The Art of Journaling for Creative Self-Discovery
Putting Pen to Paper
Journaling is one of the most powerful ways to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Not only has it helped me process emotions, gain perspective, and connect patterns, but it has also been a salve for connecting with myself and taking care of my mental health.
Something not just important to everyone, but I believe especially important for creative thinkers and makers.
As creatives, our minds are often taxed in different ways. Intangible measurements of success, in the business of selling and defending ideas, ideating and dreaming of the unknown or never been seen.
It can be mentally and emotionally exhausting. We’re some of the people who best benefit from a journaling practice. However, it can sometimes feel overwhelming on where to start, or how to keep up with it.
Setting The Scene
WRITe EARLY
I like to try to write in my journal as one of the first things I do in the day. When I wake up, I’m still sleepy and my conscious brain hasn’t quite started running yet. I find this the best time to tap into my deeper thoughts and subconscious.
Keep It Simple
I won’t keep a routine if it’s not easy. So keeping it simple is important. I write in an affordable but beautiful notebook so I don’t feel precious about it. And I only write for 15 minutes each morning. No more, no less. It’s just long enough to connect to a deeper insight without letting your mind wander.
Find YOUR space
It's important to find a space where you feel comfortable and relaxed. For me I like to get outside. Either my balcony or a nearby coffee shop and connect with a larger space than a desk or corner or a busy place. But a comfy couch with a candle also does for me in the winter.
Let go of perfection
Write freely. Make mistakes. Remember, your journal is for you, not for anyone else. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Be honest with yourself when you write. Try to let yourself get whatever you need out, without judgment.
Prompts for Creative Journaling
There are 1,000s of prompts out there you could use to journal across almost any topic. As someone who’s spent years picking up journaling and dropping it, I’ve found a select few prompts that help my mind connect with deeper thoughts. Here are some that have worked for me…
Write a letter to your “creative self.” What advice would you give them? What hopes and dreams do they have? What permission or message do you need to tell them?
Write about a recent dream you had. What imagery or themes stood out to you? How can you incorporate those elements into a creative project?
What are your goals? Write down your short-term and long-term goals and a small step you can take today to get there.
Think of a place that inspires you (a park, a coffee shop, a museum, etc.). Write about why this place inspires you and how you can use that inspiration in your creative work.
Write a short story or poem based on a word or phrase that comes to mind (e.g. "purple sunset", "broken wings", "unspoken truths", etc.).
What are your passions? Write down your passions and how you can incorporate them into your life more frequently.
If you had to describe the perfect day (or what would make today perfect), what would that look like? Write about each of your senses throughout that day.
Pick an object in the room and describe it in detail. Then, imagine how it could be used in a creative project.
Write about a time when you took a risk and it paid off creatively. What was at stake? Why did you decide to take the risk? Would you do it again now?
If you could collaborate with any artist, writer, or musician, who would it be and why? What project would you work on together?
Beyond The Prompt
After getting into journal writing more consistently and building out the habit, the less I found myself going back to prompts in general.
Now I tend to dabble in different techniques depending on the day. Here are some I recommend you check out if you’re interested in trying different methods of creative thinking.
Gratitude Journaling
A must in my opinion. I always write 3 things every morning I’m grateful for. I also like doing this as soon as possible since it sets the tone for your mood and day.
Morning Pages
First created by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way, this method involves writing 3 pages each morning. I stuck with this method the longest and found it helped so much with mental clarity.
Journaling is a powerful tool for self-discovery. It can help you gain clarity, process your emotions, and unlock new ideas. I hope you try some of my tips for building a journaling routine so you can start your own journaling practice and discover new insights about yourself and your creative mind.