Why Keep a Journal or Diary?

Journaling and diary-keeping has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, through personal diaries we have been able to discover information about the creation of our country and government, as well as the people who lived during this time period. We have been able to learn about the lives of historical figures throughout the world. There is astonishing value in keeping a journal and if you read what you write, you may learn a lot about yourself as well. Through your journal you will experience the many benefits of writing on a regular basis. Here are several of the benefits that you will be able to experience.

ACHIEVING GOALS

A journal can help you to clarify your goals and will allow you to write about your achievements as well as your ideas. This allows you to see the steps that you have taken towards your goal and will allow you to see where you stand as well as how much further you have to go to complete your goals. Your goals may be simple tasks in life or they may be life goals that will take more time to achieve. Whatever goals you set for yourself, be sure that they are attainable and easily documented in your journal.

SIMPLIFYING LIFE

A journal or diary is very useful in helping to simplify your life. We tend to make life much more complicated than it needs to be. We have appointments, soccer practice with the kids and a million other things that we have to do on a daily basis. By carving out ten minutes of your day and taking the time to sit down with a pen and a piece of paper it is amazing at how you begin to see what is really important in life. You can also carve out a few minutes to type in a journal entry on a personal blog or even a simple and ongoing Word document. Take the time to describe your values, note your achievements and think of those things that you are grateful for in your life.

CLARIFY AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS

Journals have amazing power and much of this power can be seen through your personal relationships. Journaling allows you to take the time you need to express your feelings about your life and relationships. Journaling also allows you a private place to vent about any frustrations you have with your relationships. Journaling allows you to see why you might be bothered by certain aspects of a person and even how you might be able to change how you handle certain situations. They can also teach you to love more powerfully and with more conviction. There are various aspects to relationships, and your journal can allow you to see what changes you can make to your strengthen your relationships.

LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF

Socrates was a firm believer in know thyself. A journal allows you to do just that. You can talk about your morals, values and other beliefs. This allows you to clarify what you think about on certain topics as well as express yourself more clearly. If anybody has ever asked you about a specific topic or controversy and what you think about it, you will be able to easily spout off a clear opinion in a matter of seconds. You will present yourself as a person who knows themself well.

BECOMING A BETTER COMMUNICATOR

Journaling can also aid in making you a better writer. Many people could easily be better writers if they spent a few minutes a day working on it. Even when you write about personal information you are able to strengthen your skills. You are also able to strengthen your grammar, vocabulary and get you through a moment of writer's block you are experiencing. It can also be a place to write down any new words or ideas you might have to write about. Clear communication allows you to provide a powerful image and offers the utmost in personal expression.

HEALTH BENEFITS

The health benefits of journaling are widely psychological. Journaling is able to counteract the negative effects of stress and can be a great tool for stress management. Additionally, journaling can help people explore traumatic events and release the emotions that are involved with those experiences.

Research has also shown that there are various other health benefits as well. Scientific studies show that the symptoms of asthma, arthritis and other health conditions have all decreased due to journaling. It has also been shown to help improve the immune system and may prevent a host of diseases. According to one such study by Stony Brook University in New York, written expression of traumatic experiences can aid individuals suffering from other health problems (such as breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia). The study reported that the patients experienced short-term benefits both psychologically and physically. They were also able to see significant reductions in pain and fatigue (the groups in the study wrote in the laboratory for 20 minutes for 3 days at 1-week intervals and were assessed pretreatment, post treatment, at 4 months and at 10 months).

Journaling is also a form of meditation. This is a time that you can use to be quiet and write down what is on your mind. There are often things that may be too hurtful to say to someone, but you have to get it off your mind. Journaling is an excellent outlet for that type of worry or frustration. Have you ever heard of writing a letter to someone to get your true feelings out, but then not sending it? This is the same type of idea. You can write out those feelings and then seal them away in your journal. Journaling also helps you to relax and be quiet. It has the power to help you relax, release anxiety and make your life much easier.

Journaling can be a unique and life changing experience. As you can see through these various benefits that your life can become much simpler and much more focused. The opportunity for self-growth is among the best benefit and those who suffer from serious ailments have found that journaling allows them to release the pain that the illness causes them.

About The Author-- Javier Colayco is the founder of InboxJournal.com, a journaling site for keeping a private or public diary. Users can post entries directly in daily journal reminders, set reminders according to their schedule or post directly through the site.

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