Why Is Journaling Important?

I have just completed my quarter 3 reflection ritual and yes it is a journaling process. I have used this process for a while now, however only started sharing it with people this year as part of the end-of-year ritual. Whilst doing the journaling, I developed further insights in to my actions and habits and where I am in my life at the present time.

For me, this is enough reason to keep this ritual going, however it got me thinking – what if you were new to the idea of journaling, why is it important? Or if you have let the habit of journaling go for a while, why would you want to start it again? Subsequently, I wanted to share some of the reasons why journaling is important to me.

What is Journaling?

Journaling is a tool for self-reflection and a skill of self-awareness. Basically, journaling is writing down your thoughts and feelings about your life experiences in a journal or diary. To journal is to keep –

• “A personal record of occurrences, experiences, and reflections kept on a regular basis; a diary.” ~ The Free Dictionary
• “a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use” ~ Merriam-Webster, and
• “to write self-examining or reflective journal entries” ~ Dictionary.com

As you can see by the above definitions of journaling, it is about looking within. So, now we are on the same page about journaling, let’s have a look at why it is important to journal and living whole-heartedly!

9 Reasons Why Journaling Is Important

For me, journaling has been an essential skill for me over the years. I journaled as a young person (from tennis results to challenges I was having to my dreams) and then started up the habit a while back now. So today I wanted to share with you some of the reasons why journaling is important to me. Following are nine reasons why I journaling is important to me.

1. To Develop Self-Awareness

“The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal.” ~ Robin Sharma and “Journal writing gives us insights into who we are, who we were, and who we can become.” ~ Sandra Marinella

For me, this is one of the clearest reasons why it is important for me to invest time to journal. Subsequently – am not sure if I need to add any more 🙂

2. To Pay Attention to What is Going on Within Me

“Journaling is paying attention to the inside for the purpose of living well from the inside out.” ~ Lee Wise and “When I look back on my personal story through my journals, it struck me my words had an unmatched power to heal me. To change me.” ~ Sandra Marinella

I don’t know about you, however sometimes I have struggled to share what is going on within me, as I wasn’t really sure. Writing a journal has really helped me to start to notice what was going on and pay greater attention to what I needed.

3. To Focus

“Writing in a journal each day allows you to direct your focus to what you accomplished, what you’re grateful for and what you’re committed to doing better tomorrow. Thus, you more deeply enjoy your journey each day.” ~ Hal Elrod and “Who we are and where we want to go determines what we do now and what we accomplish over time.” ~ Jimmy Tomczak

I don’t know about you, however sometimes life gets overwhelming and I don’t know what to do first. Journaling centres me, grounds me and helps me to focus on what my next step is.

4. To Just Be Me

“I don’t journal to ‘be productive.’ I don’t do it to find great ideas or to put down prose I can later publish. The pages aren’t intended for anyone but me. It’s the most cost-effective therapy I’ve ever found.” ~ Tim Ferriss and “Documenting little details of your everyday life becomes a celebration of who you are.” ~ Carolyn V. Hamilton

Yep, agree. Not sure anything else needs to be said 🙂

5. To Think Things Through

“For me, writing is a way of thinking. I write in a journal a lot. I’m a very impatient person, so writing and meditation allow me to slow down and watch my mind; they are containers that keep me in place, hold me still.” ~ Ruth Ozeki and “The habit of writing for my eye is good practice. It loosens the ligaments.” ~ Virginia Woolf

Journaling helps me to untangle from overthinking and gets my thoughts on paper. This helps me to seperate from them and then decide what step to take next (if any, as sometimes the writing is enough).

6. To Transform Limiting Beliefs

“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, is not only life-changing but life-expanding.” ~ Jen Williamson “and What you believe you deserve is what you get in life. Change your beliefs and your life transforms.” ~ Jaclyn Nicole Johnston

By being with my own thoughts and experiences that are happening now, I can start to see what needs attention, so I can transform the limiting beliefs and continue to expand and create.

7. To Listen to Myself

“Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.” ~ Mina Murray and “Writing is the only way I have to explain my own life to myself.” ~ Pat Conroy

Yes, this is a little different from number 1, however they are intertwined.

8. To Connect With My Heart

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” ~ William Wordsworth and “I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart.” ~ Anne Frank

I don’t know about you, however staying connected to my courage and heart is essential in my world.

9. To Put Down the Burden

“What a comfort is this journal. I tell myself to myself and throw the burden on my book and feel relieved.” ~ Anne Lister and “This pouring thoughts out on paper has relieved me. I feel better and full of confidence and resolution.” ~ Diet Eman

Journaling for me helps me to put down the burden that I carry and feel comfortable in my own little world.

Over to You…

I hope this post has helped you to see why journaling is important! Are there any other reasons you would add? If so, feel free to share them below 🙂

Want to start journaling? Click here to see the variety of journals I have written.