The Power of Journalling

Penning down and it’s wonders

As we wrap up the year, I have been doing a lot of closure work with certain friends and family members. While the outcome was going out and opening up beyond my head, the real decluttering happened when I picked up the pen. I will share my journey in small points and I hope it gives you the inspiration to get started. Nothing validates advice better than a tried and tested outcome-driven example.

Stage 1: Getting started

I feel this is the less difficult part despite having its challenges.

• Starting needs so much acceptance that there are things that need attention and very obviously you have been starving that plant.
• Then comes the willingness to address the reality and not add to the pile of ignorance.
• At last, you need to get out of your zone and grab a pen and paper.

Many wonder what to write and how to articulate their thoughts— a simple way to get started is just writing down what happened throughout the day. It’s a safe space for you and no one will be grading you.

Stage 2: Forming a Habit

Time to address the giant in all rooms — Consistency — the ultimate magic pill to making everything under the sun come true.

• I missed/forgot to pen down on days 4 to 7 at a stretch. It is okay to miss out sometimes but a stretch is just going to be an eventual pileup.
• 2nd week on, I stayed more on track — wrote for 4 or 5 times.
• Started using this technique a friend suggested — never miss 2 consecutive days in a row. Following this automatically made me show up 50% or more of the time.

I’d write and then skim through the page once I’m done. One important observation here was the intensity and gravity of things as perceived in my head were way more than their reality. Not true always, but mostly.

Writing caps overthinking. The energy is distributed when we think and write at a particular speed VS when we let the brain zoom past with its nitro boosters.

Stage 3: Basking in the glory

When the habit starts reaping benefits you will feel it. Out loud. Subtle changes.

• The whole purpose of journalling is to calm down the mind and give rationale the room to function with our emotions getting a fair seat on the table.
• Creating this space for your head as a habit will start reflecting on day-to-day chores and how you talk to people and perceive a situation. Bit by bit you will start acting better.

My biggest gain out of this was opening up to people beyond my problems and what bothers me & I have been able to better factor in all things.

1. Rather than being mad for a prolonged time, I have started creating situations and spaces where I can talk things out with an open and receptive mind.
2. Taking the onus on me of what I choose to feel instead of giving someone or a circumstance the power to dictate my emotional pangs.
3. Freed up so much room to think beyond daily nuances and do self-centric things over cribbing for hours.

The heart wants what it wants BUT The brain is the least brave organ we have. It scares easily, reacts instantly, and judges vehemently. As evolved creatures, we are better than our forest counterparts & starting to act on it is the most natural course to be taken.

You might find peace and sense in other modes too. I hope more people start living past denials and fix things sooner.