If you were to look on my bookshelf in my living room, you would see about 4 or 5 different journals. All of which, might I add, have less than a month’s worth of entries.
The Longest Journal I’ve Ever Kept & Why I Keep Writing
I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to keep a journal longer than 30 days. My mind would often develop an array of excuses to avoid documenting the day’s experiences in my journal – I am too tired. I will write in it tomorrow. I don’t have time. I wanted to complete a journal, but I could never stay motivated or disciplined long enough to do so.
At one point I even began a blog, thinking that would be an “easier” way to maintain a journal of sorts. I was soon proven wrong though, as I often went months (even years!) without writing a new blog post.
I had just about given up on my hopes of keeping a regular journal when my friend gave me The Happiness Project One Sentence Journal: A Five Year Record last Christmas. And I am incredible proud to share that I have completed an entry for every single day of the 7 months I have had the journal!
WHY I KEEP WRITING:
In short, it makes me happier. (And it helps that I only have to write a sentence or two a day!)
Happiness is a worthy cause, if I do say so myself. Even our country’s Forefathers saw it as an important endeavor when they wrote in the Declaration of Independence that each individual has the right to the “pursuit of happiness.” But what is happiness and how can one pursue it?
Well, Dr. Martin Seligman and other researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have discovered how to achieve “authentic happiness.” They argue that authentic happiness is better defined as well-being and to maintain well-being you need these five measurable components in your life: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment (PERMA).
So, where does journaling come into all of this? Well, keeping a journal forces you to stop and reflect on your day. I have found that this time of reflection has allowed me to recognize and appreciate the little joys of life, even during the tougher days. As I prepare to write my daily journal entries, I am more likely to consciously focus on the PERMA in my life.
The other week I decided to flip through my journal pages and read some of the entries. I couldn’t stop smiling and even let out a few laughs as I read. I was reminded of the time that a mystery helper unburied my car after the huge snow in January, all the fun adventures I had with my friends in Disney World, and the day I got into my first skateboarding accident and a little kitten followed us all the way home.
This journal is a gift that I will treasure for many years to come. I have already shattered my 30 day journal record and plan to continue, filling every single page.
If you have trouble keeping a journal, I encourage you to try to record one or two sentences a day before bed. I bet you’ll be surprised to see just how much it can help to improve your levels of happiness and well-being. Go ahead, try it!
