When I was in the eighth grade, I was gifted my first journal. It was one of the best gifts I could have received because it was the start of what is now a lifelong practice and passion. If you were to peek into my bag, you would find a journal and a bunch of colored gel pens. I am always prepared to write at a moment's notice because I never know when I will need to capture something on the page.
Journal writing has helped me in many ways, but what I love most about keeping a journal is the freedom it allows for me to be honest and real about who I am, what I feel, what I think and what I want out of my life.
My passion and enthusiasm for journal writing is something I enjoy sharing with others. But despite my eagerness to get as many women as possible writing, there are some who think it is not for them. The common responses I hear when the topic of journaling comes up include:
"I don't have time."
"I don't know how to start."
"I don't know what to write."
Below you will find some tips to combat these perceived obstacles and to get you started on the journal writing path:
1. Journaling can be accomplished in as little as five minutes. It is a flexible practice that can be done anywhere and at anytime.The most important thing when keeping a journal is to be able to write something down on the page even if that something fills only one line of paper.
2. The only way to start anything is to just begin. A pen, paper and a little bit of time are all you need for journaling, along with putting your first word down. When starting out simple is always better.
3. There are many journaling techniques available such as lists, and the unsent letter, but my favorite is the free write. With this technique you simply write whatever comes to your mind. Free writing allows you to access not only your conscious but also unconscious thoughts and feelings. You can even begin by writing on the page, 'I don't know what to write,' and see where it takes you.
Journal writing is simple, flexible and can easily be customized to fit your lifestyle and your needs. It is also a practice that offers many benefits for every area of your life. In order to help more women learn about the power of journaling and how to incorporate it into their lives, I created the audio course Creating A Journal Writing Practice. Learn more about the course here.
Author Bio
Tara C. Pray writes over at www.wordsbytara.com about journaling, faith, God-inspired dreams and anything else that sparks her interest.
She is also currently running the Pen*Paper*Write Journaling Series, a year of guided, theme based journal prompts sent to your inbox every month.