Journaling is always mentioned on almost every blog or google search related to self-improvement. And rightly so.
Journaling is one of the key pillars of self-improvement. There are many different types of journaling. For example, you might have a gratitude journal where you record the positive aspects of your life, and you savor them. Journaling can also be a safe space where you can record your challenges and try to work through them. Another style of journaling is morning pages, which are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, ideally done first thing in the morning. Whichever style of journaling you prefer, it has numerous benefits and can tremendously increase your personal growth journey.
But what about journaling has so many positive effects?
Here are four reasons why journaling is so important for self-improvement.
1. Helps you build self-awareness
By writing down whatever comes to mind, you can get to know yourself better. You start identifying your thoughts and feelings.
Regularly writing down what you think helps you identify your thought patterns and makes you get to know yourself better. As you build a daily practice of journaling, you get to know what you like, what works for you, and what you feel about certain things. By asking simple questions like “how do I feel right now” and “why do I feel this way” you can start to gain a lot of insight into how your mind works, and use that to your advantage as you go through your daily life.
Remember, keep your journal private.
To reap the benefits of a journaling practice, you must be completely honest. Sometimes it can be hard to be vulnerable and your thoughts might even scare you. However, being truthful about your deepest fears, your darkest desires, and your flaws can be extremely therapeutic and lead to transformative breakthroughs.
2. Helps you set and achieve goals
Journaling often includes writing about your dreams and long-term goals. This is key in setting smart goals that are specific, attainable, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. In addition, research has shown that writing down your goals significantly boosts the chances of achieving them successfully. Studies have shown that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. Writing down your goals as vividly as possible every morning will keep you focused on achieving them. As you do this, you signal to your subconscious mind to focus on your goals. Inevitably, as you go through your day, you will subconsciously make choices that will bring your goals closer to reality.
3. Helps You Deal With Your Emotions
Have you ever woken up annoyed or sad, but you don’t know why? Journaling gives you a safe space to explore these feelings and work through them. Our Dear Self, You Rock journal helps you change these thoughts and emotions into positive, productive ones. In addition, it provides you with an outlet to process your emotions. You might even realize that what you are angry about has less to do with the current situation and more to do with a past incident. Journaling about it can help you move through past emotions that have been buried under the surface for days or even years, so that you can regulate your emotions more effectively in the present.
As you work on understanding how you feel and why, you also build empathy towards others.
4. Boosts Self-Esteem
Every time you journal about a positive experience, your brain gets a chance to relive it. So, think of a time you felt great or achieved something. When you write about it, your body releases endorphins and dopamine that boost your self-esteem, so that you don’t doubt yourself.