I’ve been keeping a journal for over twenty years. Journal writing is my passion; thus, it shows in everything I do online, from my email to my business name. I write in my journal as a daily evening exercise for the mind to help sum up my day. You can read about my journal writing story in my article The Ready Writer:
http://blog.createwritenow.com/2009/09/04/journaling-what-its-all-about-alfie.aspx
I thought I would have a special page on my website just for journal writing, so I can share with you the different journals I keep and provide journal writing prompts and tips for you, whether you’re just getting started or have been keeping a journal for many years.
I enjoy reading tips from other journal writers, like Mari McCarthy from Create Write Now and Tina Games-Evans from Journaling Moms Facebook group.
MY PERSONAL JOURNAL
I greatly benefit from keeping a daily personal journal. It is a multi-purposed journal where I record daily events, milestones, breakthroughs, and challenges I am currently facing. It helps me keep track of what needs doing, but it also gives me a written record of my personal and spiritual growth.
Some topics include our electrical contracting business, Bill’s Quality Electric, LLC (http://billsqualityelectric.com/), my current writing projects, my homeschooling experiences, and the ups and downs of being a mom of two teens. I also write about my cat Sophie.
Sometimes I have brainstorming sessions to prevent writer’s block (http://blog.createwritenow.com/2009/08/22/journal-writing-cures-writers-block.aspx) and to break down repeated issues that arise.
I also keep track of books I am reading, specific activities I engage in, and conversations I have with others.
As you can see, journal writing is an excellent tool and exercise for the mind, heart, and soul.
MY SPIRITUAL JOURNAL
I have kept a spiritual journal for as long as I’ve kept a personal one. I started keeping a journal of notes, scripture, and observations I made during my spiritual studies so I could keep a written record of what God was speaking to me.
Usually when I’m working through a devotional, I’ll keep a notebook specifically for that resource to jot down scriptures and insight. I always date my entry and the name of the devotional or study I am using to refer to later. Sometimes I record prayers in response to those insights God shows me, and, perhaps, a step or choice I need to make toward progressing in positive change in my life.
I also use a spiritual journal when I do topical studies on specific issues that are important to me. Often when I read a whole chapter from Scripture instead of just one or two verses, I learn something outside the topic; therefore, I jot what I learn as I go.
It’s always eye-opening to go back through previous spiritual journals to see where and who I was then compared to now. It becomes a written legacy of my walk with The Creator.
GETTING STARTED
Initially, folks hesitate starting a journal for fear they won’t write in it often enough or won’t know what to write about.
There are no set rules to journal writing; and there is not set place to keep a journal. Start with what you’re comfortable doing.
The first step in getting started with journal writing is finding what kind of journal in which you will write.
For my personal journal, I choose a hard bound faux leather or padded cover journal with gold or silver-edged lined pages. I like a solid spine to prevent my hand from hitting the large metal spirals with which some journals come packaged.
I’ve tried many different styles and sizes over the years, but the hard bound faux leather is my favorite choice. I use a one or two subject spiral notebook (the spiral is small, not cumbersome) for my spiritual journal.
REMEMBER
When you get started, there are no rules. Get a journal and get comfortable!
When you start, write what matters to you; keep it simple so you don’t feel overwhelmed initially. You may find once you get started journal writing, it becomes a part of your everyday life. The more frequently you journal, the greater the benefit. :)
