Sometime around the birth of my second child I decided to take a more serious approach to journaling.  Prior to that, I had compiled notes here and there throughout my life but it was sporadic and inconsistent at best.  It was during this time in my early thirties that I was knee deep in a spiritual journey and seeking meaning in my life.  I was reading and listening to motivational speakers, and I believe it was Tony Robbins, whom I heard say, “if a life is worth living, it is worth recording.” I believe he was quoting Jim Rohn another well-known author and motivational speaker, but the thought resonated with me and opened the door for journaling to become a more permanent part of my life.   

You may perhaps respond to this thought by saying, yeah but, I’m nobody, who would want to hear or read my thoughts or hear my opinions about anything, and for this I would respond that you’re probably right, but one of the first things you must understand about journaling is this.  Journaling is first and foremost for your benefit not necessarily for the benefit of others although that can be a secondary purpose to it.   However, if done with this in mind, it can be a huge blessing to your children, your grandchildren, and maybe even your great grandchildren.  But even if it is not purposeful for anyone other than yourself, there is still great value in journaling. 

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” 

Maybe a bit harsh for our current sensitivities, but I believe he was correct in saying this.  It is foolishness if we fail to look in the mirror and evaluate our look.  The book of James addresses this attitude in the first Chapter, versus 23-25.    

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.“

As Christians it is essential that we examine our lives to draw nearer to Christ, and as non-Christians, it is essential for growth.

Also, 2 Cor 13:5 states, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 

Although there are many ways to “examine ourselves,” documenting it through journaling, I personally believe is by far one of the best.  Journaling not only gives you a written record of your personal historical thoughts, actions and intentions, but gives you the ability to track your progress, organize your thoughts and document your successes and failures.  It will also help you to remember what you were thinking during a specific event in ways that your memory will eventually fail you in the future.

When you’re writing about yourself, to yourself and to God, it’s hard to lie.  As the words flow out of your mind, down through your arm and out of your fingertips, there is something remarkably therapeutic about it.  

Though there is a danger that perhaps your own thoughts on the written page might scare you or make you anxious that someone else might read it and judge you for your thoughts, it is important that you are real with your feelings and emotions.  Honesty and transparency is key!

You might ask, what do I write about?   In this case, the answer to this is as varied as what kind of exercise you might choose to engage in.  Running, swimming, walking, etc,.  It is up to the individual person.  It is also like exercise in the fact that you should not expect to go out and run a marathon on the very first day.  Like taking up other things like exercise, it is important that you don’t immediately set yourself up for failure. 

If you find yourself having gone through the trouble of venturing out to buy a notepad and pen, and have even gone through the effort to sit down and try to write something but have completely drawn a blank, don’t give up.   Call it day one!  You have already stretched.  Like stretching your muscles in preparedness to run. 

Some of the things you can start out doing if you can’t come up with your own thoughts is to, write down some scripture, or some quotes that really cause a reaction in you. 

As a new Christian, one of the first things I did in learning to pray was to recite the Lord’s prayer over and over again because I didn’t know how to pray.  I think I prayed the Lord’s prayer the first six months of my Christian life because I didn’t really feel like I knew what I was doing.  After a time, I got bored with that and began to bring my prayers and concerns to God as well as my conversation. 

Likewise, a while back, I worked with an individual who was severely overweight and had just undergone some critical foot surgery that was going to help him walk better.  He had never exercised before and was asking me questions as an athletic looking person on how he might begin to exercise. 

In an effort not to overwhelm him, I asked him if he was walking at all.  He replied that he was walking to his mailbox at the end of his drive.   I suggested that he turn those trips to the mailbox into a trip to the corner of his block, or perhaps the next telephone pole down from his mailbox.  And when he had reached that next objective, stretch for something even further down the road.   Again, the point was not to overwhelm, but to slowly take on progressively more challenging distances in an effort to build up his strength and to get some wins under his belt to fuel his motivation.  

This same thing is true for journaling.  Perhaps you start with writing your favorite scripture, or favorite quote.  Then maybe you add your comments about how it makes you feel.  At some point when you get bored doing that, you can jot down what you did that day or how some particular reflection you might have on something that happened to you that day. 

If you’re looking for great examples, look no further than the Psalms of David.  David was a master at this, but don’t be intimidated…, this is your journal and it really never has to be seen by anyone.  David is just a great example because his writings are so authentic and raw. 

In journaling, raw is good. 

In Psalm 40:11-13,  David lays’ his heart bare,  “Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me.”

Or how about Psalm 6, “Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.” 

In these David expresses fear, anguish, anxiety, doubt, weariness.  Hardly the courage, strength, assertiveness, motivation, and steadfastness we’d expect from a King.   In David’s journal, the Psalms, we get the unfiltered man, a man who is routinely held up in the scriptures as a man after God’s own heart. 

The beauty of this is that it sets a great example for us in demonstrating just how much God values authenticity and humility in his people. 

In journaling our thoughts feelings and emotions, we each have an opportunity to replicate the example King David has set in our own relationship with Christ.  And though we may be uncomfortable with those feelings and emotions, God is pleased with our honesty and transparency. 

Okay, so how does this help me with being depressed?

Great question!  And the answer is simple.  There is great power in the pen!  

In it, there is:

-The organization of thoughts and feelings

-The written record of successes and failures

-The release of weighty feelings and emotions

-The opportunity to build faith and trust in the God we serve

-The ability to recall the overcoming of past obstacles

So, take out your notepad, and write the first thought that comes to your mind. 

So let the journaling experience begin!