Journaling', as writing with a pen on paper is called nowadays ;-), is being recognized by more and more people as a powerful tool to organize your thoughts and let your creativity flow.
In the age of laptops, screens, and recording devices, many people want to go back to pen and paper in a nostalgic way. And it's not surprising because scientific studies have shown that handwriting stimulates different creative brainwaves than typing with ten fingers on a too-bright screen.
Dear Diary
I've been journaling since I was 10 years old. My first diary had a Chinese cover. It didn't have a lock like many diaries do, so I initially wrote about everyday things like home, garden, and kitchen. Today, Ronnie (my big red tomcat) climbed a tree, we built a fort, and played school. In the evening, we had endive for dinner. It's my favorite food. Monday, the vacation is over. Not looking forward to school (or maybe I was, depending on who I had a crush on and what we were going to do that day). I wrote down my secrets on separate pieces of paper and put them in a small envelope that I stuck in my diary. And I also sealed the pages between which the envelope was placed. If anyone wanted to see it, they would have to tear it open, and that couldn't go unnoticed. So, my secrets were safe.
I didn't write in my diary every day, by the way. And the truly significant events from my childhood are missing. Apparently, my diary wasn't meant to share all my deepest feelings.
Journal
In the following years, my diary transformed into a journal where I recorded my dreams, wishes, and tangled thoughts.
Personal Growth
Since my twenties (when I started taking personal growth and development seriously), I've been writing down what I wanted to experience, have, or achieve in various areas and themes of my life.
The themes included work, money, love/relationships, travel, health, and home. I would write down specific goals for work or money. Very concrete. I want to do this, earn that, I want more of this and less of that. And after six months, I would review what I had written. Had I achieved it? Or did it require more emphasis? This manifestation list has given me a lot of focus (and joy!). I highly recommend it to everyone.
Happy List
I also create an annual happy list. A list of things that make me happy and energized. In line with the motto "Do more of what makes you happy."
I transformed my theme list into a more extensive list, the Fresh New Future list. It's a very long list of things I want to have, experience, or receive. It's delightful to work on. I'm currently at 88 items.
Morning Pages
My inspiration keeps growing. Nowadays, I fill 10 books per year.
Especially during Thinking Time. It's a moment in the morning when I sit down with my journal and a question I want an answer to. Thinking Time is perfect when you're unsure about something or need to make a decision. You ask the question and spend at least half an hour thinking and brainstorming until you arrive at an answer that feels right. I'm still practicing this, but it feels good to do.
I also regularly write Morning Pages. When I'm half-asleep or just finished meditating, I write three pages filled with whatever comes to mind. The idea of Morning Pages comes from Julia Cameron (from the book The Artist's Way), and it's meant to silence your inner critic. By writing freely without overthinking, you learn to listen less to your inner voices and enter your creative zone more easily. The texts you produce during this ritual don't need to be reread. Sometimes, nothing more than "Oh, I really don't know what to write, this is silly, I don't feel like it, I'm tired, hm... I want coffee, I'm already on page 3. This is nonsense. What do I need to do today? I'll call this and that person later, oh, I also have that party to attend, bleh, it'll be boring. I really feel like getting into bed and watching Netflix all day. OMG, I want to make pancakes and see... again tomorrow..." (this example is completely made up and not autobiographical, but it gives you an idea. Thoughts work roughly like this, and your morning pages can look like that. And that's fine.) The goal is not to write brilliant stories; the goal is to build trust in writing and break down your creative blocks. Give it a try for a while.
Rewrite Your Story Journal
Do you want to write down your own wishes and dreams? I have created a beautiful journal that can be purchased on Amazon. Please check it out.