That's all she wrote
What do I write about in my journal?
Someone over on TikTok asked me this question the other day, so in order to answer them, I looked back at my entry from that morning.
I started off my entry writing about my previous day, then I talked about relationships, then I got into a tangent about HIPAA violations, and ended my entry with saying I’m busy and had to go. That’s a typical entry for me; starts out normal, goes down a rabbit hole, and finishes off with what I have to do next. Sometimes my rabbit holes are pointless and random (like the HIPAA violations one lol), sometimes they’re productive and inspiring, and sometimes they’re just me bitching about stuff. It really depends on the day :’)
I like to start my entries with whatever pops up in my head, and then after a few minutes of writing I’ll ask myself how I’m feeling. I don’t sugar coat anything or shy away from cursing, because well, it’s my journal and I can write whatever I want.
Sometimes, I’ll go back and read my entries from months or years ago and I have to laugh at some of the things I wrote down. Recently, I stumbled upon this line from 2017 where I wrote “no one knows how to hurt me as much as I do”. That made me laugh. I giggled because I was being melodramatic, and I even knew that at the time. I think that the theatrics of writing down your uninhibited thoughts is what makes journaling so fun. There’s no need to censor yourself because it’s just for you. And whatever you write can sometimes come out as poignant and tragic because that’s how you were feeling in the moment.
Looking back at these entries can remind you that these bumps in the road are fleeting. It’s not only interesting to reflect back on, but it's also good to see what still resonates. For example, do I still think I’m my own worst enemy? Sure, sometimes. It's human to feel this way and it’s the price of being competitive with yourself. Am I always my own worst enemy? Of course not! I can be my worst critic while also being my biggest cheerleader. I believe in myself enough to dream big, but also know when I need to push myself to do more. These things are not mutually exclusive and truthfully, when in balance, can inspire me to get shit done.
So, to summarize, my journal entries are predictable yet messy (kind of like most people are). I have no set formula, but I end up following a loose structure. Through journaling, I attempt to figure out what it means to have contrasting thoughts and emotions and then laugh at myself when I realize it’s just not that serious. Anyone else?
I hope that answered the original question, though maybe I made it more confusing. You tell me.
Talk soon!
Emily