Why Keep A Journal Or Diary?
Topics: reasons, why, journal, diary
Journaling and diary-keeping has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, through personal diaries we have been able to discover information about the creation of our country and government, as well as the people who lived during this time period. We have been able to learn about the lives of historical figures throughout the world. There is astonishing value in keeping a journal and if you read what you write, you may learn a lot about yourself as well. Through your journal you will experience the many benefits of writing on a regular basis. Here are several of the benefits that you will be able to experience.
ACHIEVING GOALS
A journal can help you to clarify your goals and will allow you to write about your achievements as well as your ideas. This allows you to see the steps that you have taken towards your goal and will allow you to see where you stand as well as how much further you have to go to complete your goals. Your goals may be simple tasks in life or they may be life goals that will take more time to achieve. Whatever goals you set for yourself, be sure that they are attainable and easily documented in your journal.
SIMPLIFYING LIFE
A journal or diary is very useful in helping to simplify your life. We tend to make life much more complicated than it needs to be. We have appointments, soccer practice with the kids and a million other things that we have to do on a daily basis. By carving out ten minutes of your day and taking the time to sit down with a pen and a piece of paper it is amazing at how you begin to see what is really important in life. You can also carve out a few minutes to type in a journal entry on a personal blog or even a simple and ongoing Word document. Take the time to describe your values, note your achievements and think of those things that you are grateful for in your life.
CLARIFY AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS
Journals have amazing power and much of this power can be seen through your personal relationships. Journaling allows you to take the time you need to express your feelings about your life and relationships. Journaling also allows you a private place to vent about any frustrations you have with your relationships. Journaling allows you to see why you might be bothered by certain aspects of a person and even how you might be able to change how you handle certain situations. They can also teach you to love more powerfully and with more conviction. There are various aspects to relationships, and your journal can allow you to see what changes you can make to your strengthen your relationships.
LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF
Socrates was a firm believer in know thyself. A journal allows you to do just that. You can talk about your morals, values and other beliefs. This allows you to clarify what you think about on certain topics as well as express yourself more clearly. If anybody has ever asked you about a specific topic or controversy and what you think about it, you will be able to easily spout off a clear opinion in a matter of seconds. You will present yourself as a person who knows themself well.
BECOMING A BETTER COMMUNICATOR
Journaling can also aid in making you a better writer. Many people could easily be better writers if they spent a few minutes a day working on it. Even when you write about personal information you are able to strengthen your skills. You are also able to strengthen your grammar, vocabulary and get you through a moment of writer’s block you are experiencing. It can also be a place to write down any new words or ideas you might have to write about. Clear communication allows you to provide a powerful image and offers the utmost in personal expression.
HEALTH BENEFITS
The health benefits of journaling are widely psychological. Journaling is able to counteract the negative effects of stress and can be a great tool for stress management. Additionally, journaling can help people explore traumatic events and release the emotions that are involved with those experiences.
Research has also shown that there are various other health benefits as well. Scientific studies show that the symptoms of asthma, arthritis and other health conditions have all decreased due to journaling. It has also been shown to help improve the immune system and may prevent a host of diseases. According to one such study by Stony Brook University in New York, written expression of traumatic experiences can aid individuals suffering from other health problems (such as breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia). The study reported that the patients experienced short-term benefits both psychologically and physically. They were also able to see significant reductions in pain and fatigue (the groups in the study wrote in the laboratory for 20 minutes for 3 days at 1-week intervals and were assessed pretreatment, post treatment, at 4 months and at 10 months).
Journaling is also a form of meditation. This is a time that you can use to be quiet and write down what is on your mind. There are often things that may be too hurtful to say to someone, but you have to get it off your mind. Journaling is an excellent outlet for that type of worry or frustration. Have you ever heard of writing a letter to someone to get your true feelings out, but then not sending it? This is the same type of idea. You can write out those feelings and then seal them away in your journal. Journaling also helps you to relax and be quiet. It has the power to help you relax, release anxiety and make your life much easier.
Journaling can be a unique and life changing experience. As you can see through these various benefits that your life can become much simpler and much more focused. The opportunity for self-growth is among the best benefit and those who suffer from serious ailments have found that journaling allows them to release the pain that the illness causes them.
Javier Colayco is the founder of InboxJournal.com (www.inboxjournal.com) a journaling site for keeping a private or public diary. Users can post entries directly in daily journal reminders, set reminders according to their schedule or post directly through the site.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Building A Home Gym (1)
Moreover, upon deciding on your actual fitness goals you have to estimate which are your objectives; which muscle groups you want to train first. - Budget: The crucial cost related question comes second, because upon deciding on your fitness goals and objectives you have to determine how much money you have currently available for your house gym project.
