There is an old quote often repeated in business that “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” I thought of it recently while researching the benefits of journaling for a project that I am currently working on (the MaxxMethod guided journal, the details of which I will be sharing soon!).
Reading a short piece on Psych Central [“The Health Benefits of Journaling”] reminded me of a clear benefit of journaling that is often not considered:
“…keeping a journal allows you to track patterns, trends and improvement and growth over time. When current circumstances appear insurmountable, you will be able to look back on previous dilemmas that you have since resolved.”
When investing a small part of your day in journaling—writing down your feelings, hopes and dreams, fears, and thoughts—you are laying the groundwork in service of your future self. Having past journals on hand allows you to look back into your personal histories and consider how much you have grown as well as helping you identify recurring patterns and issues you may need to rethink or approach differently.
Journaling allows you to measure your progress and, in that measurement, you have an opportunity to improve yourself, in addition to having a piece of your personal history you may well cherish for years to come.
