Journal Reflection: As Simple As That

For two whole months, I had to write in a journal the first things that came to my mind. This idea was suggested by the author Natalie Goldberg and our professor Cynthia Pittmann, incorporated it to our class activities. The rules were simple:

1. Keep your hand moving

2. Don't cross out

3. Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar    

4.Lose control

5. Don't think

6. Don’t get logical

7. Go for the jugular.

    In my case, I was successful with achieving almost every rule. They only thing that I had a lot of trouble with, but then got used to doing was, not crossing out words. I’m usually a perfectionist, and minor things bother me.

Before the project, I considered myself a lazy writer. I didn’t like to write for fun and if I had to do it for a class, I would usually spend a lot of time in the process. Eventually, my writing process became faster and the fluidity of my work, improved. 

In a way, I think it was due to the fact that I felt no pressure to write perfectly or coherently, so I wrote faster than ever. The only thing that I don’t like now is that I have to start writing perfectly again, just when I got used to writing as I pleased. 

In terms of me as a writer, I would like to stay as a writer, whose only reader is myself. In my twitter, I do write, but it is a different type of writing. I do not have to write perfectly and I do not write about controversial topics. I mostly just post thoughts that I find interesting or videos that make me laugh. After the journal project, I have stayed the same way because Twitter and Facebook are very public, and I do not like to use them for writing my feelings or opinions.

I discovered that my emotional health, influenced the decisions that I made during the day and how I treated others. I also found out another thing with the journal, in terms of my spirituality and my energy. I am Catholic, but do not practice it very often. The journal to me, was like my religion. It made me connect with my better side, the side that likes peace and treating others with respect. Religion usually helps you be the better version of yourself, and the journal did that with me.

I would love to share with you, a blog entry from Rekha Shrivastava, a Certified Hypnotist and Rehabilitation Counselor. She discussed in her blog all the important aspects about feelings, how to deal with them and how to recognize them. If you are still not convinced about the positive results of having a journal and/or expressing your feelings, you should click here. I was impressed at how accurate she was when referring to the negative things that could happen to someone if they didn't express their feelings because they happened to me. 

To conclude, the journal project has helped me be a more open person to myself. Honestly, I wouldn’t have dared to talk about my feelings two months ago, even to myself. Especially, when I was starting a new college experience and had to focus solely on college work.  Now, I can let it all go with a pen and a piece of paper. As simple as that.