Introduction

Have you been venting endlessly and calling it journaling? I have done that as well. Journalling is a cute hobby; it helps you regulate emotions and help you become a better person at the same time.

It doesn’t always have to be meaningful either, sometimes it can just be creative artwork collected in a book, or a travel journal. But if you’re someone like me, who wants to trauma dump while becoming better, here’s how to journal correctly.

How to journal correctly

I have been journalling since 4th grade. Obviously not the same way I do today. I never liked opening up and hated being close with anyone. Which is why I randomly started writing it all down. It was just casual friendship fights, gossips or things about my home.

But as I grew up, it became serious. I was no longer a child into drama, I became a teen who didn’t like opening up still, but now I wanted to become better, change my habits and also trauma dump a little.

I kept venting now and then but never saw results. How could I see results anyway, I never looked back at my entries, never analyzed the patterns, the trigger points and the habits. Never took time to find solutions.

And then journalling became a burden. I stopped journalling for a long while. Later, I realized that it is important to monitor your cycles in order to break the pattern. I can’t keep writing and not re read and find conclusions. And finally looked up how to journal correctly.

Stop avoiding your true self

One of the reasons why it took time to start journalling correctly, was because I didn’t want to see who I truly was. I didn’t want to understand my trigger points and patterns. It was just too much to acknowledge.

It takes a lot of energy and strength to point out your mistakes and actively work on them. Getting out of a cycle is not easy at all. But you can take one step at a time. Learn how to journal correctly for it though!

How to journal correctly (guide)

1. set your expectations first (e.g.: you expect self-growth or better emotional regulation, etc.)
2. select the correct type of journal
3. take inspo and make a blueprint
4. don’t complicate things keep it simple

for e.g.:

1. I journal to outgrow traumas and to track personal growth
2. Free journalling and bullet journalling are best for me
3. I can look up online what prompts, sequence, or techniques suite me {e.g.: a lot of shadow work is required in order to rewire your brain}
4. Make my own simple way of journalling while including all the necessary prompts and tracking methods
5. stick to 2 or 3 prompts and one solid method, which doesn’t require much time setting up

Golden tips

• If you’re journalling to re-wire your brain, all you need is shadow work prompts
• try adding new habits/changes after every 20 days
• you don’t have to keep adding new habits/changes all the time, let yourself rest and adapt too
• always mention 3 things you’re proud of at the end of your entry and re read them daily (help you assure yourself that you’re changing)
• on days you don’t want to be productive flip through your entries, look at all the upgrade you’ve done so far and have a little rest day

Conclusion

The ultimate success journal isn’t something fancy it’s just, a mix of habit tracking plus a clear structure, that shows you your progress, your changes and your shortcomings all at the same time. And the best part is it isn’t overwhelming once you do it for long enough.

Go get your journal today! and get started!