By request, I will include an example of a journal page from the “Become the Boss of You Workbook” at the end of this blog. First, look at “The Power of the Written Word.”  

The writer cheers for diving into thoughts through writing, pointing out how journaling can be a cool trick for many to nail this task. In the first chapter of “Become the Boss of You,” a mind-bending exercise featuring Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, is tossed into the mix. Readers get a taste of journaling as a tool to uncover inner wishes, showing how the author is all in for journal power!

The author’s strong endorsement of journaling goes beyond personal belief, backed by many scientific articles that provide compelling evidence for its advantages. One of these sources, the Journal for Experimental Psychology, supports the notion that journaling can notably lessen stress and depression. This scientific support aims to educate and instill confidence in the audience regarding the efficacy of journaling.

Writing about ourselves is inherently therapeutic, especially when we maintain private journals to express genuine emotions without fear of judgment. The author opts not to cite a source in this context, emphasizing that the personal experiences of individuals facing emotional challenges are highly impactful. Regardless of how minor these challenges may appear to other people, they are important to us. Such reassurance will help the audience feel understood and validated in their struggles.

This is why journaling, or some form of it, is a no-brainer. It’s a tool that works! At the end of chapter one, we delve into the why and how of my preferred journaling concepts. Let’s break down a few of them.

1. I believe that over time, your journaling sessions will become brainstorming sessions at times. Analyzing things has benefits, and our feelings and thoughts can fall into the same category.
2. Unleash your creativity even if you find yourself analyzing. Be creative. Let those juices flow.
3. We have already mentioned this, but keep it private. You can talk about it, but keep your journal notebook private. Share what you want, and don’t share anything you do not want.
4. Have fun with it. Make it fun. It will be harder to make it a habit if you don’t allow yourself to have fun with it. Don’t see it as hard work. See it as time with the best mortal friend you have. You.
5. Form the habit. This might be hard initially, but if you journal five nights a week, you will see benefits quickly. Two is better than zero, and forcing yourself to do more than you are willing to do at this point will probably lead to zero.
6. Celebrate any early success, no matter how small. This principle is touted throughout the book to cement any new undertaking, and journaling is no exception. Celebrate the big and the small, as great things are not measured by size.
7. Use past journalling pages as a guide. In time, you can use past journaling as a compass to measure growth and see how you might change course.

Journaling is a powerful tool. It sharpens our self-awareness, helps us grow personally, and can lead to better decision-making in time, sometimes in a surprisingly short time. It does one more thing that I feel may be the biggest benefit of the too many to count. It helps us define what we want, not what others think we should want.

I hold an unwavering faith in the power of the written word to zap stress, but I’m not the only believer. Dive into “The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology—benefits of journaling” for more than long on a stormy night. If you like this kind of stuff, you will find it riveting.

Journaling can help prepare us for unforeseen events, which is a huge advantage. In the book, I discuss this under the umbrella of luck. Call it what you will, but journalling can be part of the continuous improvement process that prepares us for what I like to call the calamities of life. A person who has learned how to become a better thinker, knows what they want to do, has learned how to become creative, and is more self-aware will certainly be more prepared for such events than someone who has binged Game of Thrones for the ninth time.

Just as a side note, I love Game of Thrones. Terrian Lannister and Aria Stark are worth seeing twice, but I hope you understand my point.

I also want to highlight that following the recommendations in Become the Boss of You will transform your journaling time into your special “Me Time.” I am confident that you will grow to enjoy it, which is when your creative potential can grow. As I call it, “the power of the written word” organizes and sparks our thoughts. In case you haven’t noticed the trend yet, here is a heads-up: I am not the only one who shares this view.

Look up the benefits of journaling in the Journal of Creative Behavior, and you’ll find more reasons to spend quiet evenings under the reading light. I engage in numerous creative pursuits and am committed to each. While it’s challenging to pinpoint which of these strategies yields specific outcomes, I believe that my problem-solving skills and other abilities stem from these practices. Without a doubt, the power of the written word plays a significant role among them.

Analyzing my dreams is one of those previously mentioned creative endeavors of mine. It can be like hitting a jackpot of cool discoveries! But the specifics of those discoveries are a story for another blog. For now, let’s say that writing out my dreams is like hitting the replay button on a movie – every detail, every twist, can become clearer. It’s like cracking a secret code to the coolest treasure hunt! Trust me, without my dream journal, I’d be missing out on this magical journey.

Now, as promised, here is an example of a filled-in journal page from chapter one of the workbook for “Become the Boss of You.”

Date _____ / _____ / _____ Chapter 1 – Nightly Journal

Build the habit of journaling at night when you review your to-do list. Be poised, be creative, and make it fun.

We focus on a few tools at a time. Now it is habit, attitude, and open-mindedness. Try to dream a bit. Even when reviewing your daily to-do list.

1.) Write down your thoughts and feelings on your tool of habit.

I need to up my game in consistency and assertiveness in some habits! You know, boost productivity, but don’t kill myself to do it. I’m already pretty busy. So, if I can find some positivity, I might be able to upgrade a few bad habits and add something I want in my life.

2.) Write down some thoughts or feelings on your open-mindedness:

 I want to explore fresh ideas and take a few more chances, unlocking my inner child of fun when learning new things. The book mentions goal-setting and dreaming, but how to dive in is unclear. Again, more inner child might help. So, I guess I roll the dice by trying a few new things and see where it takes me!

3.) Now, some feelings or thoughts on your positive attitude:

 I think most people think they are a ray of sunshine. Even my friends who are gloomy think that. I think it would be good to make sure I am keeping it real and not fooling myself. As the book says, it’s a bad idea to “bullshit yourself.” I also felt that the idea of Frodo in “The Lord of the Rings,” trusting his wizard’s wisdom, was helpful. It got him through some tough times.

4.) Desire and creativity – How do you feel about your to-do lists now? Do you have any feelings about your progress? Do you have any thoughts or feelings about how habit, open-mindedness, or a positive attitude can help your desires or creativity?

I feel ok about the to-do lists for a start. I’m just dipping my toes in everything else, but the journey ahead looks promising. Slowly, things are shaping up. Let’s see where this wild ride takes me! Fingers crossed!

Pay it forward by sending it to a friend. #growth

Get the book now by hitting Ctrl-click on the link Become the Boss of You

Search benefits of journaling in the following research periodicals:

Journal of Experimental Psychology

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Journal of Creative Behavior

American Psychological Association