ball on my head today!” Additionally, you learn to talk to your inner self. And a journal is the best way to have a conversation with oneself; if you simply start talking to yourself, others would definitely think you’re crazy. Self-reflection is another skill you’ll develop thanks to the diary. When you engage in self-introspection, you contemplate your personality and how it manifests in your interactions with others. This strategy may help a person get a deeper insight into their own thoughts.
=> Plan out your ideas.
We get the best ideas while running the weirdest errands. And if we don’t remember it (which is most of the time), it is lost forever! We never know what impact your small idea or thought can have. Our brain is so forgetful as it carries loads and loads of information.
Quite recently, maybe a few months ago, in college, we had to turn in an assignment. Everyone was tasked with coming up with their own, original topic for their essay. After returning to my hostel, I pulled out a notebook and pen. Starting thinking…..
And bam! After 10 minutes, I got an idea. On the verge of jotting it down, a pop-up ad for a 50% discount on “luxury cell phones” appeared on Amazon. I reached for my phone and immediately saw the alert. In fact, I avoided visiting Amazon altogether. In addition, you predicted correctly!
I forgot the damn idea. Imagine how frustrating it was. I hate Jeff Bezos for that! Nowadays, people’s attention spans have dropped significantly. How funny it is that my brain remembered this incident but still can’t recall the idea! Please, for the love of God, jot down your thoughts, no matter how trivial they may seem. The act of putting pen to paper firmly establishes a concept in one’s mind. You may jot it down in your journal for further reflection.
Don’t just write your ideas; also write what you feel. After all, it is your diary.
=> Improve writing
Daily journaling is an excellent way to sharpen your skills as a writer, whether for professional or personal reasons . Being able to effectively communicate by email, text, or other written medium is an essential skill in the current world. In my opinion, even a basic understanding of the craft of professional writing is something that everyone should have.
Getting started is challenging. I get it. Keep in mind that the only person who will ever read what you write in your journal is yourself. You’ll gradually become better at winging it.
=> Best part of the day?
Tell me about the highlight of your day. My own involves a cup of coffee and sitting indoors as it pours outside in Bengaluru. Every single day is different. It could be anything! You’ve finally found your soul mate! Or maybe you encountered a particularly adorable dog. Or if you’re having a terrific day and all you feel like doing is looking up at the sky.
Be sure to write it down!
Include a timestamp in your journal, noting that something occurred. While sleeping, this feels wonderful. Just getting up, eating, and going to sleep doesn’t cut it; you feel like you accomplished something today. On average, I try something new every day. Everything trivial will do. Some days you can do it, and other days you can’t. Yet, it’s all right!
=> crazily stressful adolescence?
Everybody has days when they feel vulnerable, unsafe, and hopeless. There is self-doubt on our part. Do we measure up? Keeping a journal to record your thoughts and feelings may be quite helpful. You feel relieved and at peace after putting your thoughts and emotions on paper. Whenever I begin to have doubts about my own abilities, I will write that down, and also what I have accomplished till this point. It has a really affirming effect on me.
Writing has tons of advantages. Journaling is often used in cognitive therapy. Journaling has been demonstrated to assist individuals cope with traumatic situations, reduce stress and mental strain, and enhance physical health. Mood and thinking patterns are also shown, so you can monitor your mental health over time.
So, jot down your frustrations if you’re having a rough day.
=> Unleash your imagination!
What can possibly stop you when you have a diary and a pen? You may write about whatever you want. Free your mind! Communication is not limited to verbal exchanges. Anything that can be shown in a drawing, diagram, or table is fair game. I mean, it is your journal!
Imagine you and your thoughts naked! Sounds like a party to me!
=> Meet your goals?
One day, we will all want to succeed in life. With that in mind, we decided on certain objectives. We hold these values dear. These objectives can’t be attained in a straightforward manner. To succeed, you must methodically and persistently go forward. Once again, your journal might become a trusted companion. Put your aspirations on paper. The brain gives more weight to goals that are written down. The information will remain in long-term memory and eventually filter down into your subconscious. Your subconscious is capable of incredible feats. I will undoubtedly discuss the subconscious in the next piece. You may keep track of your mistakes by writing about them every day. Experiment with several methods and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you put in the time to write, keep track, analyze, and improvise, you can do anything.
I mean, what do you think? A few months ago, I decided to start keeping a journal. Just make sure you’re consistent. It’s OK to be inconsistent at first. Not a soul is.
Keep on Writing! Sshh! Don’t let anybody see your private journal.
As always, I’ll leave you with a promise to return in my future piece.
bye
