“So sometimes we think that writing in a journal - we think of it as a very intimidating process - oh, I’ve got to write now, I need to write something really good. No. You don’t have to write anything good. It doesn’t have to be good at all.” ~ Matthew McConaughey
A couple of weeks ago I saw a post of Matthew McConaughey’s on Instagram. Now I don’t follow this actor, I wouldn’t say I was a fan - although I’ve enjoyed a few films with him in and love his accent - but I’ve been hearing some very positive things about his autobiography. This was why I clicked on the video, which had been shared in someone else’s Stories, as I was intrigued. He was talking about the joy of journaling and how much it had helped him over the years. And I felt a tingle of excitement. This guy was on my wavelength. He was talking about making a mess, saying there were no rules and how you can use your journal to look for themes. I think when we say journaling is incredibly powerful it puts an expectation on us when we open up those blank pages. We think, because journals have magical powers, that the first thing we write has to be incredibly profound. It really doesn’t. In fact, I’d say you find the gold when you aren’t trying to write something good, coherent or wise. You find the gold when the pressure is off. When you have fun with your journaling. Journaling is magic. BUT. It isn’t if it stays blank. It isn’t if you feel pressured to write in it. It isn’t if you’re intimidated by those pages within. No-one is judging you when you write or doodle in there. No-one, except maybe yourself. And you have to stop that. Stop. Because who are you comparing it too? I have pages and pages of self-indulgence in mine. I have spelling mistakes and sentences where I have no idea what they mean. I have smudges and coffee stains. I have angst, joy and sometimes somewhere within a lot of - well, words and scribbles, there might be something that is useful to me. Useful for my creativity, useful for my direction or for my life in general. I think also in your head there’s a lot of stuff in there that isn’t really important. We think it is but it really isn’t. But we hold it there, taking up space and energy. If we write down all that unimportant stuff in our journals, it empties our heads. Not only can this be cathartic but it means we can grow new thoughts, new ideas that, again, we can capture in the journal. But you have to get rid of the dross first. So. If you’re putting off writing in your journal because you have nothing profound or important to say then you’re missing a trick. Write down the unimportant, the non-profound. Just start there. And see where it leads to. And don’t just take my word for it. Listen to Matthew.
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