0015: The kind of thing you put in a Journal
Your journal is your mind on paper.
FYI: I wrote a post to collect the interviews, roundtable chats and drawing workshops including the one we did last week with
about leveling up.Some thoughts on journaling
I started a new Journal, each of these last me 1-3 weeks. I recommend Journaling. You know how people sometimes go “What was I thinking” well a journal is a place to record what you’re thinking so you’ll always know.
There is a climbing wall for toddlers at the cafe we went to today. While we were there someone said to me about my toddler: “She has really good gross motor skills” I don’t know, I just thought it was a funny thing to say… that’s the kind of thing I put in the journal. It might be the seed for a comic strip or something.
At the beginning of each journal there is a page titled “intentions”. I love being able to go through recent intentions to see what came to pass and what fell off. my intentions this time around is to solidify my morning routine. I’m glad I’ve written them down because before writing them down, I opened my substack every time I needed to remind myself what the routine was.
I also try to write down wisdom that I find. This is what I wrote down this morning “A heart of peace gives life to the body…a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up bones.”
Each journal is numbered, and so are the pages, so I can hyperlink pages by writing something like “see; page10, book 1”
A journaling habit serves multiple purposes:
1. Memory preservation: capture everyday moments and thoughts, like the amusing comment about a toddler's motor skills, which might otherwise be forgotten.
2. Creative inspiration: captured moments could potentially spark ideas for creative projects, such as comic strips.
3. Goal setting and tracking: the "intentions" page at the start of each journal helps you set and review personal goals, like solidifying a morning routine.
4. Personal growth: record wisdom and inspirational quotes that resonate with you, fostering reflection and personal development.
5. Organization: Numbering your journals and pages allows for easy cross-referencing, creating a system that enhances the value of your journaling practice.
Your journal is your mind on paper.
Your journal captures fleeting thoughts, sparks creativity, and tracks your growth. Each entry builds a bridge between your past and future selves. By writing consistently, you're not just recording life – you're shaping it.
This practice does more than fill pages. It clarifies your thinking, fuels your creativity, and keeps you accountable to your goals. Turn random thoughts into a searchable archive of wisdom and inspiration.
A journal isn't just a book. It's a tool for living better.
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Do you only write when your journal, or do you draw, too? I go through phases where I do this and much longer phases when I don't. I really really love flicking through things I wrote a few years ago (or even decades ago) so I should definitely make it something I do most of the time instead.
Did you read « smart notes » about refferencing system (in order to write academic books, but it can be applied everywhere, in my mind)? You Could ask for it at your library, before shopping it.