keeping track of life

Why Keep a Diary or Journal?

By Javier Colayco
ournaling and diarykeeping has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, through personal diaries we have been able to discover information about the creation of our country and government, as well as the people who lived during this time period. We have been able to learn about the lives of historical figures throughout the world. There is astonishing value in keeping a journal, and if you read what you write, you may learn a lot about yourself as well. Through your journal you will experience the many benefits of writing on a regular basis. Here are several of the benefits that you will be able to experience. Achieving Goals A journal can help you clarify your goals and will allow you to write about your achievements as well as your ideas. This allows you to see the steps you have taken towards your goal, and you will see where you stand and how much further you have to go. Your goals may be simple tasks in life, or they may be life goals that will take more time to achieve. Whatever goals you set for yourself, be sure they are attainable and easily documented in your journal. Simplifying Life A journal or diary is very useful in helping simplify your life. We tend to make life much more complicated than it needs to be. We have appointments, soccer practice with the kids, and a million other things we have to do on a daily basis. By carving out 10 minutes of your day and taking the time to sit down with a pen and a piece of paper, it is amazing how you begin to see what is really important in life. You can also carve out a few minutes to type a journal entry on a personal blog or even a simple, ongoing Word document. Take the time to describe your values, note your achievements, and think of those things you are grateful for in your life. Clarify and Strengthen Relationships Journals amazing power can be seen through your personal relationships. Journaling allows you to take the time you need to express feelings about your life and relationships. Journaling also allows you a private place to vent about any frustrations you have with your relationships. Journaling allows you to see why you might be bothered by certain aspects of a person, and even how
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you might be able to change how you handle certain situations. They can also teach you to love more powerfully and with more conviction. There are various aspects of relationships, and your journal can show you how to strengthen yours. Learn About Yourself Socrates was a firm believer in know thyself. A journal allows you to do just that. You can talk about your morals, values, and other beliefs. This allows you to clarify what you think about certain topics as well as express yourself more clearly. If anybody has ever asked you about a specific topic or controversy and what you think about it, you will be able to easily spout off a clear opinion in a matter of seconds. You will present yourself as a person who knows himself well. Becoming a Better Communicator Journaling can also make you a better writer. Many people could easily be better writers if they spent a few minutes a day working on it. Even when writing about personal information, you can strengthen your skills. You can also strengthen your grammar and vocabulary, and get through a moment of writers block. It can also be a place to write down new thoughts and ideas you have. Clear communication allows you to provide a powerful image and offers the utmost in personal expression.

Health Benefits The health benefits of journaling are widely psychological. Journaling is able to counteract the negative effects of stress and can be a great tool for stress management. Additionally, journaling can help people explore traumatic events and release the emotions that are involved with those experiences. Research has shown there are various other health benefits. Scientific studies show the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, and other health conditions have all decreased due to journaling. It has been shown to help improve the immune system and may prevent a host of diseases. According to a study by Stony Brook University in New York, written expression of traumatic experiences can aid individuals suffering from other health problems (such as breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia). The study reported that the patients experienced short-term benefits both psychologically and physically. They were also able to see significant reductions in pain and fatigue (the groups in the study wrote in the laboratory for 20 minutes for three days at one-week intervals and were assessed pretreatment, post treatment, at 4 months, and at 10 months). Journaling is also a form of meditation. This is a time you can use to be quiet and write down what is on your mind. There are often things that may be too hurtful to say to someone, but you have to get it off your mind. Journaling is an excellent outlet for that type of worry or frustration. Have you ever heard of writing a letter to someone to get your true feelings out, but then not sending it? This is the same type of idea. You can write out those feelings and then seal them away in your journal. Journaling also

There is astonishing value in keeping a journal, and if you read what you write, you may learn a lot about yourself as well.
has the power to help you relax, release anxiety, and make your life much easier. Journaling can be a unique and life-changing experience. As you can see, through these various benefits, your life can become much simpler and much more focused. The opportunity for selfgrowth is among the best benefits, and those who suffer from serious ailments have found journaling allows them to release the pain the illness causes them. Javier Colayco is a non-fiction freelance writer who focuses on the importance of journaling and diary keeping.

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January 2014 Peoria Healthy Cells Magazine Page 49