I never had a typical 9-to-5 job.
After graduating with a computer science degree, I dove straight into freelancing and blogging full-time.
But way before that, when I was a teenager, I had a life-changing experience that set me on this path.
I was serving a church mission in during my holidays, working over 80 hours a week. It was incredibly rewarding but also exhausting.
One day, I hit rock bottom emotionally due to some intense challenges.
Then, something amazing happened.
I stumbled upon an article where someone shared how journaling had transformed their life over 30 years.
It was like a lightbulb went off in my head!
That article changed everything for me.
It wasn’t just about spiritual insights; I realized journaling could impact every part of my life.
That was 5 years ago, and I’ve journaled almost every day since. I’ve filled countless notebooks, sometimes writing for an hour or more.
I wouldn’t have my career without journaling.
It’s helped me immensely, probably more than anything else I’ve done.
Now, my journaling style is a bit different from most people’s.
Over the past 5 years, I’ve learned 15 lessons that can completely change how you think about putting pen to paper.
And I’m excited to share them with you.
In this article, you’ll discover:
- How to get more out of your journaling and gain deeper insights every day
- How to change your perspective on yourself, others, and the world, and heal emotionally
- How to become a better writer, planner, thinker, and strategist
- How to think in ways that can significantly boost your income
Let’s dive in!
#1 — Ignore And Discard The “Right” Way
Forget about the “right” or “wrong” way to journal.
Most people get so hung up on trying to do it perfectly that they never even start.
There are tons of different ways to journal, and it’s totally up to you to find what works best for you.
I just grab a blank sheet of paper and start writing.
Every journaling session is different for me.
There are some basic structures and questions I use, but there are no hard and fast rules.
Think of your journal as your own personal toolkit.
It’s a space where you can write down whatever’s on your mind – thoughts, ideas, goals, problems.
Don’t worry about finding the perfect method.
Just start writing every day, and see where it takes you.
#2 — Only Write To Yourself From Now On
When I first started journaling on my mission, I was writing with other people in mind, thinking someone else would read it someday.
While that can be valuable, simply documenting your life for someone else to find later is different from the kind of journaling I’m talking about.
The journaling I’m encouraging you to try is deeply healing and can totally transform your life.
From now on, write only for yourself.
Your journaling will become more powerful and enjoyable when you’re not worried about other people reading it.
You’ll be much more honest and open in what you write.
Think about how therapists sometimes use the practice of “writing and burning,” where people write in a journal and then destroy it.
You don’t have to burn your journals (I keep mine!), but it’s important to understand the huge benefits people get from doing this.
They learn, grow, and get so much out of journaling, whether or not they or anyone else ever looks at it again.
Even if they can’t go back and read what they wrote, they still benefit from putting their thoughts on paper.
The good stuff comes from the act of journaling itself, not from some unknown future moment.
The same goes for you.
Maybe one day, a future version of yourself, your kids, or even their kids will stumble upon your writings.
But don’t worry about that right now.
Your journal is for you.
Write whatever you want. Be completely honest.
Funny enough, the people who might read your journal later on will probably find your honest and open entries much more interesting and valuable than any other kind of writing.
#3 — Don’t Feel The Need To Re-Read Your Journals
I don’t usually go back and read my old journals.
Remember, your journal is for you.
It’s there to help you heal, process emotions, think, plan, strategize, and be creative.
The journal you’re using now is the best tool for all of that.
The value you got from your old journals came from using them in the moment.
You don’t have to reread them to benefit from them.
Sure, you can reread them if you want, but that’s not the main point of journaling, and it’s definitely not a requirement.
That would take up a lot of time and energy.
I rarely read my old journals, except in specific cases.
As a blogger, I’ll sometimes use my journal to brainstorm ideas for new articles.
If I have an idea I wrote down before, I might go back and reread that part so I can include it in my blog.
There’s also one important page I always reread.
On the first page of every journal, I answer five key questions:
- Where am I now? (Here, I write down what’s going on in my life, like projects I’m working on, family stuff, recent purchases, challenges, or thoughts.)
- What were my wins in the last 90 days? (I list both personal and professional achievements from the past 90 days.)
- What are the key wins I want in the next 30-90 days? (I write down what would make for an amazing month.)
- What are my goals for the next 12 months? (Just my top three goals, like Jim Collins said, “If you have more than 3 priorities, you have none.”)
- What are my goals for the next 3 years? (This is where I get creative and think big about my future.)
I keep these questions and answers at the front of my journal so I can easily refer back to them.
Apart from this page, I don’t spend much time rereading old journals.
The main purpose of journaling is to change how you think and how you see yourself, others, the world, and your beliefs.
So focus on the journal you’re writing in right now.
#4 — Journal Every Night For 5 Minutes
“Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.”
― Thomas Edison
Lots of people put off going to bed.
