Why keep a journal?

More than sixteen million blank journals are sold annually in stores and on the internet. As technology threatens to replace traditional forms of communication, there appears to be an opposite impulse to slow down and talk to ourselves. Yet while vast numbers of blank books are purchased, few are ever fully used. Would-be journal writers often give up before realizing journaling’s many benefits. Research by medical clinicians and psychologists has shown repeatedly that personal writing improves your health. Physically, the act of simply sitting down in comfortable surroundings, picking up a pen, and writing your thoughts and feelings almost immediately lowers your blood pressure, reduces your heart rate, and increases the production of T-cells that pump up your body’s immunity system.Writing helps keep your mind sharp by expanding observational skills and strengthening memory. As a spiritual practice, reflective writing strengthens your faith. Professional writers and artists have long used journals to develop ideas, break through writer’s block, and practice their craft. In your journal, you are likely to discover a never-before recognized source of creativity within yourself.