WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM A LIFETIME OF JOURNALING

2021 marks the 25th consecutive year of my journaling experience. In that time, I’ve written down my observations, conversations, & adventures about the people, places and situations I have experienced in my life.

My journals hold my most personal thoughts & intimate emotions, all my dreams & ambitions, vulnerabilities & heartbreaks, successes & failures, hopes & fears, my aspirations & doubts, all my beliefs, theories, ideas and personal philosophies.

All of this energy, all this effort, all this time spent in self-reflection. My attempt to understand who I am, what I believe, what my purpose is and how I connect to everything around me as I try to live as authentic a life as possible.

Here are a few of the things I’ve learned so far:

March 4, 2021

Life has a lot more to offer than the ways of society and men.

Look to experience things beyond the desires of ordinary men. Experience nature. Experience God. Experience your own creative expression. Experience a good heart. Experience love. There are 10,000 small joys to be experienced by following your imagination, intuition & instinct.

February 28, 2021

Enjoy the moment. Be aware of the moment. Live in the moment.

Do your best to always be aware of everything going on around you. If you do, you have a better opportunity to put yourself in the best possible situation or position in every moment to live authentically & achieving your potential as human being. Living fully in the moment to get everything you can out of it.

February 19, 2021

Life is an Illusion. Find Your Truth.

How well do you think you know yourself? How honest are you with who you really are? How willing would you be to go back and see yourself for who you really are in the moments of your life? Are you willing to confront yourself?

Most of us have this perception of ourselves that we are, in general nice people. We do the right things, more times than not. We treat people the best we can. We have good intentions of showing others good intentions, actions of kindness and charity. But if, upon closer inspection, you go back and come face to face with the reality of all our actions, words and deeds in the actual moments of your life, it would be humbling.

I have this perception that I am a patience, namaste person. That I am smart, creative and kind.

After rereading the details of my daily entries, there is a difference between the person I believe I am, the person I project out into the world, the person I remember myself to be and the person I really am. I have been working to come to terms with these conflicting perspectives to learn, to forgive and to move forward.

To read my own actions, my own thoughts, my own experiences in my own words, as a “neutral, passive observer, years later is a unique experience. I try not to justify or rationalize past behavior, thoughts or actions. They are what they are. It’s about accepting it, processing it and learning from it, to move forward.

From all of this I have found it’s crucial to find what’s real in our life. Look beyond self-deception. Stop rationalizing bad behavior, actions or misguided beliefs. Stop lying to yourself. Be brutally honest about who you are, what you believe and what you stand for. Get to your truth. And remember; the only truth is love. 

January 18, 2021

Always, Under Every Circumstance, Be As Positive As You Can Be.

Energy, energy, energy. People like working with positive people. More often, people will choose energy and optimism over other attributes. For the average person, learning a new industry, technical skill or new set of responsibilities comes relatively easy with training and commitment. But being positive is an attitude, a state of mind, an approach to life. When you’re positive, you are often picked for projects, which gives others the opportunity to get to know you and your capabilities, which typically turns into new opportunities.

January 12, 2021

Our Lives Are Filled With All Sorts of Experiences. Some Are Small. Some Are Life Changing.

Our lives are filled with all sorts of experiences. Some are small. Some are life changing. Some we choose. Others are chosen for us. How we respond to these experiences, affects the outcome and overall happiness of our life. I think of it this way:

experiences + responses= outcomes 

[ e + r = o]

Often, we don’t control the experiences we face or the outcomes we encounter. But to enhance our experiences, we can control how we respond. And the first step in controlling our responses is being prepared.

My goals in responding to life’s experiences include being graceful, kind, patience, and showing love. I always look to be as positive as possible. I try to be understanding and open to different points of view; empathetic and curious.

For all of us to have the most fulfilling and authentic experiences possible, we need to understand the things that have the most meaning in our lives. And to do that, we need to understand who we are. 

Early on in my journaling, I realized one of its greatest benefits would be its ability to give me the freedom to explore who I am, away from scrutiny, biases and influence of those around me. My journal is my safe zone, my sanctuary. The place to work through my responses to life, independent from any interference. A place to practice, to learn from my mistakes and gain perspective on the situations I’ve faced, all in an effort to improve the way I’d respond to future experiences.

 January 5, 2021

In Life, All of Our Actions are Motivated by Either LOVE or FEAR.

Love or fear drives every human action. Everything we do, every action we take is either out of love or out of fear.

 Think of the various people and various aspects of your life right now. 

·       Your significant other.

·       Your immediate family.

·       Your friends.

·       The place you live.

·       The job you have.

·       The activities you fill your free time with.

·       The dreams you have or aspire to.

 What is motivating you to stay in these relationships & these situations?

·       Is it more LOVE-based (i.e., “I love my significant other”, or “I love my job”)

or

·       is it more FEAR-based (i.e., “I fear being alone” or “I fear losing my lifestyle.”)