I have been keeping journals since for four years now (thanks mum). My first entry was in 2011, November 26 in Waterstones. I think, that I will always keep journals. Journals have helped me to discover more about myself. They have helped me to grow, accept myself and really just track and see how my thoughts, beliefs and dreams have changed over time, which is quite a beautiful thing.
For me, journaling has been my way of really diving into myself and understanding who I am, and what I want in life. I make regular lists of my projects (stuff I'm writing usually), write my to do lists for that day, my thoughts, my dreams, my drawings and all sorts of random stuff too.
Journaling, has really, really helped me overcome many of the difficulties girls like me face. Trying to accept and understand that your existence, your beauty, your intelligence and your art is valid. Trying your hardest to find beauty in yourself, when you cannot see it anywhere at all. It was hard, trying to draw from something that wasn't there, then seeing people, just like you hating and putting themselves down.
When people say write your thoughts down, it honestly does help. Just write down how you're feeling. Journaling allows you to be completely raw and honest with yourself. If you are worried about people reading it, then maybe just don't tell anyone that you keep a journal, and then just keep it hidden so nobody accidentally comes across it. But anyway, journals allow you to be honest. In those pages, nobody is judging you, and you can cry and wipe your tears on them, smudge the ink on them, and pour your heart and your mind into them and know that there is no judgement.
There have been many times, that I have had to do it, and after writing it down, you flip the page and start again.
I also think, for those, like me, who have very busy minds, journaling can be a good way of organising and arranging our thoughts which always seem incoherent, mad and exciting, into some sort of order. A plan, that we can actually approach. I have written out many parts of my plans for my books, first drafts of my poems, little sketches, small ideas and thoughts that I've had to contribute to my art in my journal.
Your journal, doesn't necessarily have to be all about your thoughts and feelings, and what you did that day either. It can be a fashion journal, an art journal, and photo journal (if you prefer to express yourself through images) and much more. I kind of combine all of those and just put it in one, which makes it very fun to read back. Some entires are difficult and impossible to read back fully, but that's okay. That was before, this is now. All in all though, journals, I find, can be a great way to express, discover and reflect on oneself. It has really helped me through my difficulties and has helped me to be the more confident girl I am today.
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