How Journal Writing has Helped Me: A Short List

Having kept a journal for more than thirty years, I can attest that journal writing is a path to inner peace. If the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil might set off a tornado in Texas, as physicist Conrad Lorenz’s paper on chaos theory suggests, isn’t it possible that a world populated with journal writers might contribute to world peace? Imagine!

1. Increased my reverence and gratitude for my life and Life 2. Helped me identify what I need to be happy 3. Provided a safe place to unlock and understand my feelings, explore my emotional life, and recognize my moods and what caused them 4. Helped me appreciate my childhood 5. Led me to realize that I am a creative and imaginative person 6. Boosted my critical thinking and writing skills 7. Enhanced my self-confidence and given me a greater sense of peace 8. Brought me to a place closer to self-acceptance and serenity