How to Journal when You Hate the Idea.

Journaling. The word probably conjures up a time when you were determined to start one but then after one or two pages, you gave up. Why? Because you don't know what to write! First of all, that's normal. So your next question might be, "well, if I started out wanting to journal, what happened?" Good question. (#56)

Generally, a desire to start journaling comes from one of two sources. Either someone inspired you with their writings (a friend, someone in a movie or a book) or you had something happen in your life that was emotional, it felt therapeutic to write it down. So, what happened?

In both cases, you were "inspired" to write. But the problem with "inspiration" is it's only powerful enough to carry you the first couple feet into a journey. It's actually just endorphins kicking in because someone/something made you FEEL something. "I want that! That would be so cool! I have so many stories from my life!" But....

Writing is hard sometimes. Not unlike working out or taking up a new hobby, or a new sport. It's fun at first, but at some point, discipline must take over or the inspiration fizzles, leaving you feeling unmotivated at the least, or a failure at worst.

Thankfully, journaling isn't as hard as it seems. Let me put your anxiety to rest with a few permissions:

1. You DON'T have to write in your journal every day.

2. You are allowed to write whenever you feel like it.

3. You don't have to worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure or anything else you were judged on in school. Journals are not published manuscripts.

4. Handwriting doesn't matter.

5. You are allowed to write about anything you want. It might be an event, but it could also be disjointed feelings, a rant, pondering, theorizing, stream of consciousness, doodling or anything else.

6. Journaling at it's best is emotions put to words. Give yourself permission to only write when you're feeling something. That's when it easiest to write anyway. Emotions enjoy getting out and putting them down on paper is therapeutic.

7. Don't worry about disciplining yourself to be consistent. That may come later but it's not our focus now. I want every writing experience you have to be positive and fun.

Next...Picking out a journal