Korene's Blog

I’m not the type of person to get help from other people if I have a problem. I will share with friends and those interested, when I have an issue that is totally out of the realm of human problem solving.  Then I share with them what I know or think and ask for prayer. I’m a “sort it out for myself” kind of girl. Even if I ask other people what they think, I still rely on my own intuition. I might wear my heart on my sleeve, I mean everyone knows if I’m happy or sad, but I’m pretty cloak and dagger about the details of my personal life. And I’m okay with that!

I must say, though, that I do think there is tremendous value, especially personal value, in writing in a journal.  I grew up in the Midwest where people are taught to be very independent, self-reliant, and play it close to the vest kind of thing.  You help your neighbor, your share when someone is in need, and your do not look to the government or anyone else to help you get the job done.

My journal is the place where I can let it all hang out! If you are like me and think that your own advice is your best source, then consider journaling as a way of talking to yourself. I do. The truth is that when I see my thoughts, ideas, challenges and issues in writing, I can look at them in a whole new light. With the process of writing I am more apt to disclose my innermost feelings. I am unguarded, and tend to allow my emotions to flow more easily. I am often surprised by what I have written, and how the issues change and develop as I lay it all out in a journal.

Also, I write online. I have stacks of black books with thoughts and ideas that I have collected on road trips, vacations, and notable significant moments. But, I have crossed the technological barrier! I am now better at tapping on the keys than writing in long hand. I find that I am actually able to write more fluidly when I am at my computer than when I am scrawling across the page. The Frame of Mind online journal makes it really easy for me. All I do is log in and write away!

When I journal I am actually taking a journey with my thoughts. It’s an adventure that takes me and my thoughts along paths, through alleys, along tributaries and up or downstream in unexpected ways. I find that journaling offers me a very interesting perspective on my situation. It affords me a chance to look at my thoughts differently and to make decisions from an objective rather than subjective angle.

Journaling allows me to step out of myself and become an observer of my thoughts rather than a participant. And from this perspective, I can navigate my conclusions much better.

It provides a stepping stone or a springboard to the next steps. It’s an extremely important and useful tool in moving my life forward. It helps me to get ‘unstuck’ when I find myself groping for answers and trying to determine my next move, or when I have trouble understanding what I should or should not be doing.

I use journaling to help me sort out the issues that present themselves in my life. It gives me clarity, and more often than not, I find that the act of writing down what I’m experiencing allows me to delve much deeper into the nooks and crannies of my thoughts and emotions. I discover and uncover information that becomes extremely helpful in making my decisions and navigating my life. So often, the words and ideas that I write trigger me to think in alternate ways, and to consider the situations from a fresh lens.

What’s the big deal about journaling? I invite you to find out.