The Benefits of Journaling

Good Reasons Why You Should Journal
by guest blogger Annie Evett

We write for myriads of reasons:

• To share with others
• To seek social justice
• For self expression
• As a journey of self discovery
• To privately meditate

Journaling is a tool. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the deepest voice of your soul emerge. Open the door to your soul and allow empowerment to blossom. Let the words flow until you situation in black and white. Sometimes issues will resolve themselves, but even if they don't, confronting them will help you work through the pain.

Journaling provides opportunity to question yourself on a deeper level. Once you find the courage to voice the questions, it will be easier to find the answers… answers that may offer inspiration, further pondering, or maybe the base for a new character or article.

Reflective writing will help you keep in touch with honest feelings, explore without judgment, sense intimacy through movement, and process life.

Journaling will help you find solutions. Some people prefer the private formatting of pen and paper while others release through a keyboard or blog. Whichever you choose, commit to it on a daily basis. Don’t edit thoughts or direction the first five minutes. More often than not, the time will stretch and skills will ensue. Don’t worry about the end. It will come when you’re ready for it.

Every reflection will help solve your puzzle. You’ll clarify your thoughts and before you know it, past patterns of life will emerge as resurfaced memories. The incidents from yesteryear have formed your present being, but now you’ll be able to view them as a bridge between the present and the past.

Grant yourself the time to search your soul, understand yourself better, explore the pain, find new purpose, heal, and connect with the world around you. You’ll find that the song you sing will not only warble for you, but it will provide a guiding light for countless others.

Journaling is part of writing therapy and that's what we special in at Creative Writing Institute. Drop by for a visit at http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com and find more great writing tips in The Writer's Choice Newsletter, available on that page.

Have you journaled (or written in a diary)? Tell us how it helped you work through issues.