Blueprint >> Journaling

Disclaimer: This document is in raw form as I process and distill 4 years-worth of my personal development notes. Expect some typos and cryptic language for now. I will be updating frequently and polishing up.

Prescription: Journal.
Related Concepts: Commonplace Book, Happiness, Gratitude Log, Acknowledgment, Contemplation, Mission Statement

What is Journaling?

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Why is it Important?

Journaling allows you to organize your thinking, gain insight, and release disturbing thoughts and emotions. With journaling you will get closure on events throughout your week and valuable insights into your own development.

Journaling Videos

[coming soon...]

Journaling: Key Points

Make it a daily habit to journal about what's going on for you that day or week. Decompress your thoughts on paper as a stream of consciousness. The journal is not so much about organizing thoughts and theory-building, as it is about simply getting your thoughts out of your head. Must do it daily. ¹

The best format for journaling is to simply have one page or entry per day. Don't try to organize your thoughts too much because that's not the point. First you have to lay them out. Then you can organize if you need to.

If you want to organize ideas and build models, pull pieces out of your journal into your commonplace book.

Journal format:

• Physical: diary/notebook, pen & paper
• Advantages: simple, portable, reliable, cheap, tactile feel
• Digital: MS Word, MS OneNote, Evernote, Google Docs, etc.
• Advantages: easy backup, easy to edit, copy & paste, styling options, unlimited size, password-protected

Themes for journaling:

• Gratitude — what are you grateful for this week?
• Opportunities — what opportunities are on the horizon for you? What are you excited about?
• Intentions — what would you do if you brought 5% more intention into your day?
• Acknowledgment — what have you done recently what already shows you're successful?
• Lessons Learned — what have you learned today?

References

1. Optimal Living 101, Brain Johnson