One Apple A Day #410
Journaling is one of the most common practices for self-exploration.
I’ve been writing in my journal every morning for the last two years. It has been a vital component of my journey. Through this simple morning practice, I’ve learned more about myself, and I became more aware of my thoughts and actions.
Though, lately, I felt a stuck as if I had peaked in this practice. The morning ritual of journaling was becoming almost mechanical, and my writing wasn’t giving me any valuable insights about myself.
In her book Insights, Tasha Eurich warns us about the risks of introspection and self-reflection if we don’t do them in the right way. It is easy to get trap in our thoughts becoming blind to our behaviours and how they are affecting our life.
So, a week ago I decided to shift from introspection to observation. While the first is about going inside and dig deep into thoughts and emotions, the second is about observing my behaviours, words and actions. It’s like taking a step out and observe myself from the outside.
I use my journal to ask straightforward questions such as:
Did you do your best to live your values, today?
Were your actions aligned with your long-term vision?
Have you done anything to serve the person you want to be?
If the answer is yes, I write about how I can keep doing it. If it’s no, I write about what I can change or how I can do better.
It has been only one week so far, but I’m already learning a lot about myself.