Journalling:  Write Your Way, Create Your Future by Leela J Williams

From the moment I could read, I held the printed word in high esteem. The ability of black type to enchant my imagination and explain the world was intoxicating. It was a special day when I received my first diary. Everything I knew about keeping a diary, I knew from fiction. To my young mind, having a diary was the first step in leading a life of mystery, adventure and discovery. However, I wasn’t a character in a story and no matter how hard I tried, the record of my life at eight years old didn’t make for compelling reading.

When I looked back at what I wrote, the text was dull. I wasn’t Jo March or Mary Lennox, and no one would be reading an account of my average life. After the initial disappointment, letting go of the idea that I was writing for an audience was freeing. I didn’t have to make sense, be brilliant or have any kind of narrative. My diary became a safe space where I could write whatever I wanted. I didn’t have to follow anyone else’s rules, and no one could mock what I liked.

I started recording words and phrases, sometimes whole paragraphs, from the books I was reading. Whether due to their rhythm or whimsy, I wanted to capture these snippets, so I could revisit them at my leisure. At the end of the year, I had created something of a travel journal that mapped my journeys with the likes of Lewis Carroll, Robert Louis Stevenson, Enid Blyton, J. M. Barrie and Charles Dickens. Over time, this daily ritual shaped my writing and my self-awareness in ways I could never have imagined.

There are so many ways to journal with each form offering unique benefits. I’ve used gratitude journals, dream journals, creativity journals, tarot journals, journals with prompts and stream-of-consciousness writing. These approaches all have the ability to illuminate our inner world, help us track our growth, recognise patterns and make sense of our emotions.

For me, one of the most powerful aspects of journalling has been the ability to revisit my dreams, intentions and frustrations. It’s kept me honest with myself. Reading past entries made it painfully clear when I was stuck in a pattern or returning to feelings or strategies that weren’t getting me anywhere. Journalling has saved me from self-doubt and gaslighting, as well as maddening loops with people who had no intention of listening or making things easier for me. It also revealed the dreams and hopes that I turned to for comfort and what was truly important to me. In this way, my journals have provided truth bombs, therapy and encouragement to live a life that I would be proud to read about. I became my own audience, the writer not just of what I did today but of who I might be tomorrow. When I had the chance to write or co-author a journal, I created spaces I couldn’t wait to use for myself!

Journalling is not just a record of our past, but a guide to our future. In writing down our thoughts we articulate our experiences, making it harder to dismiss our feelings, aspirations, insights and intuitions. It allows us to observe our progress, whether in personal growth, creative pursuits or mental health. The simple act of writing—without fear of judgement or the need for perfection—can be profoundly liberating. If you’ve ever wondered whether journalling could be for you, I encourage you to give it a try. You may be surprised at what your own words reveal.

Connect with Leela J. Williams at https://linktr.ee/leelajwilliams. Discover more of her work, including Maxine Gadd’s Zoologica: The Steampunk Oracle and the upcoming Zoologica: Your Creativity and Pendulum Journal at Tarotopia.