HOW JOURNALING CAN SERVE YOUR LIFE WELL

Where would we be without a written record of life’s events? Think about that question for a moment. From ancient carvings on cave walls to meticulous accounts of major historical events, mankind has gained much wisdom and insight from the written words of others. Wouldn’t you agree?

With this in mind, I’d like to propose that journaling isn’t only for those who love to write, but for anyone wanting to capture their thoughts, experiences, plans, and purposes in a meaningful, life-serving way.

You might be surprised to learn that I have 25 journals at my house that I have used over the years. Granted, I journal a little differently than most people. Rather than keep one journal for the year, and write in it on a regular basis, I keep several topical journals. I have journals for:

• Marriage

• Vacation/Travel

• Mission trips 

• Prayers 

• Wisdom

• Thanksgiving

• My medical journey through cancer

• Men’s Group

• Counseling

• Etc., Etc.

I like going back and looking at the things I’ve written before. For example, I have an Israel journal, so every time I head back to Israel, I pull out that journal and read what God was saying to me years ago when I sat in the exact same spot. For me, journaling is a treasure and serves my life well. 

No matter how you choose to journal, either yearly, topically, or by taking notes on your phone, the important thing is to record your thoughts, experiences, and plans through life’s seasons. It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself a good writer or not, journaling has many benefits. Take a look: 

JOURNALING REMINDS YOU OF HOW FAR YOU’VE COME

On special occasions, I like to go back and be reminded of what was going on during a particular season.  It’s pretty incredible to remember important thoughts, events, and experiences. Some of them are pretty deep thoughts that remind me of certain times and places, and I love sharing some of those memories with my family. 

The best thing about looking back through old journals is seeing how far you’ve come. Old habits are gone, certain goals have been fulfilled, and there’s a sense of growth and maturity that is really encouraging.

I recommend keeping all of your journals and revisiting them from time to time. Especially when you feel stuck in a particular season, looking back can help you see the progress you’ve made.

JOURNALING KEEPS A RECORD OF WHERE YOU’RE AT TODAY

Writing down your goals in life is a great practice for everyone. Not only is it beneficial for your personal growth, it’s beneficial for your relationships as well.

Something that has helped me keep a “oneness” perspective in marriage, is journaling what I love about my wife. I write down what I appreciate about her so that I don’t lose sight of how much she means to me. As I wrote in my post “Make Her Number One,” sharing these journal entries with my wife, assures her of the value she brings to my life. 

My marriage journal reminds me why I got married, why I 

choose her, and what I take for granted.   Having a list of things that I love about my wife has served me extremely well.  My marriage journal is priceless to me. 

Here are a few more ways journaling can serve your life well:

It can provide accountability.

It can be a place to decompress.

It can be a regular goal-setting exercise.

It can provide a springboard for growth and opportunity.

Keep a record of where you’re at today, as a practice that will not only benefit your life, faith, and business, but also be a blessing to those you love.

JOURNALING ENCOURAGES YOU TO MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE

I have always loved to journal and reduce my thoughts to writing. Especially during my cancer treatment, I found myself reflecting on whether I was investing my time, talent, and

resources exactly how I and God desired.  As I share in my post “Live Like You Were Dying,” my cancer journey was an intense spiritual time and God spoke a lot of things to me. Through that season, I made a list of 35 things I wanted to improve upon. (Yes, 35 things!) But it’s from that list that I was able to adjust my focus and live a much more intentional life.

Journaling has a lot of benefits indeed, but the best part is having a written account of things you’d like to do in the future. This kind of forward-thinking journaling can serve your life well as it reminds you to keep moving forward – no matter how difficult life gets.

Here are the things I keep track of as part of my personal journey:

1. Blessings from Others 

2. Blessings from God 

3. High Points

4. Low Points

5. How Others are Blessed 

6. Learnings and Observations 

7. Prayers 

8. Conversations with God

So, whether you’re a good writer or not, I highly encourage you to purchase a journal or notebook, or, open a journaling app on your phone, and get started journaling today. It truly is a practice that can serve your life well.

ACTION STEP:

Decide which method of journaling fits your personality best, and make your first journal entry today!