Why My Gratitude Journal is My Best Friend
“Sometimes only the paper will listen to you.” ~ Anonymous
Most people have humans as best friends. Now, I’m not gonna be that edgy dude who loves to flaunt his misanthropy online and say that I don’t. As a matter of fact, I’ve had humans as best friends as a kid and well into my teenage years.
But now that I’m an adult in my early 20s, who thinks he’s too mature to have a so-called best friend, or more honestly, who struggles to form genuine relationships with people, I have made my gratitude journal my best friend.
I call it SAM.
Yep, SAM as in Frodo’s Hobbit friend from Lord of the Rings.
Why because:
a) I love naming things and beings after characters from Pop Culture.
and b) as for what better name for a companion than the embodiment of friendship itself, Samwise Gamgee?
How Journaling Helps You
The act of journaling may seem futile if you’re not into writing. As humans we need other humans to listen to us, to empathize with us, to be with us. And while that is very true, it’s not always that easy.
You see, people will not always be there for you. Maybe you got the best of friends and the most ideal family to support you. In that case, you should be grateful that you do. Cherish it with all you got. But a lot of people aren’t that lucky and all of us need a confidant.
Our brain is a world where thoughts are like wild horses, racing through the vast expanse of your psyche, untamed and unpredictable. In this chaotic realm, finding clarity and understanding can feel like chasing elusive butterflies in a hurricane.
Journaling emerges as a humble tool that can transform your inner chaos into a serene sanctuary of self-reflection and growth. It is an excellent way to document your thoughts and feelings without the fear of being judged.
Journaling is a portal into the depths of your consciousness, a sacred space where you can pour your thoughts, dreams, fears, and desires onto a blank page. It is an act of self-expression that invites you to traverse the rabbit hole that is your mind and explore the labyrinth of your emotions.
As you embark on this journey, you’ll find that the simple act of putting pen to paper has the power to grant you clarity, insights, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
But journaling is not merely a chronicle of events or a mundane catalog of your daily activities. It is an invitation to dive beneath the surface of your experiences and explore the hidden depths of your soul.
Through the act of journaling, you tap into the wellspring of your creativity, giving voice to your innermost thoughts and feelings.
When you write in your journal, you can be unabashedly honest with yourself, acknowledging the raw and messy nuances of being human, of being YOU. Thus in doing so, you cultivate a sense of self-acceptance and self-compassion, embracing your flaws and celebrating your strengths.
Your Journal is an Unsung Friend
Having a best friend is perhaps one of the best gifts in the world. Tales of friendships have inspired us from time immemorial. Be it Sam and Frodo, Timon and Pumbaa, or Woody and Buzz, having your buddy by your side in your hard times makes every challenge seem easier.
However, in this digital age, where screens dominate our attention, and where genuine human relationships are rare, it’s hard to let yourself be vulnerable.
Journaling offers a respite from the constant barrage of notifications and distractions. It invites you to slow down, savor the tactile sensation of the pen gliding across the paper, and bask in the quietude of introspection.
To me, it is a rebellion against the ephemeral nature of digital communication, a commitment to preserve the art of handwriting and the intimacy of the written word.
Talking about the written word, I want to take emphasize the act of writing physically. Sure, you can have an online journal but you must try out the conventional way. Not because it seems more traditional or artsy but because it has deep psychological benefits as well.
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology in 2017, researchers discovered that the brain regions linked to learning exhibited higher activity when individuals performed a task manually rather than using a keyboard.
According to Virginia Berninger, a retired education professor from the University of Washington, the act of writing a letter involves a step-by-step process of forming individual strokes, which activates brain pathways that are closely connected to emotion-regulating regions.
Journaling Makes Your Thoughts Grounded in Reality
As you keep on Journaling, it becomes a trusted confidant, patiently listening to your woes and celebrating your triumphs.
Moreover, journaling is an invaluable tool for personal growth and transformation. It serves as a mirror, reflecting the patterns and themes that shape your life.
By reviewing your past entries, you gain insights into your recurring thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs, empowering you to make conscious choices and break free from self-imposed limitations.
The significance of your limitations, however, is not restrained to overcoming them but to reflect on them and accept your flaws. What I mean by this is that, as you make it a habit to write in your journal about your deepest, darkest fears and flaws, you learn to embrace them along the way.
Writing about the things (as small as they may seem) that you’re grateful for helps you stop and appreciate them for what they are.
Personally, I’ve felt I tend to daydream less on the days I make an entry in my Journal (SAM). Part of the reason for that is that I deliberately try to articulate my wandering thoughts onto the paper. And when I read it back, I know I’m on the right track.
So, my dear friend, heed the call of the blank page and embark on the grand adventure of journaling.
Unlock the power within you, ignite your creativity, and unearth the treasures hidden in the recesses of your mind.
Embrace the therapeutic magic of journaling, and let your thoughts dance across the pages, transforming the chaos within into a masterpiece of self-discovery.
