A friend recently re-discovered journaling, and we talked about why it is such a powerful practice.
One thing I realized in the conversation is that journaling allows us to see ourselves. It allows us to see ourselves in our best away from the hustle and excitement, and it allows us to see ourselves at our worst – the version of ourselves that we may want to keep hidden forever.
Being able to write and then read what we wrote helps integrate the dual aspects of who we are.
Journaling also helps us get the voices in our heads onto paper. As I journaled today, I realized that some of what I was writing was not me! Eckhart Tolle describes the two I’s as the “Surface I” and the “Deep I.” I have described it as the ego and the real me.
It is not easy to differentiate the ego vs. the real us when they are in our heads. Thoughts ricochet at a constant rate. However, when the I’s are on paper or screen, it gives us reason to pause. Thoughts have to slow down a little bit in order to capture them, write them or read them.
Journaling can be one of the most profound tools in slowing down our thoughts, identifying patterns and finding the real version of ourselves.
