Finding My Way Back to Journaling
As a facilitator and consultant, I often ask others to pause, reflect, and make meaning of their experiences. Reflection helps us grow as leaders; it is how we notice patterns, celebrate progress, and learn from challenge. But I have realized that while I encourage reflection in others, I have not always created consistent space for it in my own practice. That is where journaling comes in.
I have always wanted to be one of those dedicated journalers, the kind who wakes up early, lights a candle, pours a cup of coffee, and writes with calm reflection before the day begins. I have tried morning pages and managed to keep them up for a while, but eventually, I lost the rhythm.
Journaling has come and gone in my life. When things feel heavy, whether from personal losses or professional challenges, I have turned to my notebook to pour out frustrations, worries, and sadness. Writing in those moments brings comfort and helps me untangle what is swirling in my mind. But still, the practice has never fully stuck.
Almost exactly a year ago, while wandering through a beautiful bookstore in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, I found a blank journal that reminded me of the vibrant textiles of Tanzania. I bought it, convinced that a new journal would spark a new habit.
Back in my hotel room, I decided it was time to rethink my approach. What was holding me back? It was not that I did not want to write; it was the rules I had created about how journaling should look. The early mornings. The free-flowing pages. The idea that it needed to be perfectly timed and beautifully presented. I did not need that. I just needed a bit of quiet and permission to journal on my own terms.
After exploring countless blogs and stories about other people’s journaling habits, I came across a simple set of prompts that changed everything. Over the past year, they have helped me stay consistent, reflective, and grounded.
Here they are:
What were the highlights of my day?
What were the challenges I faced?
What did I learn today?
What could I have done differently today?
How did I take care of myself today?
What am I grateful for today?
What are my goals for tomorrow?
These questions offer structure without pressure. They have helped me make journaling something I want to do, rather than something I feel I should do.
I have come to see journaling as more than a personal habit. It is a leadership practice, a way to make sense of experience, to stay grounded in purpose, and to keep learning.
If you are looking to begin or return to journaling, start small. Choose one question, one quiet moment, and one page. Reflection does not need to be perfect or polished; it just needs to begin.
