Post # 34 - The Journaling Practice That Surprised Me Most

Posted under: Creativity, Joy, or Expression | The Full Life Edit

For years, I believed journaling meant sitting down with a beautiful notebook and writing long, thoughtful entries about my life. Pages filled with insights, reflections, and maybe even wisdom. But every time I tried, I burned out. I’d write passionately for a week, then abandon the journal for months. The blank page intimidated me.

I thought I wasn’t a “journal person.”

Then I discovered a different kind of journaling — one that’s short, imperfect, and completely freeing. And it changed everything.

🌿 The Myth of the Perfect Journal

When I imagined journaling, I pictured thick diaries with neat handwriting, dated entries, and paragraphs that captured every emotion. But that image turned journaling into pressure.

• What if I don’t have time to write a page?
• What if my words don’t sound profound?
• What if I can’t keep it consistent?

Perfection became the enemy of practice. I was so focused on doing it “right” that I missed the point: journaling isn’t about performance — it’s about presence.

✨ The Journaling Practice That Worked

The breakthrough came when I tried micro-journaling. Instead of full pages, I committed to just a few lines each day. Sometimes only one.

Examples:

• “Grateful for the smell of coffee this morning.”
• “Tired, but proud I showed up for myself.”
• “Today, joy looked like a short walk in the sunshine.”

That was it. No overthinking. No editing. Just fragments of the moment.

To my surprise, this tiny practice stuck. And over time, it revealed patterns — what lifted me, what drained me, what mattered most.

📝 Styles of Journaling That Surprised Me

As I experimented, I realized there are many ways to journal — and not all require essays:

1. Lists
   
• Three things I’m grateful for.
• Five small wins today.
• A joy list of things that made me smile.
2. 
   
3. One-Sentence Journaling
   
• “Today, I will…”
• “Right now, I feel…”
• “Tonight, I need…”
4. 
   
5. Prompt-Based
   
• “What energized me today?”
• “What do I need to let go of?”
• “What would tomorrow’s me thank me for?”
6. 
   
7. Creative Journaling
   
• Doodles, sketches, or mind maps instead of words.
• Collaging magazine clippings or photos into a notebook.
8. 
   
9. Journaling on the Go
   
• Using a notes app to jot thoughts while waiting in line.
• Recording a quick voice memo and transcribing later.
10. 
    

None of these are perfect. But all of them are real.

🌸 What Journaling Gave Me

I never expected such a small practice to have such a big impact. Here’s what changed:

• Clarity
  Writing helped untangle my thoughts. Seeing them on paper made them less overwhelming.
• Gratitude
  Tracking small joys reminded me that even hard days hold bright spots.
• Patterns
  Over time, I noticed themes — the same things lifting me, the same habits draining me. That awareness led to small life edits.
• Presence
  A few minutes of reflection anchored me in the moment. I began noticing details I might have rushed past.
• Expression
  Journaling became a safe space to be unfiltered. No audience, no judgment, just me.

🧠 Why It Works

I think journaling works because it gives us permission to pause. In a world where we’re constantly consuming — emails, feeds, notifications — journaling flips the script. It’s output instead of input. Creation instead of consumption.

And when it’s short and imperfect, it’s accessible. Anyone can take two minutes to write one line. The point isn’t to write beautifully — it’s to notice your own life.

🌿 A Gentle Invitation

If you’ve ever thought journaling isn’t for you, maybe it’s not that you can’t — maybe you just haven’t found your style yet. Try starting with one of these:

• Write one sentence before bed.
• List three small wins from the day.
• Jot one thing that brought you joy.

Don’t worry about handwriting, consistency, or depth. Just write. Over time, you’ll surprise yourself with what shows up.

Because journaling isn’t about creating the perfect record of your life. It’s about creating a space where your life can speak back to you.

💬 Tell me: Have you ever tried micro-journaling, list journaling, or another unexpected style? What’s worked for you? Share in the comments — I’d love to learn new approaches.

– M.E