Why do you journal?

For me, the more time I spend with my journal, the more answers I have to this question. Frankly, I can’t imagine my life without it.

Of course, what I lump into the category of “journaling” might not fit within someone else’s definition.

For me, it’s really any way of using paper (or, these days, also writing by hand in an iPad) to create some space for me to witness and clarify my own thoughts and feelings — and then to respond in the wisest, most loving way possible.

On any given day, what that witnessing looks like — or the clarifying — or the wise, kind response — might be very different.

Some days it’s more structured, goal oriented, focused on planning, problem solving, helping me reach toward something.

Other days journaling is more messy and intuitive, helping me explore inwardly and/or outwardly and stumble upon meaningful insights — and to grow a bit in the process.

Or it could be deeply emotional, expressing and exploring things that feel painful, or joyful, or outrageous, or moving. Naming and honoring my feelings — and my humanity.

Or it can be incredibly spiritual, nurturing in me a profound sense of stillness and depth, a connection with something that is both within and beyond me at the same time, something that feels vast and eternal.

Or it could be playful. Or encouraging and comforting. Or a little whiny or grumpy. Or curious. Or any of a number of other things.

But what all of these experiences have in common for me is that they help make things a bit more tangible, a bit more conscious. They help me feel a little more connected to myself.

And the result of that is that I feel more like I’m actually living and experiencing my life — in all its layers and depth — rather than being just swept along in the surface-level blur that so often characterizes modern day life.

If you want to know why journaling can have these kinds of benefits, there are plenty of research-based theories — related to things like brain function, self-talk, self-concept, emotional regulation, etc.

But for me, one of the easiest explanations to point to is that journaling is a kind of mindfulness practice.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn explains, “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally . . . in the service of self-understanding and wisdom” (and other rewards too).

Sounds a lot like journaling, doesn’t it?

While we may be writing about the past or about the future, when we’re journaling we’re also staying in touch with ourselves in the present moment. In fact, it’s that in-the-moment, caring connection with ourselves that allows us to make sense of and integrate the past and then to move wisely into the future.

It brings to mind another quote from an unknown author (though it’s often attributed to Viktor Frankl): “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our happiness.”

That’s what journaling does for us. It creates that space.

And whatever you use that space for — structured planning, problem solving, inner exploration, emotional expression, personal healing, spiritual connection, playful experimentation, or something else — it’s a powerful tool.

This month inside Joybook, we’ll be looking at how we can use this incredible tool to enrich our lives.

You’ll hear from different journaling experts, learn some new techniques, explore a variety of applications, and so on.

But equally important, you’ll also have space to explore your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences with journaling and to see what they’re teaching you — and what the invitation might be as you move forward.

I look forward to sharing all of this with you as we spend time with this theme that goes straight to the core of what Joybook is about.