How to Journal: Check Out My Latest Private Entry!
I wonder what readers of Prime Your Pump would think if I wrote a blog post on how to journal? Would they find it useful? Do some of them practice journaling already? I’m sure some of them do journal, but I wonder how many of them use the Morning Pages method which was first introduced by Julia Cameron in her book the Artist’s Way and later discussed in more detail in The Miracle of Morning Pages? Oh well, who cares what they think? Some will like it, and some won’t. As long as one person gets something out of it and it makes an impact on their life that’s all that matters.
Who’s kidding who? We all have egos to some extent, including me! I want everyone to read every post I write, be entertained by it, put it into action, love it, comment on it, and share it with everyone they know and care about.
But I suppose that isn’t being realistic, is it? I guess that’s the one thing I have learned about blogging, not everyone is going to like every article – you can’t make everyone happy. Some people will like this blog post, some people may like yesterday’s post, and some may like tomorrow’s post. Hopefully, people like enough of our posts that they keep coming back for more.
Writing morning pages like this one every morning first thing when I wake up has really helped my productivity. Just the act of writing down whatever craziness is running rampant in my little head really helps clear my mind, so I am more focused on whatever I am doing the rest of the day. And since they are NOT supposed to be shared, I can curse because no one is going to read it. Actually, I curse in my posts sometimes as is, I feel that not doing so would mean I am not being myself. Hopefully, people appreciate my authenticity. Writing down your unfiltered thoughts in your journal, curse words and all, is suggested because you want to feel the emotion of what you are writing.
I really have noticed that doing these morning pages every day has really boosted my creativity and helped with goal setting as I really come up with some great ideas. I also come up with some really crappy ideas too, but I guess at the end of the day it’s a numbers game. It’s amazing how many ideas and thoughts fill up 3 full pages first thing in the morning.
Crap, my pen just ran out of ink, gotta get a new one. I really embrace using a pen and writing this stuff out freehand. I think the reason it is recommended is that using a computer would enable my inner critic as I would go back and correct stuff. Meaning the spell check would be in overdrive with so much red filling the page that I would feel like I was back in Mrs. Skradski’s first-grade classroom.
One of my favorite parts of this exercise is the part I always devote to what I am grateful for. It really helps set the tone for the day and always gets me in a great mood. Being grateful for such things as having a roof over my head, being able to see the sun come up, having friends and family that care about me and love me, the fact that me and my family and friends have been blessed with great health, living in a country where we are free to do whatever we want and express ourselves freely. Then there’s the fact that I’m grateful to have some sweet guns and abs, I guess I am just a little vain, oh well no one is perfect! I’m kinda glad these morning pages are kept private – people would really think I’m a narcissistic son of a bitch!
One of the other things I love about these morning pages is that they help reduce anxiety and you stop worrying about stuff once you get it out on paper. Anxiety is not something I suffer from, but I am human and sometimes it happens. Like yesterday when I was heading out to meet a friend for a drink and stepped in some dog poop on the sidewalk. Like I couldn’t believe a dog pooped on the sidewalk and the owner just left it there? Wait, is shat a word? I think it is the past tense of shit, but I’m not sure. Oh well, no one is going to be reading this anyway, which is why, unlike the blog, grammar and sentence structure doesn’t matter – or is it don’t matter? Meh, who cares…
Back to the anxiety…right after I stepped in the dog shit I turned back to go home and change my shoes and ran into this hottie who’s number I got a couple days ago. Did she smell the dog shit on my shoes and think it was me? Did she wonder why I haven’t called yet? Does she think I am playing her by using the 3-day rule? Does she even know what the 3-day rule is? Of course, she does. Fucccck!
I feel better already getting all that out on paper. Man, I wonder if she had similar crazy thoughts going through her head? I’m glad this journal is not to be shared and will be kept private, who knows what the hell she would think if she read it!
Well, I guess my 3 pages is just about up. Time to grab some bubble gum and kick some ass! That reminds me, I need to buy some gum.
That’s another thing I love about these morning pages, they remind you to do stuff!
Use It or Lose It – How to Journal:
Some tips for how to journal using morning pages:
Write 3 pages first thing in the morning.
Just write whatever comes to mind.
Using a pen is preferable as it helps silence your inner critic (but if you would rather use a computer, it’s your journal, not mine!).
Keep writing continuously until 3 pages are filled. If you are crunched for time you can also set a timer and write for a specific amount of time such as 20 minutes.
Write what comes to your mind unfiltered, curse words and all!
Don’t worry about grammar or spelling.
Do not share it, these are supposed to be kept private!
You can do it every day like me or whenever you think you need to get stuff out of your head.
When to Use It:
You can use this post on how to journal when you want to:
De-clutter and clear your mind
Unleash creative ideas
Increase your productivity
Reduce your anxiety and stop worrying about crap
Get rid of stress
Help yourself remember stuff
What Do You Think?
Do you use morning pages or any other types of journaling? How does it help you? Please share in the comments below!
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I cannot force myself to write, I have to be in the mood. There are times when I can crank out 3 or 4 magazine articles over a span of two days, then nothing for a month or more. Maybe I’m otherwise occupied, or maybe I just don’t give a crap. Writing something every day, especially 3 pages, seems forced. I suppose some might call it a diary, which to me falls into the purview of giggly girls from the Victorian Era, or whenever people did not use cell phones. That poses another question – how long do you keep your journal pages? Do you go back a week or so later, re-read them and reflect?
I have heard (have not tried it) that writing can relieve hostility and aggression. When you become royally pissed off at some total asshole, instead of grabbing your 9 millimeter, grab a pen and paper, and write them a letter. Tell him/her/it what a dumbshit douchebag moron he/she/it is, and that him/her/it copulates with 4 legged critters in back alleys. When finished venting on paper, burn the letter. You will feel better having vented, plus the cops are not looking for you.
Then sometimes the Muse of Bad Poetry slaps me upside the head with a two by four, and I have to compose. One such result became my collection of Fractured Christmas Carols, such as Grandma Got Run Over By A Freight Train, and other such yuletide foolishness. When Mozart died, did he decompose?
Perhaps my responses to you three are the equivalent of a 20 minute writing session. They are not forced, such as a high school writing assignment, but more of a stream of consciousness based on what you posted up on the board.
One last thing – what’s the 3 day rule? Anything like the 5 second rule?
Hi Dave, Is it forced? I guess if you made yourself do it every day it would be or if you had to like a high school writing assignment. But I personally don’t do many things that are forced especially this. I do it almost every day but there are times when I am not in the mood for whatever reason. I agree that your responses to us are probably a form of exactly what this is, just a stream of consciousness. It helps me get my thoughts on the page and the mere act of writing makes me think of things I may not have. As for the 3-day rule, it is a bullshit maxim of modern online dating where you are supposed to wait 3 days to call after you get someone’s # so you don’t seem too eager.