10 Reasons Why Journaling Makes Us Happier and More Successful

When you’re thinking about your goals and priorities, how do you make an order of them?

How do you regain emotional control when you have thoughts, concerns, and worries circling in your head?

When was the last time you documented your thoughts, progress, and feelings about your life?

In this article, we explore why journaling will help you become happier and more successful.

There is a myriad of ways and reasons to keep a journal.

From the traditional pen and paper route to something digital, there’s a journaling method anybody can adopt.

You don’t need to be the author of 50 Shades of Grey, E. L. James,  to be able to write one, either.

A journal can be as messy or creative as you want it to be.

Why Journaling Makes Us Happier and More Successful

1. Journaling creates clarity

The human brain processes thousands of thoughts, ideas, and emotions daily.

At the end of a busy day, your brain must sort out which thoughts to keep and which to discard.

Document where you are mentally instead of letting your thoughts bounce around in your head as you attempt to process and make sense of the day.

Write them down, take notes, organize your thoughts – and see how you feel after this simple step.

2. Journaling makes your goals more concrete.

There is power in putting your goals into writing.

When you write your goals down, read them, and re-read them, you will start to believe that achieving them is possible.

Believing you can be successful is an essential element to success.

Writing your goals down is critical, as you cannot go where you want to go if you haven’t defined your destination.

3. Journaling helps you visualize the future.

Do you have big dreams?

Dreams seem impossible, and you’re worried about telling your close friends and family?

Don’t worry: your journal is here for you.

Simply jot down how you want your future to look.

All you have to do is convince one person that it’s possible.

Yourself!

Be as specific as you can.

What kind of career do you want?

What kind of health do you want?

Relationships and love?

What kind of house do you want to be living in?

In what kind of community do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Who will be by your side during that time?

Whether you’re better with words or images, use your journal to take tomorrow into your own hands.

4. Journaling leads to better self-reflection and self awareness

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and retrospect.” – Anais Nin

Are you going through a transition in your life?

Is your mind clouded by all kinds of doubt and fear?

Or, wondering how you can maximize your potential and how will you complete everything on your to-do list?

Self-reflection is crucial for self-improvement.

After all, you can’t connect the dots of your life unless you are paying attention to them.

And, you cannot achieve a goal that you haven’t broken down into tiny steps.

5. A journal helps chronicle your life’s highlights

Before we focus on where we’re going, we must remember how far we’ve come.

We need to remember what we have done in the past that has worked.

We need to remember our mindset and attitude as we take on our biggest challenges, so we can stay true to who we are as we move forward.

Often, new challenges seem like monsters, but we will conquer them just as we have done in the past.

It’s incredibly empowering to focus on past achievements and highlights to develop the confidence needed for overcoming future obstacles.

6. Your journal becomes your autobiography on self-discovery

Before becoming known for his amazing leadership during WWII, George S. Patton struggled with dyslexia.

Not one to be beaten down by his struggles, he kept a journal to write down affirmations and principles he believed would guide him towards his ultimate goal: becoming a great general.

He is one of the best examples of never quitting on your goals – even if the road ahead seems uncertain or rough.

7. Journaling helps keep account of your personal growth

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous examples of this.

When he was 20, he wanted to be more ethical, and thus, he kept a journal for this sole purpose.

Of course, no one is perfect, so Ben never achieved “moral perfection”, as he set out to do.

But he felt that his journal did help make him a better man.

In his later years, he wrote, “I am indebted to my notebook for the happiness of my whole life.”

8. It’s a way to vent your emotions privately.

Despite her mainstream popularity, actress, producer, and businesswoman Jennifer Aniston is a very private person who journals regularly.

The actress is known for not having loud, verbal confrontations.

Instead, she jots down thoughts and reflections about a conflict in her journal before confronting the person.

This way, she remains calm, cool, and in control when she does.

9. Journaling can be a way to overcome trauma/addiction/affliction.

Iconic writer Virginia Woolf didn’t begin journaling until she was 33.

She found great solace in journaling, as she used it as a tool to create peace from her traumas.

Woolf not only found journaling an escape from some of the painful realities of life but, according to her husband – “a method of practicing or trying out the art of writing.”

Which worked out quite well for her.

Journaling will help you improve your ability to express yourself and make sense of what you are experiencing.

10. Your journal can be your legacy to inspire others.

Have you ever thought about what legacy you want to leave behind to the world?

What do you want your children or your grandchildren to know about you?

With journals, you can give them exact accounts of your life, work, goals, and values.

Don’t leave your legacy to chance.

Write down what you want future generations to remember you for.

Are you currently chasing your dreams or looking to better reflect on your personal growth?

MiGoals has beautifully crafted and well-organized journals to help you reach your personal and professional goals.

MiGoals sponsored this article.