Why You Need To Monitor Your Credit Report And How To Do It (2)
Once you've tried to make resolutions on the outstanding debt you have, the next step is to assess how much damage has been done and how you can go about reversing that damage.
Travel Insurance: Is It Necessary? (3)
So, whether you are planning a road trip to Canada, or a fourteen day hike in Machu Pichu, pack some warm socks, swim trunks, and your new friend, Mr. Traveler's Insurance.
Cheap Cruises - How To Find The Best Cruise Deals (4)
Some cruise lines offer returning customers upgrades to a more expensive level as a way of rewarding them for their patronage. Discounts can also apply to senior citizens while discounts could also apply to you if you are part of a special organization such as the armed forces.
The Beauty Of Sports Cars That Attracts All Car Lovers (5)
A true sports car can do much more than ordinary everyday tasks because of the performance features that only they possess. Normal cars can make everyday driving a monotonous and boring event, while on the other hand, sports cars are basically aimed to give its drivers a "high" feeling of speed and control.
Car Coloring Affects Renting Cars From Agents (6)
These colors make them feel that they are living a good life and the quality of the vehicle makes them feel like a member of royalty. The coloring denotes a level of prestige that they do not have in the old car at home whose paint job needs to be refinished in several areas including the chrome.
What Makes A Great Leader? (7)
Chance dictates that some poor leaders will emerge victorious and some will fail, but great leadership overcomes great odds and thats the point. Failure does not define a great leader, leaders approach and response to adversity defines greatness.
The Pleasure Of Transforming Your Hobby Into Your Profession (8)
In case you can identify even one, then you probably already know all there is to know about the pleasure of having a hobby as a profession. But if your hobby list is empty, or you are unsure if one of the things you are doing or have done during your free time could be categorized as a hobby turned into a profession, then you should better invest some time in reading the text that follows.
Organize The First Party Game (9)
Party games are games which share several features suitable to entertaining a social gathering of moderate size. Moreover, offering foods and beverages, putting on some nice music, remaining calm when encountering very competitive characters and do not get frustrated are the main advice for these people that will have to respond to their neighbors that a party was held.
Tips For Keeping Pets (10)
Dogs and cats should be bathed regularly and their utensils cleaned on daily bases. If your dog or cat ever urinate or excrete in your lounge, you should never leave it unclean.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Vacating Is Extremely Important (1)
Since the ancient times, people have realized the importance of staying healthy and fit by temporarily stopping their working habits and letting their bodies and minds relax. The human organism needs a period to recuperate from the stress and anxieties of the fast-paced living standards we all experience today and reactivate its senses by exposing them to a variety of stimuli.
Things To Do Before Buying A Car (2)
If you are a parent, a sedan, minivan of SUV might suit your family needs better than a luxurious sports car. A convertible is always looking "cool," but will your city's weather conditions allow you such a "carefree" car model?
Seven Fun Facts About Spiders (3)
These enzymes break down the body, which allows the spider suck up the liquid prey. The feared tarantula isn't poisonous. A tarantula's bite can be painful, but it isn't any more dangerous than a bee sting.
Why You Might Want To Consider A Cosigner For A Car Loan (4)
Topics: cars , car care, car care products, car wax, car credit, credit restoration, bad credit, car loans If you have bad credit another solution to car financing is to find a co-signer to apply for the loan with you.
Performance Is Married With Style In Exotic Sports Cars (5)
I thought that at 6'3" and 240 pounds I wouldn't be able to get in one but they are deceptively roomy. Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach Florida.
Importance Of Accident Insurance For Travel (6)
If you have travel insurance you can easily get your money back. Travel insurance is also a good idea for individuals or groups traveling to the Middle East or other areas in the world where political unrest could cause your trip to be canceled or delayed.
The Secret Art Of Putting (7)
Great putters will watch other players putts to help determine the roll and speed of the greens that day. I do realize that not everyone can putt as well as Tiger, no matter how hard they practiced.
Golf Swing Lesson - Improving Your Chip Shots From Close Range (8)
How many times have you driven perfectly and are faced with a short shot onto the green only to completely mess it up by slicing, hooking or grassing the shot?
Friendly Skies Etiquette- JetSetiquette (9)
The mixed bag of personalities and antics that occurred on that flight was outrageous, wasn't it? And yet, not so far from the hilarity (or horror) that can ensue when you're flying in real life.
Cycling Interests Start Early (10)
The parent will purchase a tricycle to let their child have the opportunity to build motor skills and get some form of exercise after being confined to a house all day.