This means they get less sleep, and the sleep they do get is worse, which messes up their whole next day.
Instead of staying up late doing distracting things, what if you got ready for bed by writing in your journal?
Just spend 5 minutes before bed writing down three things you’re grateful for. This can actually improve your sleep!
You get to choose how you think about each day.
Think about it in a positive and helpful way, so you can use it to your advantage instead of letting it control you.
Here’s a question I ask myself to get ready for sleep:
“What are the main ways I’m different from who I was yesterday?”
This question helps me see how I’ve changed, even in just 24 hours
It also helps me remember important experiences that I might have otherwise forgotten.
Here are some other questions you can try:
- What important experiences did I have today?
- What did I learn today?
- Where did I see good things happening today?
- How am I different because of what I learned today?
- How am I better and more knowledgeable than I was yesterday?
Just writing down your answers to these questions can help you understand and reflect on your day.
You’ll realize a lot more happened than you thought.
You’ll see things in a positive light and remember them more clearly.
You’ll start to see each day differently, and you’ll have higher hopes for what you can achieve tomorrow.
#5 — Journal Every Morning For 5 Minutes
Journal before checking your phone or anything else.
When you check your messages, social media, emails, or even read books or watch courses, your brain is taking in new information.
Journal first!
Give your mind some space to think and make new connections before filling it with all that other stuff.
Instead of grabbing your phone first thing in the morning like most people do, try writing down your thoughts.
Your brain is most creative after you wake up, and your subconscious mind is already primed with ideas from the night before.
While you sleep, your brain is busy forming new memories and reshaping your view of the world based on what you learned the day before.
It’s also letting go of old ideas and beliefs that are no longer helpful.
When you journal for 5 minutes in the morning, you’re tapping into all that mental growth that happened overnight.
Write about what you’re grateful for, jot down your goals, or just let your thoughts flow.
You’ll be surprised by the insights that pop up.
I’ve had so many amazing breakthroughs during my morning journaling sessions.
It’s a time when I can be in a calm environment and clear my head through writing.
Give yourself the space to connect with your thoughts, and you might be surprised by the life-changing ideas that come to you.
#6 — Get Yourself Into A Specific Environment
Research shows that your surroundings have a big impact on how you act.
When you’re in a space that helps you get into the right mindset, it changes the way you think.
So, create a special “sacred space” for your journaling. Instead of just writing anywhere, find a place that feels safe and private.
It doesn’t have to be fancy.
For me, it’s my favorite local hotel.
I walk down the road, grab a drink, and journal there.
It’s become my personal journaling spot.
You can also do things like saying a prayer or meditating before you start writing (more on that later).
Find a place where you won’t be distracted for those few minutes.
This will make your journaling experience feel more important and special.
It’ll become something you look forward to every day.
#7 — Meditate And Pray Before You Journal
Before I start journaling, I pray to God.
I ask for inspiration, guidance, and new insights.
I want to see things in a different light and become aware of things I might have missed.
I also ask for help focusing my thoughts, energy, and intentions.
Whether you pray, meditate, or do something else, taking a moment to slow down and get your mind in the right space before journaling can make a huge difference.
For me, prayer is really powerful.
It opens me up to inspiration and helps my ideas flow freely.
8— Journal From A Grateful State
Gratitude is like a superpower.
It can bring you so many good things, like abundance, excitement, and new ideas.
So, when you journal, be grateful!
Get yourself into a thankful mood.
Praying or meditating beforehand helps, but you want to keep that feeling going while you’re writing.
One thing I do is write down things I’m grateful for.
It reminds me of the progress I’ve made recently and all the amazing things I’ve already achieved in my life.
It makes me feel humble and appreciative.
I even feel grateful for my goals and the person I’m working to become.
#9 — Learn That The Past And the Future Are Simply Drafts
This is a really big and important lesson:
Think of your past and future like rough drafts that you can improve and change through journaling.
Write about your past and reframe it.
Your past doesn’t define who you are now.
It’s who you are in the present that gives your life meaning.
Your past is just a draft, and you get to decide what it means.
As a blogger, I’ve learned that the more drafts I write, the better my work becomes.
It’s the same with your life.
Your past isn’t set in stone, and neither is your future. You can change and refine your future a little bit every day.
It’s good to have goals and a vision, but you don’t need to have everything figured out perfectly.
In a few weeks, you might see your past differently.
Your future self will definitely have a different view of your past than you do now.
You can slowly discover who your future self is by updating your “draft” in your journal.
Your vision, goals, and plans will change over time, even if your overall dream stays the same.
It’s helpful to keep revising and improving your goals.
Always think of your past and future as drafts when you’re writing, reflecting, and journaling.
This will help you stay present and focused on the here and now.
It also takes the pressure off because you don’t have to have everything figured out right away.
You just need to take the next step, every morning, as you write in your journal.
