When and how much to journal

One of the early instrumental pieces I read that involved journaling was Julia Cameron’s, The Artist’s Way (from the 1990s). It was primarily about nurturing your creativity but she recommended a journaling method called, “Morning Pages”. I tried journaling in the mornings but it didn’t always work for me. I believe journaling is best done, when you feel beckoned. Beckoned by inspiration, curiosity, worry, or an overall need. Doesn’t matter the time of day. Another thing she recommended was to journal for 3 pages. Yes, journals vary in size, paper varies. Even this is not a rule. She was right though, writing longer does push me past the comfort point where I may feel I have ‘unloaded’, explained the concern to myself, whatever. It carries me on to a place of discovery. Sometimes the discovery is about what I sat to write about, sometimes I am lead an unexpected place. I love when I find myself saying, “So THAT is what this was about!”

As in any practice, frequency can establish a pattern, a comfort level with the process. Sometimes I write daily for a week or two, sometimes a few days in a row, then off for days, even weeks. You come to recognize the ‘edge’ that is beckoning back to your pages.

Too many people hesitate to journal because of the perceived expectations. The real point is there is no right, no wrong to how and when to journal.

Check back, the next entry is about the residue of the day……