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Great Leaders Do This #1166 

by Sue Hawkes

If you know me, you know I’m an advocate of journaling. So much so that my coaching programs of years past had journaling as a requirement! Yes, really. Now I know what you’re thinking, “yeah, I’ve heard this before, but I just don’t have the time.”  

Well, it’s time to make the time. Journaling is your secret weapon to help unlock your potential, enhance your clarity, and amplify your success.  

Still not convinced? Here are five reasons to start journaling today: 

1. Find Clarity in Chaos: Life is a whirlwind of thoughts, tasks, and decisions. Journaling provides you with a safe space to untangle your thoughts, allowing you to see your challenges and opportunities with a clearer perspective. By writing down your concerns, goals, and ideas, your mind organizes itself and reveals insights you might have missed otherwise. 

2. Shatter Self-Limiting Beliefs: We all have beliefs that hold us back – whether it’s imposter syndrome, fear of failure, or the classic “I’m not good enough” mantra. Journaling helps you confront these beliefs head-on.   

3. Track Your Progress: In the quest to improve, sometimes it’s hard to recognize how far you’ve come. Journaling serves as a personal record of your journey, capturing your triumphs, setbacks, and everything in between. When you’re having a tough day, flipping through your journal can be a powerful reminder of the challenges you’ve overcome and the growth you’ve achieved. 

4. Find Patterns and Solutions: Ever notice how you keep encountering similar challenges or making the same mistakes? I’ve been there too! Journaling helps you spot these recurring patterns in your thinking and behavior. By recognizing these tendencies, you can actively work towards breaking negative cycles and adopting habits that lead to better outcomes. 

5. Boost Self-Awareness: We all know self-awareness is the cornerstone of personal and professional development. Journaling cultivates this skill by prompting you to reflect on your emotions, reactions, and decisions. When you understand why you react a certain way or make certain choices, you gain the power to make intentional changes that align with your goals. 

Cue the excuses coming back… “But I’m not a writer!” “I don’t have time for journaling!” Here’s the beauty of it – you don’t need to be a wordsmith, and you don’t need to dedicate hours each day.  

Begin by considering these 3 questions: 

  • What self-limiting belief could I confront and overcome through journaling? 
  • How can journaling help me recognize and break recurring patterns in my life? 
  • What small step can I take today to integrate journaling into my routine?  

Spending just five minutes jotting down your thoughts creates results. And if you’re unsure where to start, I’ve got your back. I created the 365-Day Maximizing Success Journal for people like you – the people who don’t journal! You’ll find daily prompts, weekly themes, and reflection questions to make the process easy and effective. Check it out here and start journaling today!  

Sue HawkesGreat Leaders Do This #1166