Blog Journeys of a Lifelong Learner

The first unbroken five-year stretch of daily journaling has been quite beneficial. In the hope that some might be encouraged to undertake or maintain similar patterns of documentation, I present here some observations from my experience. To suggest that the habit is always pleasant would be terribly dishonest; inconvenience and arduous labor can describe many attempts in journaling. Nonetheless, the benefits of it are so compelling to me that I am committed to maintaining this practice as long as I am possibly able to do so.

Benefits:

• Memory of dates and occurrences is tremendously aided.
• Disciplined articulation of contemplative thoughts is forced.
• Daily mental engagement in the analysis of events is fostered.
• Trends in personal writing styles are made observable over time.
• A beneficial self knowledge is fostered by habits of documentation.
• Personal disciplines are made measurable and are given structure.
• A daily routine is made more attainable.
• The habit of writing early in the morning and later at night can help to distract the mind from many potential temptations which are likely to occur in times of weariness or refreshment.
• Lessons and observations are made accessible for future generations.
• Times of trouble are effectively enabled to feature recollection of former comforts and resulting hope.

Challenges and concerns:

• A daily routine of journaling can require significant time investment.
• Progress in articulating personal thoughts may be slow and painful.
• Perceived insignificance may foster discouragement.
• Times of reduced discipline may lead to great discouragement.
• Careful introspection may reveal much unpleasant material.
• Habits of documentation may lead to the formation of a false history.
• Journaling can become self-focused, resulting in dangerous self absorption.
• Habits of documentation may become purely routine, having no vital contemplation or forethought.
• Journaling may become an indulgence in personal glorification.
• Journaling may become a destructive platform for personal gossip and slander.

These points may be discussed further in brief detail. While more considerations could be addressed, this present discussion is limited to the areas enumerated above and below, and the purpose of these remarks is to foster potential improvement in thought and dialogue on the topic of journaling. I have many reasons for journaling; some re public (as documented here), others remain private (at least for the present).

Benefits More Thoroughly Considered

Memory of dates and occurrences is tremendously aided.

My journaling regularly serves as a reference for recalling information about things that have happened in the past, but I have also found that the mere process of documenting details in the first place enables my mind to recall more information on its own. Writing, done thoughtfully, can be a tremendous memory aid. I use a calendar to document the major events of the day, and elaborate in the journal. The calendar serves as an index for the journal, enabling me to quickly locate my thoughts (if recorded) pertaining to particular events and times. I am confident that any who do not presently maintain a journal would find the adoption of the habit to secure new levels of personal historical competence.

Disciplined articulation of contemplative thoughts is forced.

There are various types of disciplines that may be associated with journaling. One of them, of course, is the simple discipline to write every day. Another aspect of disciplined articulation is to write about particular topics. A further discipline has to do with the particular medium being used and involves filling a specified amount of space with personal remarks, or generating a particular quantity of material. The requirement of filling a particular number of pages may foster increased variety in written expression. The medium one uses tends to influence the communication of that particular medium, so consider the likely effects of using particular mediums. I am committed to using paper journals because the direct interaction of analog writing tools helps me to focus purely on thinking and writing; computers have too many distractions, in my experience, to lend themselves as well to consistent habits of journaling. Furthermore, notebooks and pens are not dependent upon power sources and Internet connections.

Daily mental engagement in the analysis of events is fostered.

It is natural to give verbal assent to the proposition that a careful evaluation of events is important, but the practice of thoroughly contemplating developments will never arise apart from deliberate forethought and preparation. Habits are important because they determine the realization of potential. While inspiration may only occasionally seem to be forcefully present, commitment to habits of writing will maximize the potential for coming into contact with uncommon inspiration. The active mind is a growing mind. Thinking about each day brings numerous benefits.

Trends in personal writing styles are made observable over time.

Personalities evolve, and journals provide unique insight into the adaptive growth of an individual. While transformational changes are rarely recognizable from one day to the next, gradual alterations can be readily seen from a comparison of two significantly separated periods of time. Beneficial self awareness in the context of personal contemplation is maximized through constant habits of documentation and deliberation.

A beneficial self knowledge is fostered by habits of documentation.

