Journaling

Nitasha, my course mate in family Constellation one day asked me "can you give me some references on journaling? I recall we discussing about it, I need it for a friend......" I said I don't have any references, it has been an organic process for me, I have not used any references. She suggested I write an article... and here I am penning down what I do and may be of help to all who read this... Thank you Nitasha, if it wasn't for you I would not have written this...

Journaling a buzz word these days. Never got to it till my my therapist once again suggested I journal. Hmmm... I didn't know what journaling was... writing a diary, oh! that’s so boring I thought and submitted myself to my Pen and my notebook...

It begun thus, It was in my awareness that I should start penning down what I feel. I needed a nice notebook which would be inviting to write, colorful pens, pencils etc. So one day while I was purchasing some teacher's day gifts for my Son’s school I bought myself a nice diary with beautiful pestle shades , something I related to at that point. A few days later I started with, today I felt..., and I observed at the end of two pages how much I had stored inside me that needed to be ventilated and received without judgment of the other. This process has been integral part of my life since last 6-7 years now.

So here is a sharing from my heart to yours; To all of you who would like some guideline to start; to all of you who are already journaling but wonder if its correct, to all of you who just would like to read about it and to all of you who are curious to know how others do it :

  • Start by choosing a nice notebook.
    1. Something that you relate to
    2. Something you always felt like buying but felt what use it is of
    3. Something you had liked for yourself but felt it was waste of money, you would rather spend this money on...
    4. A colour of your choice
    5. A paper you would like to feel
  • A pen that you like, already have but has lost ink or refill, something you wanted to buy, buy it!
  • You like art and craft and decoration , buy that also if you like or collect it from the house, oh! We have so much stored in that old shoe box, or that beautiful box which reminds us of the childhood

Is it sounding like an expensive affair ? Seriously , why does everything have to be starting with having to spend money ? ….. No it is not about spending money my dear, it is about giving yourself the time, the space to think about yourself , to hold yourself just the way you hold others and most importantly give yourself the permission to know that “You matter”. To know you can do things only for you to see them and feel them. A move from this world of insta and fb. Not for anybody else and to know that too can give joy and acknowledgment !

You can also start writing here and now with whatever you have, an ipad, a laptop, a used piece of paper….just anything, see how it feels too!

The beginning:
  • Find yourself a quiet place. Give yourself that undisturbed time to be with you.
  • Ideally close the door and ask the people in the house/office to not disturb you till you step out.
  • Carry your journaling notebook when you go for a walk.
  • Record it in your phone and copy it when you have the free space.

Writing is very cathartic as we are doing three acts at the same time. It helps us slow down so do try and write instead of just recording.

Some sentence starters:
  • Today, ...day, date
  • I start with you my dear journal ...
  • I am here my dear diary...
  • I am overjoyed to write this
  • I am sad today
  • I didn't come to you for so many years, but here I am today ...
The flow:
  • Write just anything and everything.
  • Unbound yourself.
  • Know that there are no rules.
  • There is nothing like correct way of journaling.

I believe that we all have all parts in us. Happy, sad, jealous, envious, scared, greedy, bold, bitter. This is your place to be it all and acknowledge it all. Your place to be as naked and vulnerable as you can be. Your place to let yourself loose and hold yourself too. Your place to know you. Your place to acknowledge you.

Start here and more to follow. These are so many permissions you have received for yourself reading this article. Begin and return for more with your questions. I am here and happy to share what I know and have experienced.

You will be surprised to know the wisdom you store. Your higher self will start guiding you !!

All the best on your wonderful journey to self discovery!