Benefits of journaling

Journaling is writing down all your thoughts, emotions, feelings . Lisann Vlentin(a shamnic life coach) puts it very beautifully. He says "journaling is mindfulness in motion." 

In this article we will see 1. Benefits of journaling 

                                               2. How to start journaling 

This is a scientifically proven that using your hands to take out suppressed emotions can help you empty yourself. Journaling makes you feel lighter, healthier in the long run. It also 

                                                           1. Reduces your anxiety 

                                                           2. Manages your stress 

                                                          3. Keeps depression at bay 

Not just this there are many more benefits of journaling that one must know if you are considering to make it a part of your routine. 

Journaling helps you process your emotions 

Journaling is penning down your private emotions, thoughts, feelings which are at times difficult to share with anyone. When you have them written you see your insecurities, jealousy,fear ,anger clearly in black and white. 

When emotions remains stuck in head it becomes a total mess. Chaos, confusion creeps in when things remain unaddressed. Once we pen down everything we can figure out what is good ,where is the pain point, what is was good, what was loving,what was loving. There are times we might remain unaware of if left unaddressed.

Journaling helps identify negative thoughts patterns

When once written one can detect the source of negative thoughts. There after it becomes easier to crib them from their place of origin.

No negative thoughts means a lot of free space in your head. Use it to better use. 

Journaling helps maintain a good health 

It is now scientifically proven that writing helps in improving mood,lower pressure, reduce stress level, enhance greater well-being. 

 Journaling helps in figuring out your next move

Journaling certainly brings a sense a sense of chaos. When you have space in your head you can easily plan and organise your thoughts. When things are organised you know what steps next should be taken. You can plan your next move accordingly. 

Now instead of being reactive you will be responsive. Response is far better then reaction . This will help you set a stronger boundary when needed. When you are aware of your concerns, questions and emotions you will respond better. 

Journaling helps discover self-worth 

Writing helps you pause. You dive deep into the pool of thoughts . It helps spend time with yourself. Reconnect to yourself and thus discover your true selves.

When we take to writing we end up acknowledging our pain points,strengths,weakness,dreams, desires,likes and dislikes.

After days of writing we know that we are constantly evolving. Journaling helps a us keep a track of these changes we have taken to. Everytime we go back to previous journals,we know we are a far evolved being today.

How do we start journaling!!

Few steps should be kept in mind for a smooth start.

1.Take small steps

Start with baby steps. Start with one paragraph or one page at first. When you develop interest you can write as much as you like. Do not write to many pages in the starting itself. This will exhaust you to boredom. 

2.Keep your tool ready to write 

When pen,paper,table lamps everything is in place your brain is less likely to fool you. Procrastination will not creeps in if things are ready to use.

3.Write randomly 

Do not try to put your words into structure. Do not try to be formal while writing, write anything that comes to your mind. 

4.Set intension

Start your journaling journey with an intention. After waking up in the morning make an intention to note down your day at the end of it.

Setting an intention right in the beginning of the day will help you stay motivated for journaling in the long run.

5.Follow journaling ritual

When you have a ritual to do something you. You get in the mode of doing it. Likewise wash your face and hands , keep a glass of water on the table use same pen and notebook to begin with.

       By now you you know Journaling has immense benefits. Only few minutes a day can help you become a more sorted being. It will reduce stress, anxiety and make you healthier in the long run. It will make you more mature. You will undoubtedly be a more evolved person. 

Is Discipline difficult..??

 What is Discipline?

 Why is it important ?

 How can we improve upon it?

 Examples for better understanding.

The ability to do one thing consistently inspite of several distractions is what is known as discipline. Discipline is often confused with will power. But let me make this very clear to you right at the begining of this post that these two concepts are wide apart from eachother. Discipline like any other muscle can be practiced and improved.

Will power is the ability to do something even when you donot want to do it in the first place but discipline is doing something you donot want to do also doing it consistently. Will power is that instant push you might need to shoot a gun but discipline is that attitude you will need to keep shooting the gun until you hot the target. There are times when you might exhaust your will power with use but practicing discipline always leads to its increment.

For once and all let me tell you this that discipline is remaining consistent with your task. Doing it even when are excited about it and doing it even when you are least bothered bout doing it. Your mood matters the least while practicing discipline. Your thoughts, emotions, feelings, sensation are the real challenges while practicing discipline. These acts as the real distractions allowing you become less productive.

Is it important?

Do you think it is not ? If you think so think so here is my proposal explaining you it's importance.  Discipline is important. No matter what you do in any sphere in any part of the world until you keep practicing the given task you are not going to master it. Let us say learnt driving a car. Now if you do not drive after learning or you drive occassionally you will definitely end up as a poor driver. For your driving skill to improve you will have to keep driving untill you master it and even after. This comes with discipline.

With discipline we may master anything we want. You must have heard of the proverb: " practice makes a man perfect "

For examples: We can use discipline 

* to write a book(sit to writing in the given time for    ourself) 

* to read something (without getting distracted to phone or other things)

* to excercise daily (for an hour or more)

* waking up early in the morning 

* to not eat sugar 

All such tasks takes us away for instant pleasure. This is why it looks like punishment to us at the first instance but after analysing for a while we may realise that these instant pleasure are harmful for us . Abstaining from these for a better future is what we aim at. Our future self will be far stronger, healthier, genius, powerful with little practice of discipline today. It is to improve our future. 

One quick question for you : Can you think of any athlete who is The Best in his field but is not disciplined?? 

They do the same excercise daily,they eat same food daily,they follow a strict sleep routine,their life is actually the epitome of a monotonous life one can think of. And then we have great players like Ronaldo,Messi,Virath Kohli. Do you think such tall achievements are possible without being disciplined. Discipline is not difficult at all it is just that we need to practice it daily. 

How do we develop discipline?Here are few easy steps to follow to get better at it.

1. List down all the tasks you want to be disciplined with

2. Mantain a physical record 

3. Keep your phone (distractions) out of sight while focusing on a task

4. Do one task at a time (multitasking is less productive)

5. Set timer for a task you want to complete

6. Take a small break when doing a task for a long stretch of time

7. Allot a specific place for doing one task 

8. Do one task at the same time each day

All These simple steps  will improve your discipline ability when practiced religiously over a period of time.