Do you journal?

Journaling can take many forms. It can be typed into an app on your phone. Written out in cursive in your wire-bound notebook. A sketch pad and a pencil. It can be a daily prompt that leads you into self reflection. A daily gratitude journal. Maybe even a dream journal, recording every dream you have. It doesn't matter what it looks like. Just consider giving it a try.

I used to only regularly journal when I was going through difficult times in my life. I think a record of how I'm feeling when going through rough times is great. But so is recording where my head is at when I'm going through better times.

I may see patterns in my thinking and actions when going through hardship that, perhaps, may help me avoid further hardships down the road. But by the same token, by regularly journaling every day...positive, negative, happy, sad, mad, bored, sick, tired, healthy...all the patterns reveal themselves. I'm better able to do more of what makes me happy and navigate away from what doesn't serve me.

Pick a form. Give it just a week. Chose a time of day. It doesn't matter if it's morning or evening. Just pick a time that works for you. That you can set aside a few minutes each day at that same time. Use a prompt. Or just let it flow organically from you. Do this for 7 days. Then reread your entries. See if you can pick up any patterns. If you're choosing to write by hand, as opposed to typing out your entries, notice your handwriting. Does it vary, depending on your mood? What does that tell you?

Journaling is an excellent way of working on self-reflection, which leads to self-improvement, which builds self-esteem. Give it a week. And if you don't hate it. Give it another week. See if this healthy habit sticks. You're worth the investment.