Feeling Blue? Journaling Might Do

Malang, 05 Apr. 19

Do you write on your diary or journal every day? If yes keep doing it. You have done a very good job and I guess you already know the benefits coming from this fun activity. Are you a type of person who thinks writing diary is such a childish and stupid thing only kids or teenagers do? If yes I think it's the perfect time for you to change your mind.

I started writing my diary when I was in Elementary School. I couldn’t really remember how old I was. I did it because I followed my friends. I still keep my childhood diaries until now. Though sometimes when I reread them again I’m so embarassed. How childish and innocent I was! But I’m actually glad that I started this habit in such a very young age.

I ever stopped doing this habit when I got to Junior High until Senior High School. I don’t really know why I stopped doing it. I regretted it now because I couldn’t remember how my school days were, how my feeling was, and how my life had been. Yeah I guess I messed up a lot back then. I just think it would be fun reminiscing my school days by rereading my diary from that time. Since I stopped so there is nothing left.

I got back on writing my personal journal when I was in college. You know what, it continues until now. I didn’t really write it on daily basis back then. There are times when I skipped writing because I was too tired or lazy. I mostly wrote when I felt like it and it’s usually when I felt blue or joy. Now I promise to myself to be consistenly writing my journal every day. Why? Because this is the only activity which keeps my mind sane from those bad thoughts that keep coming back for me. Also, journaling let me be who I really am.

my fav :)

A lot of people recommend journaling as a way to express ourselves. On our journal we can be just who we are. We can express all emotions we have. We don’t have to follow any rules. We can write whatever we have in our mind and heart. It’s our universe that we create just for us. Nobody has the right to interfere and take it away from us. See, it’s a perfect world everyone dreams of.

For me the most important benefit of journaling is I can be honest to myself. When I feel not okay I can’t show it to someone. I don’t want to attract more attentions when I want to be alone. That’s why I don’t express my emotions that much in front of someone else. Telling my stories to people makes me feel worse than before because I hate it when they judge me or look at me. But I do need to tell my problems to make them a bit lighter and journaling is the answer. I can freely express my true feelings without giving attentions to what people out there say. I can be honest to myself without being afraid of getting judged.

Journaling heals me and that’s true. At first it is a bit hard to make journaling as a routine. There are times when I don’t want to write anything or I am too tired until I forget to do it. However I keep reminding myself of my promise to write consistently. What I do is for myself. It’s for my own sake. So I have no reason to skip it. Now I write my daily journal every morning before I start my day.

I try to write only one page a day. Why? So I can focus more on just important aspects that I want to highlight. This is more effective instead of writing everything down. It also makes it easier for me because if I write too much I will be too lazy to reread it since I know most of it might just non important things. One page is enough to express everything in simple way. Yes! Simple is just perfect.

I also draw a bit on my journal so it won’t be dull. I know I’m not good at drawing at all. But trying to express my feeling into drawing is just so fun. Although it doesn’t always turn out good I’m always satisfied with the result. It’s all because everything comes purely from my own self. Again it’s my universe. I can do everything I want there right?

Having some drawing on my journal also makes me want to reread what I’ve written. Rereading my posts is always fun. It reminds me what I’ve been through and what I learned from it. It always gives me lesson to remember. When I remember sad experiences in the past it makes me feel like ‘Whoaa I’ve ever felt that way. It must be really bad. Now I’ll make sure in the future I won’t have it again!’ When I remember good and happy stories I smile a lot. Life is full of surprises indeed and my journal has the record.

So guys you have a lot of reasons to start your own journal. It has never been too late to write. Even if you don’t want to write on a physical journal book you can always find a lot of journaling apps on play store or app store. I have my own on my smartphone. It’s called Question Diary. I think it’s really good to maintain your mental health. So each day you will be asked a question about your life and you have to answer it. Every day the question will be changed. You must try it. Your answers might surprise you as much as mine does.

Question Diary app

I just started using this app so I just have 3 posts at the moment

Remember, since it’s a diary or journal you must be honest to yourself. Put away your ego to impress others. Journaling is about being truthful to your self and to your soul. No need to act strong or fine when you are actually not. Embrace your feeling and accept it. It’s a part of you that you need to care about. If it’s not you then who else? It’s time for you to acknowledge who you really are and what you really feel.