Why Journal? 

Journaling is a pastime I have always enjoyed. From journaling my hopes and dreams as a teenager to journaling my doubts and fears as an adult, journaling has been a part of my life for quite some time. I received my first journal in my Christmas stocking as a young preteen. My mom knew I loved to write even back then, and so she bought me a beautiful flowered journal for me to begin writing in. I filled it to the brim and needed a new one by the next year. This started a tradition of my getting a journal in my stocking each year. Journaling became an almost constant in my life, sure I got out of the habit from time to time, but I always seem to slip back into it. It is almost as if I yearn for it, and the feeling that it gives me. If I don’t do it for a while, I begin to get cravings, or feel withdrawal. The greatest joy that I get out of journaling is when I journal my prayers and then, I am able to look back on those prayers days, months and maybe even years later (I’ve done this) and see the results, the answered prayers, the prayers God said “No” to or “Wait” and I’m able to understand why certain things happened the way that they did and I truly appreciate the circumstances more. I encourage everyone to journal. Maybe you won’t make it a daily habit, but I hope you’ll do it often enough to appreciate it. Alyssa Avant is a Christian speaker and writer and founder of Beauty by Design Ministries. She is the author of a 30 Day Journaling Guide. {INSERT AFFILIATE LINK HERE}  

Journaling is a Healthy Habit 

Journaling is a Healthy Habit Developing a habit can take 21-30 days. So why is it so hard to develop a habit but we have some habits we do not even know how we formed such as nail biting or teeth grinding? Strange huh? One habit that I have developed over the years is the habit of journaling. Journaling is a pastime of mine that I truly enjoy and have formed a habit of doing. I have a huge stack of journals from my past that hold memories that otherwise I may have forgotten. Sure, I do not spend a lot of time going through the journals but I do from time to time look back especially on the previous year’s journal to see where I have come from, goals I have accomplished, prayers that have been answered. Journaling is a process that I enjoy. Journaling is something that you can do no matter what your mood. I find myself not only journaling when I am happy, but also when I am upset about something. I can literally fill pages and pages when my stress levels rise. Oh what a release it can be! Looking back over the years though, I realize that I have used my journal more when I needed that release. Stressful times in my life I filled journals much faster. To date, my most stressful time was when I was in the midst of a bad situation at my job. I literally filled a journal fool in 3 months, but what wonderful self-therapy it was. I realize reading the entries later that if it were not for that time I took to sit down and release my thoughts I probably would have kept them all bottled up inside. Something many people do, but it is definitely not a healthy way to deal with your thoughts and feelings. I never realized when I began journaling in my teen years how therapeutic it would be for me in my adult years. I am thankful I began the habit early on in life, because it has served me much good so far. As I grow older, I know I will only appreciate the process more and I plan to pass the tradition down to my children. There are some habits that are hard to develop, others that are hard to break, but this one is definitely one I’m glad I took the time to begin. Alyssa Avant is a Christian writer and speaker, founder of Beauty by Design Ministries, a ministry to girls of all ages and their moms. Her 30 Day Journaling Guide will have you journaling in no time! {INSERT YOUR AFFILIATE LINK HERE} </table>

Making Journaling a Resolution

Making Journaling a Resolution Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? How do you plan to track your progress? One of the ways I have tracked my progress on both my New Year’s Resolutions and my goals that I set throughout the year is through journaling. Journaling is not only an enjoyable hobby it is also a great way to keep up with your progress on your resolutions and goals. Daily writing in a journal can be a difficult habit to form, but once you do, it can become addictive. I started journaling around 1994, when I was only a teenager and I haven’t stopped since. Some habit huh? Many people say that they enjoy journaling because it allows them to freely release their thoughts and feelings. Therefore, what could be a greater way to release your frustrations or record your victories as you tackle those New Year’s Resolutions than to start journaling? Some people like the idea of others being able to one day read their entries and admire their accomplishments and struggles while others loath the thought of someone else ever reading their recorded thoughts. Well, if you want someone to read them, pass them on to them, however if you do not just destroy them after you’ve filled the journal to the brim with entries. Either way do what works for you. Maybe add another resolution to your list, resolve to journal your journey through this New Year as you attempt to keep your resolutions and reach your goals. Alyssa Avant is a Christian writer and speaker, founder of Beauty by Design Ministries, a ministry to girls of all ages and their moms. Her 30 Day Journaling Guide will have you journaling in no time. {INSERT AFFILIATE LINK}