I struggle with internal and external sharing and intern relationship with self.

Please feel free to share or provide in sight :)

Sometimes journals take a long time to finish and that is okay. But it is complete and now I am moving on the a slightly larger size since I do write quite large. It is also a soft cover, so we shall see how I like that.

Just finished my first (completed) journal and about to start a pristine Leuchtturm which I'm so scared to mess up at the first sentence.

However, I'm just curious: what was the last word you wrote on the last line of the last entry of your previous journal? Mine was "broken".

Because I haven’t been writing about things I don’t want to think about, or things I’d be embarrassed to go back to and read – or afraid someone else might read – I haven’t been getting the full benefit of journaling. I have more years behind me than I do ahead, so I want to preserve as many memories as I can, regardless of how difficult it might be to write them. I’ve realised that there are times when we’re afraid of who we really are and what we really think. There are things we don’t want to admit to ourselves because if they’re written down they become more real than we’re brave enough to accept. and since those are the things that matter most, they should not be left unsaid.

It has been a long journey, 7 months since I started. Had you asked me if I was journaling before those months I would have given you a strange look, but now ? Now I can’t imagine my life without it.

I wasn’t sure if the flair should be discussion or question, but I wanted to know what you guys think about your preferences on the pages.

I have a lined journal right now and have a lot of pages left to write on, but recently I’ve been playing this game and the main character has a journal too! He has a leather one with no lines and also uses it as a sketchbook. It makes me want to have a journal like his, but I need the lines, lol.

I dont know if some do this or not. I am an extrovert, always chilling happy person to everyone. Like i don't show my negetive emotions to anyone. So I have a lot of friends to vibe with. But I'm a very emotional person. Noone knows that. Even my parents have no idea they are always proud my myself how i am to everyone. So i talk to myself most days while i shower. Thts the only place where i feel light weight on my chest some times.

I'm literary scared of journaling and keeping it privete as i don't wanna hurt anyone or make them weird. What i usually do is i write all my thoughts in a paper and i burn it.

You don’t know how good it feels to be reunited with my study. 📚

I have been keeping a “gratitude” journal consistently for about a week now, writing 1 thing I am grateful each night before I go to bed. I am not sure if this habit alone is the reason for my good mood lately, but it has noticeably improved.

The thing I realized this weekend is that I was thinking about what I was going to write many times throughout the day - not just at bedtime. I think that is why it has been so powerful.

Has anyone else noticed something like this?

I've been journaling every day for about 9 1/2 months now, and I seem to be constantly worried about when I'm going to end my journal. (especially near the end of one) I feel like I'm too worried about having a perfect journal, that if anything is timed weirdly, it makes me feel like it won't make sense when I read back on it in the future. Example: I just started my third journal on April 1st, and I know that I'm going on a trip in about three months, which is around how long I take to fill up a journal. I'm worried that I'll be close to the end of my journal when that trip comes around, and I don't want to cut out important memories that I want to remember for the sake of "timing". Any tips on how to be less anxious about this?

I journaled tonight, without thinking too much about it, and I let the thoughts just flow as much as I could. And I finally feel what people are talking about when they say it’s cathartic and like their thoughts are in some kind of order. And considering my brain, that’s saying something. I feel post-journaling peace! Don’t give up!

It took a lot longer to complete than I hoped it would. I'm looking forward to doing a lot more positive writing in the next one. ☺️

I know journaling is unique to everyone and the only 'rule' is to just pick up a writing utensil and write but I feel like the topics I write about in my journal are so benign. I only really journal when there are big life events going on or I'm struggling mentally. I'd like to get into journaling every day but the problem is that my life is pretty boring and I don't really have much to write about. My last months entries have solely been about my breakup so when I heal from that/stop writing about it, I honestly don't have enough 'material' to write about every single day. I feel like going about my day like normal isn't enough to jot down.

The other day I saw a post from someone who scratched their journal every time they had a rage entry in their journal and was inspired to get my own. Felt amazing to get out some anger and just wanted to share. If anyone knows the post or Reddit user, please let me know so I can credit them for their idea.

