jamie pate: Why You Should Start a Journal

Why You Should Start a Journal using Heidi Swapp Journal Studio by Jamie Pate | @jamiepate for @heidiswapp

for the love of journaling

If you visit this blog on occasion you may know that I have an infinity for journaling.
Journaling has been a part of my life ever since I read the Diary of Anne Frank in the 6th grade. Yeah. I know. Really long time ago. But the influence has never ceased. Rather it has deepened.

As I strive to inspire you, my friends, here, I want to continue to inspire in this journaling endeavor too.

Journaling daily is a habit worth having. This habit effects other areas of our lives, whether we are aware of the influence or not. Journaling puts into a story what you have done and it frames what you want to do.

We as a society would know nothing of the past except for the fact that someone wrote it down. We get that same opportunity with our own lives. No one will know our story, we won't remember our story, unless we write it down.

Journaling is a creative release from everyday life. While at the same time it gives one a place to live in the present.

As I journaled my thoughts next to a gorgeous photo of a recent hike we took, not only was I taking a break from the hectic of my everyday. But it was a purposeful slow down. It was a time to reflect, and again, enjoy the uniqueness that was that day on the meadow before we dove into our hike. This had a forward effect too. It was like a literal sigh coming from my body. And it moved me forward to the 'next thing'. Bet you didn't think journaling could be that powerful, eh? Or, maybe I am just a journaling geek. OR...both.

Did you know studies show that journal writing reduces stress? That alone could be reason enough to journal. I mean, don't we all want to reduce stress? To slow the blur? To find purpose in these days? Journaling provides all those things. And you are here, so I surmise that you would also be tempted to make it pretty as well. Using Heidi Swapp's Journal Studio for these large format photos and plenty of space for words, I document life, and make it pretty. All at once.

You don't have to write a lot to journal. It needs not be a novel. It can be a list of bullet points. As shared right HERE it can even be thoughts of gratitude. You can even journal to a person, and wrap it up pretty in a Journal Studio Insert.

There are no hard fast rules. Only this: find time to journal. Daily. Make the commitment small and doable at first. But then allow the habit to take you to new places as you journey through starting a journal.

You can find the Journal Studio supplies I used to craft this and my other JOURNAL STUDIO pages right HERE: