Starting your own Diary

DEAR DIARY, November 2008, by Nada Adams

STARTING YOUR OWN DIARY!

Dear Nada,
Do you think writing in a diary does any good? I have a friend who has like three diaries she has filled and it’s her ‘prized possession’, she keeps telling me I should do it. Sometimes I just don’t know how to write what I want to say so I give up and rip out a page.
- Signed, Empty Diary

Dear Empty Diary,
I acknowledge you for asking this question. All personal growth & success Gurus recommend writing in a journal. There are many good reasons and the benefits vary from one person to another. Whether you write in a diary, journal or type your thoughts on your computer, they all lead to more clarity and awareness in your life. By writing every day you start to become aware of your habits and emotions. Ask your friend why her journals are her ‘prized possessions’. I bet she has learned a lot about herself. One great thing about journaling is that it’s not about being grammatically correct and using perfect spelling. It’s your private book to write however you like. Many years ago, when I first started learning about personal growth, my life all of a sudden took a down turn. It was at that time that someone suggested I start to journal. I decided I had nothing to lose by trying this. For 6 months steady, I spent 2 hours every night typing out the details of what happened in my day. What I didn’t realize back then, was that this was my way of processing my emotions effectively. Emotions are ‘energy in motion’. This means, when you feel emotional it’s healthy to allow the emotional energy to flow out and not stay stuck inside. Sometimes those emotions may be negative and not such a good idea to just let them flow out in any old way. Emotions are a normal part of each of us, it’s how we express them that can be positive or negative.

Many people are afraid to express their negative emotions such as anger, fear, or anxiety, and some are even afraid to express the positive feelings of love. So when you’re mad, that energy is there to propel you to make a change in your life, it’s not there for you to stuff away. Journaling is a great way to get those emotions out and express them without offending anyone else.

Also, when you write down your thoughts you activate a different part of your brain that observes. It’s like looking at someone else’s life but it’s really yours. The benefit: you gain wisdom and perspective on your life situation and challenges vs. being caught up spinning your wheels in the emotions of your life. “When emotions go up, Intelligence goes down” - when people become emotional (for the most part) they stop using their cognitive mind. This is the part of the mind that reasons and makes good judgment. By writing when you are emotional, you will activate the observer part of your brain and you’ll gain a better perspective and even potential wisdom of what’s causing your emotional roller coaster.

My recommendation is for you to spend 5-10 minutes every day or every other day for the next two weeks or month, writing out your daily experiences and your feelings about them. Just get started, and forget about getting it perfect. I usually begin my writing exactly where my mind is… if I’m thinking of a friend, if I’m cold or hot depending on the weather, or if I woke up feeling tired or remembered a dream - it’s a great way to get started.
Remember to mention the day, weather, where you are sitting (house, outside, car or school)… because when you read your journal in 10 years, you won’t remember those small details.

Just keep in mind that whatever you write and however you write it will be right for you! Just trust yourself… and let me know how you make out!

~Nada