For the wise, travel through one’s Life Journey is a continual process of learning and personal growth. Regardless of our age and life history, there is always so much to learn about ourselves. We can use various methods to evaluate how our personal choices are working for or against us.
If one is fortunate, they will make a personal retreat happen in their life. This is a process where one retreats from his or her everyday environment for an extended period of time to a place that supports the process of introspection. For many, this experience is enriched by the presence of a personal facilitator to add another human dimension and appropriate guidance when sought.
Since a personal retreat is personal, there are many forms that it can take to allow a person to focus on who they are, where they have been or where they wish to go in the future. There is no one ‘best’ form for this process of personal growth.
One of most valuable friends that I have found for myself on a personal retreat as well as for other periods in my Life Journey has been a personal journal. This friend is where I communicate by writing and use other creative processes to record my feelings, thoughts and actions.
Like most friendships, each of us develops a personal style of mutual behaviors creating our journals to meet our individual needs. There is no right or wrong way to produce one’s journal any more than there is to develop a friendship with another. “To thy own self be true” is the goal I use for my journaling process.
There are many factors for each of us to consider when we decide to create and maintain a personal journal. And, like other friendships, these factors are individual, personal and change over time as our relationship grows and matures.
Listed are some factors that each of us can consider as we decide what we want our journal friend to be.
1. A journal is not the same as a diary or scrapbook, but can have many of the characteristics of both. A journal usually has much more depth than these, but can include descriptions of events, people, memorabilia, etc.
2. What goals does the individual wish for the journal to meet? Being specific can be most helpful, even when these goals may change over time.
3. What will be the frequency that one interacts with their journal? Some people choose to interact daily, several times each day, every other day, or weekly, etc. What length of time will one choose to spend with their journal to allow the relationship to become most effective?
4. What form will one choose? Will it all be written, or will it include art forms? Using modern technology allows there be audio and/or video parts. Will one style of writing be used or will it vary by mixing poetry with prose?
5. After one begins their journal, will one tend to stay with consistency in the format and content of their journals? Will one be willing and maybe eager to experiment with their journal friendship by introducing new components? It is sad that so many stay with a pattern with which they are familiar rather than experiment with ways which may provide more nurturance and enrichment.
6. As time passes, does one notice any changes in the degree of honesty and intimacy that one has with their journal? If there are changes, what does that convey about your personal growth?
7. At some point, almost everyone faces the question of whether they wish to share a part of their journal with another person. Depending on the personality type of the individual and the contents of the journal, this can be a very difficult choice for many. Sharing one’s self with others at a deep personal level is a goal for some while keeping that part of self very personalized is the choice of others.
Hopefully compiling a journal can be one way to aid you in your personal Life Journey.
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