Have you ever found yourself drowning in a sea of spiraling thoughts – you’re seeking clarity but instead you’re only getting more confused and muddled? Maybe you’re trying to navigate overwhelming emotions and you know that if you could only just feel peaceful again, you’d be able to think clearly and find your next best step. There’s a powerful tool waiting to guide you on your path and it is the practice of spiritual journaling. Let’s dive deep into this sacred practice that can hold the key to unlocking your inner voice and illuminating the journey ahead.

The Benefits of Journaling

There are endless advantages to exploring a personal journaling practice. It can help you boost self-awareness and manage stress. It can ignite creativity and foster personal growth. It can help you identify and shed thought patterns that are holding you back from living your best life. The great thing is that how these benefits show up is unique to who you are in the moment – they can change over time as you evolve and grow. The first step is simply to explore different types of journaling practices and experience how they can support you on your journey of self-discovery.

Tips on starting a journaling practice

Let’s begin with some practical tips: selecting the right place and time. Truth is there are no rules here: whatever works for you today is perfect! You can sit down to write anywhere that feels comfortable. You can pick a dedicated place at home, or vary it up but switching rooms every day, or just grab your notebook and leave the house (maybe to a coffee shop, a park bench or your local library). You can journal at whatever time works best for you. Knowing your schedule, are you more likely to stick to a journaling practice if you write in the morning, midday while sitting for lunch, in the evening or at night? Or is your schedule fluid and every day looks different? Decide ahead of time what makes sense for you and try it out, remaining flexible and open to change.

Is it ok to journal using a digital app?

Yes, you can absolutely practice journaling by using a dedicated digital tool or simply opening the notes app on your phone. This is especially convenient if you like to write on the go. However, I have to say that there is something particularly magical about putting pen to paper and handwriting your thoughts (check out my Mind-Body Connection blog post: https://brittchemlajones.com/5-tips-for-a-strong-mind-body-connection/). So, if at all possible, my recommendation is still that you pick a paper notebook and a pen for your journaling practice.

How to pick the best journaling notebook for you

Think about what you will do with your journal after you’re done writing. Will you re-read your words? If you think you might revisit your journal entries so you can ponder their philosophical or spiritual meanings, or you might use them as a basis for your upcoming memoir, then taking the time to carefully select a beautiful notebook makes sense. But if you think you’ll just throw away your journal once you’ve filled all the pages, then getting a cheap casual one is probably best. You also have the option of ritually destroying your journaling notebook once it is complete. This can help to release any heavy negative energy it holds: you can tear out all the pages, pour water over them and watch the ink run off, or even burn your notebook (use a fireproof container, in a well ventilated area, and be safe!)

How often should you journal and for how long?

That’s up to you as well! You can choose to journal every single day or just once in a while. You can journal only when you have something to figure out, or when you’re feeling especially inspired. How long should you journal? You can begin today and plan to write for the rest of your life. Or you can choose a set time frame. For example you might decide to journal every day for the next two weeks or for the next month. In this case, I recommend you pick a start date and an end date before you begin. But remember, there are no rules here – only you finding a way to communicate with your higher self, your subconscious and your inner wisdom.

Finding Your Journaling Style

One great benefit of journaling as a spiritual practice is that there’s a style for everyone, and even a style for every mood! Really, the possibilities are endless and completely unique to you. Here are 10 options to consider:

1. Childhood Journaling – This is a reflective practice that involves revisiting and writing about impactful memories from your early years. By delving into these formative experiences, you can uncover how they have shaped your beliefs, behaviors, and emotional patterns.
2. Dream Journaling – Here, you record your dreams immediately upon waking. By writing about the vivid details, emotions, and symbols in your dreams, you can uncover hidden messages from your subconscious mind.
3. Forgiveness Journaling – This is a healing practice where you write down past pains in order to gain clarity and perspective. A follow-up practice that is very powerful is to slowly and methodically cross out the words you’ve written with a thick black marker, while generating the emotion of forgiveness.
4. Goals Journaling – This one works great in bullet form. Keep in mind, it’s meant to be a motivating practice, not an intimidating one! Goal Journaling involves clarifying your vision so you can set clear objectives and create a tangible roadmap for your dreams.
5. Gratitude Journaling – Another one that works well in bullet form. Take a few moments to reflect on the positive aspects of your life and create a list of things you’re thankful for. These can be big achievements or small everyday joys.
6. Manifestation Journaling – This is a powerful practice where you write down, in list form, what you are manifesting into your reality. You do this while generating the emotions of having already received these things. A follow up is to return to your journal frequently and place a check mark next to an entry to indicate that this manifestation has materialized.
7. Meditation Journaling – This reflective practice involves writing about your meditation experience immediately after your session. You document the thoughts, feelings, and revelations that came up while you were in a meditative state, as well as any challenges you encountered. This help to make your meditation journey more intentional and meaningful.
8. Stream of Consciousness Journaling – This is a style of automatic writing where you let your subconscious decide what ends up on the page. Write quickly without censoring yourself – you might start off listing things you need to get done today and suddenly notice that your writing has morphed into exploring much more profound topics.
9. Trigger Journaling – This is a therapeutic practice that involves writing down moments when you feel emotionally triggered and exploring the underlying causes. In order to do this effectively, you carry a small notebook with you at all times so you can jot down every trigger that you encounter in your daily life. This can help you differentiate between true triggers and simple annoyances, and to identify patterns so you can gain insight into the origins of your triggers and eventually release them.
10. Vision Journaling – In this beautiful practice, you listen to vivid guided meditations designed to illicit spiritual visions. Then you record in your journal the imagery that came forth, how they resonate with you and what they might mean. If you’re interested in experiencing Vision Journaling, be sure to check out my Spiritual ToolKit: https://yoga-by-britt.ck.page/products/your-spiritual-tool-kit

Journaling as a sacred practice

Writing your inner thoughts can become a profound and empowering journey of self-discovery and personal growth. It can be a safe haven for your deepest pondering and wildest dreams, so grab your journal, pour your heart onto the page, and watch as the magic unfolds. Your journey begins now.

And if you’re hungry for more on the connection of mind, body, and spirit, be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter. Together, let’s unlock the infinite potential that lies within.

With love and light,

Britt

PS: Don’t forget! There are 4 powerful Vision Journaling practices in the Spiritual ToolKit: https://yoga-by-britt.ck.page/products/your-spiritual-tool-kit