JOURNALING IS GREAT FOR WRITERS AND NON-WRITERS.
It accesses levels of your SELF you may not even be aware of. It's like therapy done in the privacy of your own home. You and your mind/higher self/universal witness are the main participants.
I assign daily journaling as a tool for all my writing workshops. I have witnessed so many breakthroughs from using this tool that I now SWEAR by it. Occasionally, I have to TWIST THE ARM of one of my students to convince them to do it. Those are, of course, the students who end up having the biggest breakthroughs.
REASONS TO JOURNAL:
1. FIRST LEVEL - trash can
Use a spiral notebook or any notebook that isn't precious. Plan to throw out the journal when you've filled it. It isn't meant to be kept, re-read and treasured. Journaling is a process NOT A RESULT. Let your mind wander and just keep your pen moving, not judging, just writing as it streams through you. If you have nothing else to write but "I don't know what to write, this is a really dumb exercise..." then write that over and over until something else pops in your head. In this level of journaling, you'll dump all your trash: your worries, concerns, doubts, fears onto the page. Once your conscious negative repetitive, obsessive thoughts have dumped, you may find new layers emerge from your unconscious mind. Things you didn't even know were bothering you! Let it all out on the page. This allows your to consciously recognize, acknowledge and process the often hidden thoughts that may be blocking not only your creativity, but your happiness and peace of mind.
2. SECOND LEVEL - treasure chest
Even as you are dumping trash from your mind and brain, you can allow the treasures of your imagination to emerge. This level involves brainstorming, musing, creative exploration. You may find solutions to problems in your story or in your life. Characters suddenly become more vivid as you write about them. Dialog ideas pop up. New ways to tell your story are divulged. You may muse on life, find new perspectives, delve into philosophy. Express gratitude, wonder, curiosity. This is where insights and epiphanies can occur.
3. THIRD LEVEL - the esoteric
If you have even a slight leaning toward belief in other dimensions or realms, if you have an openness to the spiritual unseen unknown world, then this level will make sense to you. Some people discover an access to communication with something beyond themselves when they journal. I have experienced many phenomena which I would call other-worldly. I learned to channel through automatic writing a decade ago from the modern mystic, Doreen Virtue. I sometimes allow myself to go into an almost unconscious state and let my mind free while writing and allow something else to communicate through my pen. I have received amazing wisdom and guidance and creative and business suggestions in these moments. Wisdom that seemed beyond my own limited viewpoint at that time. You can easily argue that the wisdom was coming from a deeper recess of my own brain/mind. And I'm fine with that interpretation. I don't care where the information comes from as long as it's good and empowering. This is where I have had many revelations. And found solace and attitude adjustments when I was frustrated and unhappy with the circumstances of my life.
Even if you never venture into the third level of journaling, taking on a daily writing practice will rock your world in ways you can't even fathom right now.
It accesses levels of your SELF you may not even be aware of. It's like therapy done in the privacy of your own home. You and your mind/higher self/universal witness are the main participants.
I assign daily journaling as a tool for all my writing workshops. I have witnessed so many breakthroughs from using this tool that I now SWEAR by it. Occasionally, I have to TWIST THE ARM of one of my students to convince them to do it. Those are, of course, the students who end up having the biggest breakthroughs.
REASONS TO JOURNAL:
1. FIRST LEVEL - trash can
Use a spiral notebook or any notebook that isn't precious. Plan to throw out the journal when you've filled it. It isn't meant to be kept, re-read and treasured. Journaling is a process NOT A RESULT. Let your mind wander and just keep your pen moving, not judging, just writing as it streams through you. If you have nothing else to write but "I don't know what to write, this is a really dumb exercise..." then write that over and over until something else pops in your head. In this level of journaling, you'll dump all your trash: your worries, concerns, doubts, fears onto the page. Once your conscious negative repetitive, obsessive thoughts have dumped, you may find new layers emerge from your unconscious mind. Things you didn't even know were bothering you! Let it all out on the page. This allows your to consciously recognize, acknowledge and process the often hidden thoughts that may be blocking not only your creativity, but your happiness and peace of mind.
2. SECOND LEVEL - treasure chest
Even as you are dumping trash from your mind and brain, you can allow the treasures of your imagination to emerge. This level involves brainstorming, musing, creative exploration. You may find solutions to problems in your story or in your life. Characters suddenly become more vivid as you write about them. Dialog ideas pop up. New ways to tell your story are divulged. You may muse on life, find new perspectives, delve into philosophy. Express gratitude, wonder, curiosity. This is where insights and epiphanies can occur.
3. THIRD LEVEL - the esoteric
If you have even a slight leaning toward belief in other dimensions or realms, if you have an openness to the spiritual unseen unknown world, then this level will make sense to you. Some people discover an access to communication with something beyond themselves when they journal. I have experienced many phenomena which I would call other-worldly. I learned to channel through automatic writing a decade ago from the modern mystic, Doreen Virtue. I sometimes allow myself to go into an almost unconscious state and let my mind free while writing and allow something else to communicate through my pen. I have received amazing wisdom and guidance and creative and business suggestions in these moments. Wisdom that seemed beyond my own limited viewpoint at that time. You can easily argue that the wisdom was coming from a deeper recess of my own brain/mind. And I'm fine with that interpretation. I don't care where the information comes from as long as it's good and empowering. This is where I have had many revelations. And found solace and attitude adjustments when I was frustrated and unhappy with the circumstances of my life.
Even if you never venture into the third level of journaling, taking on a daily writing practice will rock your world in ways you can't even fathom right now.
