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BY NITA HOWARD
| Nita Howard’s journal includes inspiring quotes. In the section titled “The Beauty of Friendship,” you will find a classic quote from Oprah Winfrey. “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” |
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Written records are powerful—they convey ideas and transform lives. Journal writing is an ideal form of self-reflection. Our ideas and feelings become clearer when they are expressed in writing. Other times, we just need to see our ideas on paper to give them substance.
A journal can provide us with much-needed perspective on personal issues, and we can often learn from ourselves by reading about our struggles over time.
There’s no right or wrong style of journal writing—there is only your way. Keep these points in mind before you begin:
- Spelling doesn’t count. Your journal is not a test. Your spelling and grammar may be as creative as you like. You can write single words, sentence fragments and long sentences that ramble over the page without taking a breath. It belongs to you—and yes, you can write that.
- If it feels right, do it. Maybe you’ve always loved rich, textured paper and leather bindings. If a word processing program is the only way you can write, then do it that way. But consider: there is something magical that happens when you use a pen or pencil. Words tend to flow. Drawings appear. Moods are evoked.
- Keep a notebook with you. If you can carry a small book in your purse, fantastic. You can use stolen moments waiting in line to jot down notes and observations you don’t want to forget. Put a journal in your car. Keep one at work. If you have private thoughts you want to keep private, buy a journal with a lock on it. Or password-protect your text document. But don’t let the opportunity to journal pass by.
- Enjoy the process. Re-read and reflect on your journal. Keep old journals and review past events so you can applaud yourself for how far you’ve come and all that you’ve accomplished. We often “forget” some of the less significant things we tend to journal about that end up making all the difference in our lives.
Journaling is like a spa for the soul. Nothing can make you happy if you aren’t healthy and happy on the inside. Journaling allows you to recognize tired old baggage and how to get rid of it. It allows you to be fully present with yourself.
It’s almost impossible to multi-task and be stressed out while you are journaling. You are able to discover more about yourself, which gives you the ability to make purpose-filled choices. You see with clarity the difference between living by choice instead of by default—letting life happen.
Nita Howard is CEO of Nita Lina, LLC (www.nitalina.com) and the author of “A Woman’s Journal is Her Legacy.” Her book features the underwater photography of Rafael Astorga, which she says gives the journal a weightlessness that allows the user to float through the pages.
(This article is reprinted from the 2004 Enterprising Women of the Year edition of Enterprising Women magazine. Copyright 2004 Enterprising Women Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited, except by express permission of the publisher.)
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