Journaling-Lauren Brooks

Journaling-Lauren Brooks
I was doing some research for my research paper and I came across an article about journal writing that I found interesting. I have tried and failed at starting journals and I think my main failure is that I have no idea what to write about. Plus, any writing I do seems to be mundane, repetitive and not important. In the article Wall reveals the fact that the best journals are ones made up of questions and ones that are not intended on being read. I think those are my two problems.
I have plenty of questions but I read over the journal to soon after I write it and I need to let it sit more. He also says that candid journals reveal who people really are and I think I am a little scared of finding out who “the real me is.” Journals can reveal everything about yourself, what if I have regrets, what if I wish I had done something different, and there are just to me what ifs. I think in my case, if I attempt to start another journal I must write straight through everyday. I must never look at the past entries or even re-read the last sentence I wrote to make sure it makes sense. I need to make a promise that I will not read what I wrote for at least ten years and when I do read it I will not regret any of it or try to change or justify anything that I wrote. This journal is for me and not anyone else. I think trying to start up a journal would help me be more accountable to myself and have a higher level of self efficacy.