Allow your mind to breathe.
Photo by Cameron Clark
I have a stack of journals dating back to when I was 14 years old. I'd been using the morning pages stream-of-consciousness method for years before I knew it had an actual name (and entire movement behind it), so I tend to fill up journals quickly.
It’s always interesting to read through old journals because they’re a snapshot into life at different points in time. Some of the goals I once had are laughable now. Some of the ideas or circumstances I agonized over then now seem ridiculous (this is especially true for all journals kept during high school).
What’s fascinating to me is reading through the journals I’ve kept in my business years. Some of the things I once thought were incredibly important don't matter to me any more. Some of the things I wanted back when I began I still want. And some dreams that I forgot about, scribbled in the early morning as a random thought, have come to reality.
If you don't already keep a journal for your business, grab a notebook and just write for a couple pages. You might be surprised at what comes out on paper. You may not see the benefits immediately, but over time they add up by providing clarity and allowing room for your mind to breathe. It's difficult to celebrate if you don’t remember what you truly wanted along the way.
Originally published September 2008