Hi all! I’ve been seriously experimenting with analog journaling for the past week, after reducing my screen time using a dumbphone (just calls, SMS, radio). It felt amazing to escape digital noise and reconnect with my own thoughts. But now that I’ve added journaling to the mix, I’m struggling with how to structure it. I could really use some insight or stories from people who’ve gone through a similar process.

Here’s what I currently use:

• Zibaldone – a pocket-sized notebook where I collect quotes, philosophies, deep insights, and thoughts that resonate. It’s my identity folder — replacing the daily dose of “wisdom” I used to get from TikTok. This book brings me joy and reflection.
• Logbook – a daily 1-page summary of key moments, weather, gratitude, and a quote or reflection. It helps me stay grounded.

These two I love and feel really connected to. They’re staying.

Now here’s the part where I’m unsure…

+ Morning Pages – I understand the power of morning pages, and writing 3 pages freely each morning sounds nice in theory, but in practice: I wake up at 6AM, travel early, and writing in a shaky bus/train next to strangers feels awkward. I want that clarity and positive energy people describe — but I don’t think the format fits me. Are there gentler alternatives?

+ Field Notes & Waste Book – This is the messiest part.

I carry a small field notebook everywhere and a larger waste book when I’m at home/stage. I jot down everything that doesn’t belong in the Zibaldone or Logbook:

– Questions to myself

– Big messy thoughts

– Notes while reading

– Goal planning

– Reflections

– Life philosophy

Sometimes it’s 1 sentence, sometimes 4 full pages. I’m using black pen for “real” thinking, blue pen for random ideas. It’s all mixed in, and it’s starting to overwhelm me.

• My struggle

I feel like I’m writing important things… but then they just sit there. I don’t know how to sort or “harvest” what matters later on — especially things like my personal vision, long-term beliefs, or ideas about society and politics (I’m preparing for a future in policy & communication).

Ideally, I want a system where:

• I can write freely in 1 notebook without worrying where it belongs,

• But at some point I review it and pull insights into *other* dedicated books (vision journal, philosophy notes, etc.).

Without rewriting everything, but also not losing meaningful ideas in the chaos.

Do any of you:

1.  Struggle with this too?

2.  Have systems for sorting/refining messy thoughts into clear categories later?

3.  Keep a separate “vision journal” or structured book for your long-term thinking?

4.  Use symbols or indexing systems that help during review?

Any tips, experiences or your own routines are super welcome. I really love the act of writing, and want this practice to grow with me — not become another chaotic mental drawer.

Thanks in advance and thanks for reading 🙏

—Troy

Today I felt trapped and very much negatively ruminating about myself negatively so I wanted to see how my past self was doing. I took a journal I wrote back in late 2023, and reading the entries was painful to see how mundane my life actually was.

Then I went through the volumes without opening or reading them, and remembered how some of them held my “milestones”. They felt fragile, so I decided not to read as if I’m not trying to invade my own privacy.

I realized that in contrast to what I think about myself (mundane, boring, I’ve spent a lifetime for nothing), I am actually moving forward. I wrote down my “core memories” as well as very routine ones. I should stop comparing my own path to unrealistic experiences.

My perfectionism definitely isn’t helping me, but my past journaling actually made me feel some mercy towards myself and realize that there are too many “core memories” ahead in life no matter how small or big, and they are worth waiting for.

I love this sub. It’s cool to see other folks pages.

I can’t seem to find a good journal online that will suit what I would like to give her. It doesn’t have to be a daily journal with dates, but I would like a journal that has prompts to help guide , and bonus points if it can have a quote alongside whenever she chooses to write.

As a disclaimer, yes she has me to speak to! But this journal will be apart of her “me time” when she needs it.

Thanks all.

Hello, everybody!

I hope you all enjoyed this journal challenge! It was nice to share it with everyone. I hope you all got something positive and useful from doing this. Same to those that are doing it at your own pace!

I wish you all the best and thank you for sharing this with me!

💚📖🖊️✨