I write them in my journal (2/2)

As a continuation from the first part of this journal series. It takes so much time for me to write another blogpost because a lot had happened that took away my sanity, but here we are. I'm happy we made it.

I promise that I'll try to convince you by writing one. To gather your things and start your own journal.

My 2016 journal

According to Mr. Google, Journaling is how you write about your thoughts and feelings in a notebook and how you will gain control in your life by doing it and a best outlet for those who are experiencing stress, anxiety and depression.

There are different types of journaling like (art journaling, reflective journaling, bullet journaling, gratitude journaling and a lot more) and they all have conventions and rules. But I'll encourage you to be brave enough and disobey these rules haha and to write in your own terms. Because it's your personal journal after all.

Here are the reasons why you should try to have at least one in your lifetime.

1. You want a journal, because?

First off, let us first start on the idea of why you wanted to journal? What's your intention for it? Having a journal makes you feel like you are responsible to fill it with writings. To be dedicated to it to the point you push yourself to actually do it, frankly it happens including me. But we should stop ourselves from feeling guilty on these blank pages and the pages we left off unwritten or your directionless handwriting. To just grasp the idea, we have and not to make it look desirably pretty, but why we have it in the first place. We journal, because?

2. You will have clarity

Idk, if you ever heard of anyone writing in their journals. You could think of someone, maybe a songwriter, artist, authors, poets and so on. Some of them actually write in their journals, they keep it intact to them and jot down their ideas and thoughts. It just gives us a clear thought on how we can act upon something we want. We can name our feelings and emotions, which results in you speeding up your writing when you are mad. It values your mental and emotional state. You can be your authentic self whenever, without being judged by anyone.

3. You allow yourself to be unapologetically honest

I know that it's a burden to us to open up to someone. To reveal our thoughts to others without us feeling uncomfortable about it. Once you write your deepest thoughts, frustrations, anxiety and your sadness.

Journaling is like whispering to oneself and listening at the same time Mina Murray, Dracula

You allow yourself to leave it behind on these papers, you between these papers. You accompany yourself with the idea that your experiences are valid, and you can vent it all out without feeling sorry for it. You release yourself to it. Sometimes papers are just what you need. Journaling makes you feel alive and allows you to feel present.

4. You record memories

Idk about you. But actually, writing everything and compiling them up in time serves you with so many memories. I know, I know that you don't want to remember the bad happenings, but they were inevitable. We still record both the good and the bad, that's a human experience. Make it as your companion in experiencing the reality of life. As time passes by, your journal will reveal to you that bad things happen, and good things come by.

5. Only a paper and pen, viola!

Actually, journaling doesn't have to be expensive. Regardless of, if you are just using paper and a pen. You can use decorative like stickers and washi tapes. But actual journaling is very different from that. Journaling can be done in a generic notebook of your choice. What you need is yourself, being honest with what you write and let your mind flow into these pages.

6. You don't have to write every day

Frustrations on being consistent was imposed. You aren't going to have the energy to write sometimes and it's absolutely fine. It doesn't have to be every day and the length of how much you will write. Sometimes, you can do it once you feel the urge to write about something. Unnecessarily, how long or short, how consistent and not. Just keep it dear and close to your heart and you will have the consistency you want. Go back to our first reason on number one, "your intentions" and "why you wanted to journal?" remind yourself. It will encourage you along the way.

7. Spice up journaling by using prompts

You have no idea what to write? journaling prompts will help you with that. You can search on google and Pinterest (my favorite) about journaling prompts ideas. Journal prompts are basically a starter or a topic on what you will write about. (e.g., What brings you joy? / Write a letter about someone you don't get a chance to say thank you / What makes you feel calm) and a lot more. You can write something about your goals or you, visualizing your higher self and about your self-growth. Explore the world of journaling.

8. My life is not interesting enough to write about

Deny it or not, we often pull ourselves and pity. Our mundane and dull days make us believe that our skies are forever gray and I'm guilty of that too. But, there are moments in life where I get to write about simple things and time passes by, they serve as memories. You don't have to create a perfect life to write something about. Because perfect life doesn't exist. What you just need to do is, simply enjoy your present and what these mere insignificant things are happening to you and write about them. Gratitude brings joy and I couldn't agree more. These little things don't remain little, they bring the bigger picture of everything. So, trust your journey and fall in love with your life and journaling.

Bonus: How I personally journal

Before, I romanticized the idea of journaling to make it look so pretty. Along the way, the pressure gets in. It's just me focusing on how it will look rather than how it should make me feel carefree.

Because once you write, you release your unhelpful and unwanted thoughts and writing it helps you to cope, that makes you carefree and what journaling should be.

In a notebook I start off, writing my name on the first page and the month and year I started. The next page, I put dates on it and the time whenever I write. So, I'll know when I write it. Is it day or night?

Then ta-da, writing goes and flows. No matter how little words or how I spaced up a lot of pages. Whatever my mind has concerns with. I write them.

Before, I art journal entries where I put train tickets or receipts and pasted it. I even add food packaging in it and remember those times whenever I see them. I'm a keeper actually haha

The reason I write in a journal, solely for memories. (I want to read them in my 50's hahaha) But I realized eventually, I become the realest me, every time I uncover my thoughts which helps me to grow more each day. Gaining clarity to what I want, who I am and to who I am becoming.

I'm also a believer of rainy days in our life and should at least allow them to soak under your skin and pass. It's always, and always will be, leading you to a sunny day where you no longer know what rainy days make you feel like. Recording them through journaling, concludes that rainy days passed by, and it gets better.

2022 | L.M. | Tinta by Lianna