Journaling and How To Do it Right

Journaling is an important tool for self-awareness and if you are suffering with mental health issues, in trying to find out the root cause of your problems. It can be a tool for catharsis also. Here are some pointers about how to do it and do it right in the 21st century:

You can choose a physical journal like a notebook or a diary or an online journal like Day One or Journey.

You can record your perspective on your day, the thoughts that have been troubling you, your daily life and your dreams in a journal.

Not everyone can practice automatic writing or stream of consciousness due to the political situation in India, but if you are free enough to do it, do it.

Journaling can be used as a tool for catharsis. Therapy is expensive and venting out to people is of no use as they won’t understand you and will ultimately judge you and make opinions about you based on those judgements. Use journaling as a catharsis tool to vent your frustrations in your journal.

There is no need to mention other people or write about them in your journal, write about you, your life and your problems. It may sound narcissistic but trust me you wouldn’t have needed journaling if you actually were narcissistic.

Dream journals, if you can remember your dreams, are great to get knowledge about the dream world.

Write your account of your day, your memories in your journal so you can refer to them later and know how you changed or grew as a person.

Keep your journal in a safe place, or if it is online, lock it with a password, but never fear its contents becoming public. It’s your life and your perspective about life and there is nothing to be ashamed of or fear about it.

Use journaling as a means to define the problems in your life and also to find its resolutions.

Be consistent, and try to be your most natural self while journaling.

Know that whatever you write in your journal are just your opinions and perspectives at a particular point of time, don’t stick to them if you later find that they are wrong, also know that they are as important as opinions of anyone else.

Be an observer to the thoughts in your mind, in life and in general, don’t associate yourself with your thoughts but just watch them as a spectator. Take ownership of your thoughts and deeds depending on the situation and when you need to, but know that in today’s times not all thoughts and feelings in your mind might be yours.