Powerful Benefits to Keeping a Journal

We all have the little things in life that bring us great joy. One of those things for me is having a good journal. I start my day each and every morning with a good cup of coffee and my journal. More and more thought leaders around the word are highlighting the importance of making journaling part of your daily routine. Why has this childhood writing activity become so popular? What are the benefits? Here is a quick an easy list to motivate you to continue or start this habit today. 

1. Journaling evokes mindfulness. Research tells us that there is a strong connection between mindfulness and happiness. For this reason, mindfulness has become a daily goal for so many. Journaling brings you into a state of mindfulness. It provides a place to leave past frustrations, to reduce anxieties of the future and to focus on the present. It provides you with a place to have an active and consistent practice of gratitude.
2. Journaling increases your emotional awareness. Journaling provides an avenue to process your emotions. By processing and managing your emotions, you are increasing your self-awareness
3.  Journaling helps you to achieve your goals. Journals can be used to write your goals down and create your roadmap to the future. We are more successful at achieving our goals if we write them down. Writing your goals in your journal and taking the time to chart your way to achieving your goals is extremely motivating and increases your likelihood of success.
4.  Journaling sparks creativity. Journaling provides an avenue for exercising your creative self. Whether it is answering journal prompts, brainstorming ideas or simply doodling, that creativity is sparked!
5.  Journaling improves your memory. There is a unique relationship between writing by hand and the brain. Whether it is writing down your thoughts on a topic, summarizing a talk you have listened to, or an article you have read, by writing it down you are more likely to remember the key points.

If you are new to journaling and not sure where to start, start with gratitude and intentions. Everyday, list ten items of gratitude. They can be as big or small as you want. Mine range from watching my children move through developmental milestones, to you guessed it...a really good cup of coffee. Then write your intentions for the day. Starting with daily gratitude and intentions are a great way to begin the rewarding practice of daily journaling.