Remember, your past and future are just drafts that you’re getting better at with each revision.
#10 — Learn That You Are Not Your Past Self
When you journal, take time to reflect on how you’ve changed compared to your past self.
Remember that question we talked about for your evening journaling:
“How am I different from who I was yesterday?”
This connects back to those questions you answer at the beginning of each journal about your wins in the last 90 days.
You’re not the same person you were 10 days ago, or even 10 years ago. By recognizing this, you can see how you’re constantly growing and changing.
When you acknowledge and learn from those changes, your brain becomes even more capable of change.
Be kind to your past self.
There’s no need to be angry at them.
You know things they didn’t and have resources they didn’t have.
Show compassion, love, and understanding towards the person you were.
By measuring how much you’ve grown, you’ll strengthen your belief in your ability to keep changing.
You’ll start believing in bigger and better things for yourself when you see how far you’ve come.
#11 — Learn That You Are Not Your Present Self
“The person you are right now is as transient, as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’ve ever been.” — Dr. Daniel Gilbert
Here’s a key difference between people with a fixed mindset and a growth mindset: folks with a fixed mindset are stuck on who they are right now.
They see themselves in a certain way and put labels on themselves.
They say, “This is who I am, and that’s it.”
But people with a growth mindset are more open to change.
They’re not afraid to question their own beliefs and ideas.
This is exactly what happened to Andre Norman, whose story is told in the book “Personality Isn’t Permanent.” Andre was in prison, and at first, he just wanted to get out. But then he realized that wasn’t enough. Most people who leave prison end up back there. So instead of just aiming to be free, he decided to aim for success.
He asked himself, “Where do successful people come from?”
He knew of only one college: Harvard.
So, sitting in his cell, he decided he was going to go to Harvard.
That one goal gave him a reason to turn his life around and become a new person.
Today, Andre is a fellow at Harvard. He didn’t let his past as a prisoner define him.
Your present self isn’t who you’ll always be. Tomorrow, you’ll be even wiser and more knowledgeable.
Journaling every day helps you avoid getting stuck in your current situation.
It helps you constantly adapt and improve your ideas, goals, and mindset.
You don’t get trapped by one event or circumstance.
#12 —Learn That You Are Not Your Future Self
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert Einstein
Most people think their future will be the same as their present, but that’s not true at all.
You’re going to change and grow so much!
It’s actually really healthy to recognize that your future self will be different from who you are now.
The past and the future are tools to help you live better in the present moment.
Your journal is a place to connect with, appreciate, and start acting like your future self.
Remember, we talked about how the past and future are like drafts.
You can use your journal to sketch out possibilities for your future.
The more connected you feel to that future self, the better choices you’ll make right now.
#13 —Your Past + Present + Future = Tools
“The only way to make your present better is by making your future bigger.” — Dan Sullivan
Time isn’t really a straight line. The past, present, and future are all happening right now.
So, when you think about these different times in your journal, remember to ask yourself, “Is this helping me? Is this healing me?”
It’s totally up to you how you use these tools, keeping in mind what we talked about earlier.
#14 — Psychologically And Emotionally Heal With Your Journal
Your journal is like a safe haven.
It’s where you can heal emotionally and become more flexible in how you think.
Use your journal to practice looking at the past, present, and future as tools, not burdens.
By constantly reframing your past, you can transform yourself through journaling. It’ll give you the freedom and space to make better decisions.
You’ll feel more inspired and excited every day.
If you’re open to using your journal, you’ll become more emotionally flexible.
You won’t be stuck in rigid patterns of thinking.
This emotional flexibility will allow you to achieve great things, and it’ll also help you bounce back when things don’t go as planned.
Your journal will be your secret weapon for becoming more adaptable and resilient every day.
#15 — Strategize And Make REALLY Important Decisions
Your journal is a place to make big decisions.
I’ve used my journal to plan my content creation, make lists of people I need to connect with, and combine ideas in ways that have pushed me forward.
When you journal, you can map out your thoughts more clearly and get to know yourself better.
If you’ve been following along, you’ll have started to see your past, present, and future in a whole new way.
You’ll be in a position to take bold steps towards your future self and get what you truly want.
Write down your biggest goals and dreams.
Remember, no one needs to see this except for you.
Your journal is a safe space to be vulnerable, honest, and creative about what you want to achieve.
The insights you write down will guide your life’s strategy.
Think about what you could accomplish if you just started writing!
Conclusion — How Will You Change?
With your journal, you can:
- Attract money, people, opportunities, and ideas into your life
- Strengthen your faith and spirituality
- Become more adaptable and emotionally resilient
- Reframe even the most difficult experiences
- Completely transform your life
Most people don’t know how powerful journaling can be. But now you do, and you can use it to help yourself and others. You can become the best version of yourself.
So, how are you going to use your journal? Comment below…..aaand
Have a great day!😉
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