One's own strengths and weaknesses can be somewhat comprehensively considered in personal journaling practices. Subjective evaluation of personal attributes is always dangerous, as it can exaggerate both in positive and negative directions. An objective analysis is not entirely possible, but it can be more closely approximated by the evaluation of a carefully documented historical record of one's life. The mind easily misplaces details from the past; a written record enables future recollections to be guided in particular directions.

Personal disciplines are made measurable and are given structure.

Habits are best formed when they are carefully observed and documented. Measurement maximizes achievement. Good intentions are often meaningless apart from structured actions. A journal presents a daily reminder of important habits. Consistency is easily observable in a daily journal. A daily journal provides a fabulous framework for tracking any aspect of personal discipline. The structure of a journal can make the need for faithful following a plan of action or a sequence of thoughtful deliberations more readily apparent, and renders it more attainable.

A daily routine is made more attainable.

Routines are powerful. Top performers know how to effectively leverage them for exceptional accomplishment. A journal can be used to create structure for the start and end of each day. This record can be inspiring, facilitating further diligence in the establishment of helpful routines that might otherwise be much more difficult to establish. A journaling habit necessarily creates at least a skeletal daily routine in anyone who adopts one.

The habit of writing early in the morning and later at night can help to distract the mind from many potential temptations which are likely to occur in times of weariness or refreshment.

Temptations abound where the mind is not otherwise engaged. Idleness is a dangerous position that should be carefully avoided. In the simple matter of occupying mental faculties, journaling can prevent many dangerous musings and careless actions. Personal discipline is a valuable deterrent to unwholesome personal tendencies and inclinations, and journaling is one potential avenue for developing discipline. Writing in the morning helps to set a tone for the rest of the day. I have repeatedly found that morning musings determine afternoon afternoon accomplishments, whether for good or ill. Writing at night helps to establish a pattern of considering each day before it is over, preparing for thorough rest at the conclusion of a well (or at least thoroughly) spent day. Nocturnal notions influence morning moods.

Lessons and observations are made accessible for future generations.

The value of experience is tremendous, yet it is possible to obtain much of the value of experience without personally owning it by evaluating the knowledge others have so gained. One's own struggles and triumphs may be beneficial to future readers long after one's own life has ended. If the pursuit of careful journaling creates potentially valuable material for others to consume, failure to adopt this discipline could be said to eliminate potentially insightful material from the awareness of others. A humble generosity will carefully journal the present so that others in the future may know and learn from the past.

Times of trouble are effectively enabled to feature recollection of former comforts and resulting hope.

Present discouragement can easily seem overwhelming, but taking advantage of journaling can remind oneself of hope-inspiring realities. Reading one's journal can be extremely encouraging, as it provides a glimpse into the past that can reinforce the extent of growth realized. One who has a through record of his past is made more able to deal with his present struggles and anticipate future realities. The present is the result of the past.

Challenge and Concerns More Thoroughly Considered

A daily routine of journaling can require significant time investment.

Journaling requires time. Thoughts are not automatically formed, and articulating thoughts requires that more time and energy be expended in their formation. Other activities are easier. Other activities are more appealing. Other activities have seemingly immediate results. Benefits of journaling, however, accrue gradually, eventually proving to be astounding. Journaling may require intensive focus for occasionally lengthy periods of time, but it is possible (most of the time) to make some improvement in personal stewardship of time to make the required time available. Excessive attention to journaling that results in inordinate amounts of time spent in documenting tasks to the exclusion of effectively undertaking new ones is never prudent; too much journaling can be destructive, so prudent allocation of time and energy must be pursued at all times.

Progress in articulating personal thoughts may be slow and painful.

Journaling, particularly when first commenced, may be highly unpleasant. Articulating thoughts may be awkward. Given the general tendency of people to embrace ease and frivolity rather than structure and significance, undertaking habits of journaling may be painfully difficult. Many times, journaling may seem to be a futile project. Discouragement can easily set in where unrealistic expectations of quality and pleasure of content abound. I have found the maintaining of personal documentation despite an apparent lack of meaningful material to gradually result in a general improvement in content quality.

