The Secret Power Of Journaling

We went the days after between Christmas and New Year to Osaka for some family vacations. Mainly to  see something else. Actually the trip started with a big disappointment, as our flight was rescheduled with a 7 hour 55 minutes delay. I can only assume that we had not 8 hours delay to avoid customer claims for compensation. Anyhow after this bump we had a great holiday, mainly our 4 year old daughter had. As the first day was a little short we only made it to Umeda station to the LUCA where we spend quite a while with her favourite Totorro character at the Ghibli Store. The next day she could not get enough of the sheeps and goats at the Tennoji Zoo and having ice cream at 5º after our night ride with the ferries wheel at the HEP Five. On Thursday we made a day trip to Nara. As our hotel was close to the Namba station we took the Kintetsu Line to Kintetsunara. This is the closest station to the park. Here we feed a bunch of deers with the local deer crackers the “shika senbei”, you can get them every where close to the sightseeing spots and the main streets for 150 JPY a pack. Just make sure that you feed the animals quick, else they might start to chew your cloths or bitting. At the Todai-ji Temple there were a lot of people. I had not so many people in my mind when I went there the last time during the golden week in 2011. So I had a look to my old pictures from that time and yes 7 years ago there only 4 people on my picture and now about 40-50 people. You can guess their nationality. Friday afternoon, as we got up late we headed for Osaka’s Aquarium the KAIYUKAN. With our favourites the whale sharks and the Asian small clawed otters and many other animals. You can spend easily 3 or 4 hours here. At the close by Tempozan Harbor Village we spent some time with feeding and petting the rabbits, guinea pigs, capybaras and red kangaroos at the all weather indoor animal cafe and a 17min. ride with the Tempozan Ferries wheel. When open in 1997 to the public it was the tallest Ferries wheel in the world with a diameter of 100 m and height of 112.5 m. And on Saturday we took the Keihan Line going to the  Hirakata Amusement Park. A good place to go if your kids are in the age up to 13-14 years. The park is small and the whole family had fun, beside the freezing temperatures, we even had snow for about a minute or so. If you plan to go there get a discount ticket at the Kansai airport or one of the few other sales locations. On our final day we just enjoyed a good meal at the ELK Pancake Cafe. You should try the strawberry cream pancake.

Like this little travel journal, I could write and write much more and in more details if I had captured my thoughts and ideas during our trip. So do we all constantly and coming up with ideas, unique topics for a blog, podcast, video, or article, DIY training programs, and new products. But so often those great ideas fall by the wayside because we either failed to write down our ideas, we barely wrote them on a Post-it note, our mobile, notebook or some pile of paper that we’ve misplaced or thrown away without notice. 

One great solution to this challenge is journaling and it creates a lot more synergy than just a written record. 

Jim Rohn, business philosopher and author urges, “If you’re serious becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured, and unique individual, keep a journal.”

What is Journaling?

Journaling is simply the practice of capturing your thoughts, ideas, insights, and reactions for future reference. It’s a log of what’s going on in your life. A journal is either an electronic or physical record of your musings. A journal is a very personal, reflecting your goals, aspirations, and innermost feelings. However, I’m not necessarily talking about keeping a diary. I think of a diary as more of an intimate conversation with yourself about your daily experiences and your reaction to them. While the lines may be blurred at times between journaling and keeping a diary, think of journaling as something you would more readily share with others.

Why keeping a Journal?

There are 6 powerful reasons to journal:

1. To capture thoughts and ideas you would otherwise forget. Perhaps you’re listening to your favourite podcast or reading a great book. Suddenly, you catch a killer quote or a meaningful statement that you want to remember. Write it in your journal and reference the source for future use.

   Or perhaps you’re doing something totally unrelated to work and a great idea invades your mind. You can’t afford to take this rabbit trail right now, but you know that if you won’t write this idea down, it may be lost forever. Make a note of it in your journal, so you can return to it later.

2. To record the history of your growth and progress. This is important. We often forget the milestones and accomplishments of the past. We forget about the hardships and obstacles that we had to overcome to get us where we are today. But when we chronicle those in our journal, we can reflect on our progress and on significant events in our lives.

   Also, at times, we can all get discouraged. But when we review where we’ve been and what we’ve accomplished and endured in the past, that can give us renewed hope. And finally, these stories provide potential for blogs, podcasts, videos, and stories.

3. To accumulate material for building your own reference book. As business people, we’re always reading, listening, and talking with others. In the process, we’re exposed to countless quotable sayings and the wisdom of others. When we write these down in our journal, we’re creating an invaluable source for future reference. It’s like your own personal Wikipedia!

    

4. To sharpen your writing skills. Obviously, the way to improve your writing skills is to write. Journaling gives you yet another opportunity to write. And writing in your journal allows you to experiment with styles and approaches that you may not readily use in your work. You become a better writer when you journal.

    

5. To clarify your thoughts. There’s nothing like writing in order to gather and clarify your thoughts. When you begin to express a nebulous idea in writing, you put flesh on the bones of that idea and it comes alive. And once you’ve clarified your thoughts, you’ll find it easier to express them verbally with others.

    

6. To increase your productivity. When you keep a journal, it helps you weight decisions, prioritise tasks, establish goals, and order your life. Deciding something in your head is fine, but writing it down adds weight to the matter and helps you map out how you’ll get there.

How to Journal

Now that you’ve got 6 powerful reasons to journal, here are some tips on how to get started.

• Decide whether to use a physical journal or an app. There are advantages to booth, so choose what works best for you. Here’s a website that features some of the best journaling apps: https://zapier.com/blog/best-journaling-apps/.
• Keep your journal handy and journal when the muse strikes you.
• Date your entries for future reference.
• Reference the event, discussion, experience, or source that prompted the journal entry. Give credit where credit is due.
• Establish a daily routine with your journal. The time need not be long, but habitual.
• If you use a personal form of shorthand or abbreviations, make sure you’re clear enough that you’ll be able to decipher your meaning a year or more from now.

In my next Blog you will read more about my life as alien in Japan and how I can help you in your personal and business life.

Leave me a comment I’m curious to know what you think about journaling. What noteworthy quote, idea, or insight will you write in your journal today.