How Self-Discovery Through Journaling Helps Having a Happier Life
Want to be happier? More successful? Feel more fulfilled and connected with others? Find out how self-discovery through journaling can help you achieve these goals.
Journaling is a great way to explore your thoughts without having to speak them out loud. Journaling lets you put your deepest desires and most secret thoughts on paper out of the public’s eye.
Journaling as a Tool for Self-Discovery
Self-discovery is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the process of acquiring insight into one’s own character. Journaling has also become a popular tool for self-discovery, assisting you to identify what your goals really are and how to achieve them. The act of writing helps bring out more about yourself than just reflecting about it.
Check below the 5 reasons why using journaling for self-discovery technique can have a positive impact in your life.
Helps get clarity on feelings and thoughts
Writing enables you to identify your thoughts and feelings. You know your journal won’t judge you, which allows you to write freely and without holding back. Follow prompts to dig into subjects you want to explore. You may be surprised at the end of a writing session with how much you uncover that was not at the surface when you started.
Writing about the way we feel also helps us process those feelings internally and move past them if we are feeling negative about something. You can also, for example, write a letter to someone you are upset with, but never send it. You can rip it or (safely) burn it afterwards as a symbol of letting go of those feelings.
Not only does this help process how you feel, but also gives you the opportunity to assess if your reaction is appropriate or something you can change. Knowing your thoughts and feelings leads to having more control over them, and allowing you to choose to focus on positives – which helps us live happier lives!
It helps you focus on the present
Naturally, people tend to write about their latest experiences, with topics such as what were the highlights of the week, or points for improvement (which are nice words for “things that went terribly wrong”). When documenting the latest events in your life, you will be focusing on the present (today, this week, etc).
When you are focusing on the present, while not being judgmental about it, you are practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is a wonderful tool for your mental health and self care routine, and it helps create space for ourselves, space to breathe, and space between ourselves and our reactions.
It helps identify your true goals
People who live happy and fulfilled lives usually know exactly who they are and what they want. Once you start journaling, it will help you understand exactly what it is you do want and where you want your life to go. Only then will you be able to focus on making your dreams and goals a reality.
Journaling can teach you how to live your life in accordance with who you are. By journaling, it will help identify what makes you happy and then use that information to make sure you’re doing more of the things which bring satisfaction and fulfillment into your life. Go ahead, and as an exercise, reflect about and write a list of things that make you happy in your journal.
It motivates you to act
Sometimes, you need a little extra motivation to get through the day. If this is happening more and more often, journaling may be helpful in your situation. You can use it as an outlet for all of those negative thoughts that are holding you back from achieving what’s important to you. Taking some time off writing is ok, too, if it’s overwhelming you. The idea is not to add pressure to your life, but to have an outlet.
Either way, just by writing down your goals (and then following up with them), they’ll feel like much less daunting tasks because now there’s a plan laid out before us; we know exactly how far away our destination has become and have come closer than ever towards reaching it. Knowing where we are and the path ahead of us not only motivates us but gets registered in a subconscious level.
Once it is all written out in front of you, it does motivate you to act. As you start working towards your goals and marking off your progress, you’ll gain even more motivation to continue.
It encourages positive thinking
One of the most popular journaling techniques is to write a gratitude journal. The idea is to think and write down a list of things you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude daily is a powerful way to increase happiness in your life. It trains the brain to look out for the positives. If you would like some help starting grab our free Gratitude Journal here.
Positive thinking (or Blissful Thinking, as I like to call it) has a big impact on your happiness.
I’ve found that when you start to look at everything in a more positive light, life becomes easier and less stressful. For example, if I catch myself thinking negatively about something one time during the day, I try to take a step back and look at the positive, or assess if that topic needs my attention at all. Sometimes we le our minds wander and by default we get attached to negative issues out of habit. Doing so does not help the matter and just helps us keep being negative.
By focusing on the positive, on the other hand, you’ll start to enjoy life a lot more. It’s also true that positivity breeds positivity. So, the more positive thoughts you begin the have, the more will follow.
These are 5 of the top reasons self-discovery through journaling can help you live a happier life. It’s not something that will work overnight, so you shouldn’t expect instant results. However, the more often you do it, the sooner positive effects will start to show up in your life.
Happy journaling!