Personal insignificance may foster discouragement.

Journals should not be maintained because one expects to have brilliant insights; such a focus will surely disappoint, for the process of reaching excellence is filled with producing mediocre results. Mindless writing will not maintain enthusiasm for journaling. While recording the events of a day is useful, it is important to also generate lucid commentary on events experienced and thoughts contemplated.

Times of reduced discipline may lead to great discouragement.

Life is filled with seasons of pleasure and times of struggle. An ambitious habit such as journaling one's life can foster intense discouragement when the activity is less exciting and meaningful than at times of intense delight in it. If these times of discouragement are not properly and effectively handled, aspirations of journaling will be short-lived. Learning to move beyond the past is important in every discipline; a day cannot be modified after it has been spent, so it is best to focus on being a prudent steward of the present, not permitting past failures to paralyze present pursuits.

Careful introspection may reveal much unpleasant material.

Journaling is an intensely analytical and contemplative activity. An essential component of it involves observing personal weaknesses and commenting on them. Many would rather avoid thought than engage in deep reflection, but growth cannot come apart from an understanding and addressing of weaknesses. Chronicling poor choices and missed opportunities is humbling, but it is essential in the pursuit of growth. Thinking may bring sorrow, but failure to contemplate brings further disaster.

Selective documentation may lead to the formation of a false history.

Distorted records of the past are of greatly diminished utility. Dishonesty in documenting personal struggles and lessons cannot bring the tremendous advantages effected by honest analysis and reflection. Selective recollection can subtilely introduce faulty conceptions of reality. While there is an element of personal discrimination that must be undertaken for the prioritization of material for journaling (as it is impossible to record everything), that selectivity should primarily have to do with considerations of the availability of time and the priority of specific issues, not concerns for constructing an artificially positive record. Honesty remains most desirable.

Journaling can become self-focused, resulting in dangerous self-absorption.

Journaling that fosters hubris rather than humility should be immediately and permanently forsaken. The danger that one may be excessively concerned with personal matters in one's evaluation of events does not mitigate the need for thoughtful reflection. One practice I have found helpful in personal journaling is to write meditative prayers taken from particular passages of Scripture, possibly applied to particular situations of immediate concern. The struggle against prideful writing is one that must continuously be fought.

Habits of documentation may become purely routine, having no vital contemplation or forethought.

It is of little use to record what happened without giving thought to why it happened or what the result of its happening are likely to be. Nevertheless, there remains a benefit even to minimal journaling in that it empowers future revisiting of events for the recording of further insights which may not otherwise be drawn out of the mind. Journaling must not be an end in itself, but rather a means to profitable ends aimed at the realization of personal growth and the provision of encouragement and exhortation to others. That which seems mundane at this moment may eventually prove to be quite significant.

Journaling may become an indulgence in personal glorification.

Those who are most likely to wax eloquent on their own graces are least likely to possess them. Growth is always necessary, and those who fail to recognize its priority will miss many potential lessons, for it is from a vantage point of dissatisfaction with the status quo that improvements is made possible. Journaling that focuses on one's own merits is dangerously worthless, but if such a pattern indeed exists in one's writing, the regular undertaking of habits of journaling will make this problem more apparent, hopefully reminding one to address it. I find it helpful to write many exhortations to the reader of my journal (which is generally myself), writing it as a book to be read and from which to gain potentially useful recommendations.

Journaling may become a destructive platform for personal gossip and slander.

Journals may be read by others; it is therefore important to be mindful of potential exposure to other eyes of whatever one writes. When discussing difficult matters pertaining to particular people in my journal, I regularly avoid mentioning names. Sometimes I reference people by their initials. The primary focus in this area, however, must be to pursue wholesomeness of communication at all times. Verbal warfare is never appropriate. The best antidote to potential embarrassment concerning what one has written in a journal is to be cautious in every remark, stating only what one is comfortable with making public.

Concluding Remarks

I have been permitted to pass the milestone of five years of consecutive daily journaling. It is my intention to maintain this practice as long as possible. If any of this has motivated you to begin or expand a journal, I am thrilled to have been of some limited service! Please let me know if you have any further thoughts to share on journaling.