“And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it” Habakkuk 2:2. Recently when I was arranging my room, my eyes briefly drifted to the small rack where I keep my journals, school notebooks, (yes, I walk around with notebooks) and a few books. That part of my room is always clean, so it was something else that drew my attention. I realised that I had seven different notebooks where I noted down my thoughts and experiences at different times in my life. I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I scrolled through the pages of each of them. The questions I would ask myself, the way I would write down the dates before anything else, as if I was keeping a record for when I write my biography one day, then the grammatical errors lol. Also, why do I write and think in English all the time? Someday, I hope to be able to express myself efficiently in my mother language, Kinyarwanda. As the proper, Rwandan-born and raised Munyarwanda that I am. But that's an issue for another time. As I continued to read through the pages, I came across something interesting in one of my journals from the ages of 13 to 15. I had written reasons why I needed to finish high school. I listed down reasons why I should continue my education at the university level and beyond. In the pages that followed, I had compiled reasons why I preferred my English teacher over my Physics teacher, why I would continue to be a Christian, why I should stay close to my family almost all of the time, and why my best friend was my best friend. I guess I was in the mood to question everything at the time. I needed to make my own reasons for doing what I was doing. As the above scripture says, Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, there's something powerful about written words. Now that I think about it, I understand why many things in my life are the way they are. These are decisions I made a long time ago, not knowing how deeply these words would be ingrained in my subconscious mind. Even now, when it comes to making big decisions, this sense of self-awareness in what I believe, do, and like goes a long way. My journal is still my therapeutic space, the bullseye to my endless questions, my manifestation dome, and my thought bank. Journals are commonly expected to be personal because they are so vulnerable and, at times, too embarrassing if anyone were to read them. This is where you're supposed to be honest and just think out loud. Or rather think out down on the paper. What should be in your journal? It could be your daily life events, thoughts and feelings, important quotes, things you need to get done, your hopes and dreams/visions/gratitude, reasons to be proud of yourself, things to improve, or just about anything else. Why should you keep a journal? Journaling improves writing, through practice, and communication skills, through expressing your thoughts and ideas. According to Health Encyclopedia, keeping a journal is one of the most recommended mental health and wellness tools. It aids in relaxation, de-stressing, and winding down, which can help with anxiety and depression. It also suggests journaling as a way to enhance memory. Keeping a journal also helps one to create order when their world appears to be in chaos by reminding them of what they believe in and why they are doing what they are doing in the first place. A journal can also be used to increase self-awareness. You gain a better understanding of yourself and stay in tune with your subconscious needs by revealing your most private fears, thoughts, and feelings. Many people prefer to keep a mental to-do list. Writing them down can help with accountability, and crossing them off as completed provides a sense of accomplishment. There is no right or wrong approach in journaling. It’s all up to you to just take the time to get in touch with your mind, body, and spirit in a language that feels most true to you.
