Alongside meditation, journaling is one of the most effective methods of improving your mental health in the long term. This has been proven by numerous studies (Sciencedirect.com. (2019). Reticular Activating System – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/reticular-activating-system [Accessed 6 Apr. 2020])) 1Baikie, K. A., & Wilhelm, K. (2005). Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 11, 338-346. doi:10.1192/apt.11.5.338 2Thai Nguyen (2015). 10 Surprising Benefits You’ll Get From Keeping a Journal. [online] HuffPost. Available at: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/benefits-of-journaling-_b_6648884 3Purcell, M. (2018). The Health Benefits of Journaling. Psych Central. Retrieved on April 2, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/ 4Grothaus, M. (2015). Why journaling is good for your health (and 8 tips to get better). Fast Company. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/3041487/8-tips-to-more-effective-journaling-for-health For me, daily gratitude journaling has become a regular habit to which I definitely owe part of my professional, personal and interpersonal success.
Even though journaling is not the same as writing a diary, it is used almost synonymously in German-speaking countries. I have summarized the best and most popular German and English quotes in this article. Feel free to write more suggestions in the comments below!
Keeping a diary of the things that occupy you in your life is a good way to filter what is important and what is not.
Martina Navratilova
Writing a diary is like whispering to yourself and listening to yourself at the same time.
Mina Murray
Thoughts write wishes in the diary of memories.
Erhard B. Bellermann
I never travel without my diary. You should always have something exciting to read with you.
Oscar Wilde
The diary began to have an invigorating, vital significance that had nothing to do with literature. It became not only a constant companion […] but also a source of contact with myself. It was a place where I could speak the truth and where I had the feeling that no one was watching me.
Anaïs Nin
Documenting small details from your everyday life becomes an appreciation of your identity.
Carolyn V. Hamilton
People who write diaries live twice.
Jessamyn West
A personal diary is an ideal environment in which to express yourself freely. It is a place to think, feel, discover, grow, remember and dream.
Brad Wilcox
Journaling, when used as a tool of transformation, is not just life-changing, but life-expanding.
Jen Williamson
Writing in a diary reminds you of your goals and what you have learned in your life. It is a place where you can have a conscious, profound conversation with yourself.
Robin Sharma
Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.
Pablo Picasso
Keeping a diary or understanding writing as meditation is the same thing. The important thing is that you build a relationship with your spirit.
Natalie Goldberg
Writing in a journal every day allows you to focus on your skills, the things you are grateful for and the things you want to do better in the future. It helps you to enjoy every day of your trip more.
Hal Elrod
The only thing I’ve been really meticulous about in my life is keeping a diary. I have hundreds of them, full of feathers, flowers, photographs and words – unlocked, lying open on my shelves.
Terry Tempest Williams
The subconscious is constantly trying to help you. That’s why I keep a diary – not to chat, but to record the images and ideas that come to me. I keep a diary all the time because it’s like I’ve found a real goldmine when I write.
Jim Harrison
I don’t write to be “productive”. Not to find great ideas or to write texts that I can publish later. My lines are not intended for anyone but myself. Journal writing is by far the most cost-effective therapy I could find.
Timothy Ferris
Writing a diary means turning your attention inwards in order to turn your well-being from the inside out.
Lee Wise
I think the experience of writing a diary on paper is much more creative than on a computer.
Kerri Smith
I write in my diary almost every morning. I’ve had one for a long time – I’ve probably filled more than 50. I write about what is going on in my personal and spiritual life or at work. It helps me to keep things in perspective, especially when things get out of hand or I’m stressed or we have to overcome difficulties.
Blake Mycoskie
For me, writing is a way of thinking. I write in a journal a lot. I’m a very impatient person, so writing and meditation allow me to slow down and watch my mind; they are containers that keep me in place, hold me still.
Ruth Ozeki
For me, writing is a way of thinking. I write a lot in my diary. As a very impatient person, writing and meditating help me to slow down and observe my thoughts. They are like walls that protect me and keep me calm.
Ruth Ozeki
Write about what you love, what you hate, what is going on, what is important to you. Writing organizes your thoughts, allows you to see things that would otherwise pass you by. Focus on what you think you are looking for in your art.
Kay Walkingstick
As a CEO, life can sometimes feel lonely, so I express my thoughts, emotions and aspirations in a very disciplined way in a diary. Looking back at past entries helps me to reflect on challenges and appreciate successes and progress.
Rana el Kaliouby
A diary is your completely unadulterated voice.
Lucy Dacus
Fill the paper with breaths from your heart.
William Wordsworth
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