30 Days, 30 Truths: How Journaling Unlocked a Month of Breakthroughs For Me

Dec 16, 2023 was a memorable day for me. Apple launched a certain iOS update which, after installing, I found had delivered a new app on my iPhone home screen.

Journal.

I had been meaning to give journaling a try for some time.

Now with the black and lavender app, in which I could start writing with a tap of a finger, it was like the universe had rolled the red carpet out for me.

I made my first journal that day, and at the time of writing this on Jan 17, 2024 I’m still journaling. I haven’t missed a day.

As someone who had never journaled before on a consistent basis, this is what I learned.

Everything is awkward initially

It’s funny even when it’s just you and a non-judging piece of paper, or a digital screen in this case, at first you don’t know what to do.

You don’t know what to say. This is a piece of tech, it’s as impersonal as it gets, yet I found myself fumbling for words.

My very first entry in this app just recounts my day. Like I would in a real life interaction.

This was a big learning for me. Everything is awkward at first. Whether it’s real life or virtual life strictly between you and a Spartan app.

But you get better fast

Now agreed that journaling isn’t a difficult skill to learn. And as a lifelong scribbler, I took to it like a fish to water.

It got intuitive for me fast. The fact that the app is so simple to use with no other features at all must have helped.

All the awkwardness I felt was gone by day 3.

But even with challenging undertakings, I believe that doing things consistently and sincerely always works. It’s bound to result in some sort of growth sooner or later. It’s almost like a law of nature.

It’s interesting to see your growth

My start with journaling coincided with a number of other things I was doing at the time. Learning new skills, experimenting with different platforms, upgrading my mindset.

The days were a buzz of frantic activity and inspired learning. But this overall vibe of aliveness made the not-so-good moments stand out starkly. They hurt with a sting.

I captured every mood in my journal. And I found out that despite those episodes, I remained on the right track.

To see this clearly is a huge win for me.

It reinforces in my mind that I indeed am on the right track. And that reinforcement takes on a life of its own until it doesn’t need any feeding at all.

Your journal is a gold mine of ideas

How could it not be?

If you’ve been entering unfiltered thoughts every day (or most days) you are bound to find insights that take your breath away.

You’re super truthful in your journal because that’s the whole point of it.

You’re not going to share it with anyone so you don’t have to temper your responses.

To hear your nakedly honest opinions, feelings, and aspirations clearly gives cold and clinical insights. Radical honesty is not for the faint-hearted.

You clearly spot the repeat offenders

It’s incredible how the same thoughts keep coming up again and again, relentlessly.

They have nothing to offer but like buggy software they live on causing the system to slow down.

Going through your journal is one way to spot the patterns and stop them from looping further.

With this intel you feel compelled to change

At least I did.

You could see journaling as a fact-finding mission. Or a cleansing session. Better yet, a conversation with god.

It can be anything you want it to be.

But with the nuggets you find, you will feel compelled to take action.

I’m still journalling. Initially I didn’t want to break the streak. There aren’t many things I’ve stuck to diligently for a month straight with no exceptions. And this seemed easy to do.

But now I keep going because of the wonderful benefits it brings.

To sum up, journaling has taught me:

• Everything is awkward initially and that persistence at showing up and staying the course pays off.
• Every little effort adds up. You don’t have to write an essay every time, a small entry also counts and can sometimes be powerful.
• Radical self-honesty is not for the faint hearted.
• It’s fascinating to see your own growth.
• You’ll also see the struggles, to good parts, and the bits that appear vocal but offer nothing. They steal your time and energy.
• You’ll feel compelled to change.