Austin's Portfolio

✍ Writing and Journaling

3 min read

Writing and Journaling: A Path to Clarity and Discipline

Writing has always been a way for me to gain clarity, reflect on my thoughts, and stay disciplined.

While I do enjoy dabbling in fiction, journaling has become my primary method for processing and organizing my life.

It’s a way to explore my thoughts, track my progress, and stay on top of important areas of my life.

Why I Write and Journal

  • Clarity of Thought:
    Journaling helps me sort through my thoughts and feelings, giving me a clearer picture of what’s on my mind. It’s a space where I can question myself, my goals, and my actions, allowing me to process difficult emotions and complex situations.

  • Weekly and Monthly Reviews:
    I use journaling to stay disciplined and track my progress in different areas of my life. My weekly and monthly reviews are a time for reflection - what worked, what didn’t, and where I can improve. These reviews help me stay on course and ensure I’m moving toward my goals.

  • Answering Tough Questions:
    Journaling forces me to answer the tough questions about myself and my life. These are the questions I might resist but need to face in order to grow. By pushing through this resistance, I gain insights into my actions, my persistence, and what I truly want.

Inspirations

A couple of my favorite inspirations in the journaling and personal reflection space are Abi Abdaal and Struthless. Their approach to self-reflection and creating honest content resonates with me.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to approach your own journaling practice, their YouTube channels are full of insightful content:

You might also enjoy Leo Babauta’s approach to simplicity and mindfulness, which can be deeply helpful in the process of journaling and self-reflection.

Leo’s website, Zen Habits, offers a wealth of insights on how to live with less distraction, more focus, and greater intention.

It’s a great resource for anyone looking to incorporate mindfulness into their daily writing or reflection practice.

Check it out here: Zen Habits

Obsidian for Journaling

I use Obsidian as my primary journaling tool. It’s a powerful tool that can be incredibly helpful if you avoid overcomplicating it. I like to use simple templates to keep things streamlined.

Obsidian helps me track themes across different periods of my life and writing, making it easy to look back and see how I’ve evolved.

By using Obsidian, I can link my journal entries to specific topics, ideas, and reflections. This makes it simple to revisit my thoughts and notice patterns in my thinking over time. It’s like building a personal knowledge base that’s centered on growth.

The Power of Reflection

Ultimately, journaling is about more than just writing - it’s about facing the things we resist and persisting through them.

By answering tough questions and looking at recurring themes in my life, I’ve learned a lot about where I’m holding myself back and where I’m pushing forward.

This process of self-reflection is vital for personal growth.

In summary, journaling keeps me disciplined, helps me reflect, and provides clarity in a busy world.

It’s a simple practice, but its impact is powerful, and it’s something I’ve found incredibly useful for staying focused and aligned with my goals.

Whether through weekly reviews or deep dives into tough questions, journaling is a tool I rely on to keep myself on track and moving forward.

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