Success Secrets: A "twist" on Journaling
Like many of us interested in personal development, I keep a Journal. My main inspiration for this is Jim Rohn, although my rather unusual “categories” (Good vibes, Giving, Reasons For Optimism, and Insights) are based on Tony Robbins. I want to review positive things in my life, and focus on the good.
Rohn has recommended regular review of one’s journal. I review weekly, but also (and here is the “twist”), I write a “monthly highlights” document for each month. I find this particularly helpful, for it allows me to go back over really large amounts of time and review those periods very quickly.
In the back of my journal ( a three-ring binder), I keep the “highlights”, one page for each month. It doesn’t take long to write it, and it is a breeze to glance through. For instance, I can leaf through my “highlights” pages and instantly review:
What books I liked
Habits I am trying to adopt
Examples where particular ideas, habits, or courses of action are actually working
What (on review) seemed to be a silly “tangent” that I can discard
Small moments of truth or beauty that I might have forgotten
The "highlights" pages also allow me to see the longer threads of my life. The flowing currents, the longer-term progress (or challenges), the peak experiences. The lessons I learn are less fleeting, bigger, and possibly more valid, since they are etched into the relief of months and years rather than days.
I am particularly drawn to the people that appear and re-appear in significant ways. Relationshps that seem to be blossuming and growing befor emy eyes, while others flicker out, gone from the page after a short time.
This is the tapestry of our lives. Painted by us. It is worthwhile stepping back and looking at the canvas from a distance, from time to time.
Visit the Success Books Store
Rohn has recommended regular review of one’s journal. I review weekly, but also (and here is the “twist”), I write a “monthly highlights” document for each month. I find this particularly helpful, for it allows me to go back over really large amounts of time and review those periods very quickly.
In the back of my journal ( a three-ring binder), I keep the “highlights”, one page for each month. It doesn’t take long to write it, and it is a breeze to glance through. For instance, I can leaf through my “highlights” pages and instantly review:
What books I liked
Habits I am trying to adopt
Examples where particular ideas, habits, or courses of action are actually working
What (on review) seemed to be a silly “tangent” that I can discard
Small moments of truth or beauty that I might have forgotten
The "highlights" pages also allow me to see the longer threads of my life. The flowing currents, the longer-term progress (or challenges), the peak experiences. The lessons I learn are less fleeting, bigger, and possibly more valid, since they are etched into the relief of months and years rather than days.
I am particularly drawn to the people that appear and re-appear in significant ways. Relationshps that seem to be blossuming and growing befor emy eyes, while others flicker out, gone from the page after a short time.
This is the tapestry of our lives. Painted by us. It is worthwhile stepping back and looking at the canvas from a distance, from time to time.
Visit the Success Books Store
1 comment:
Thanks very much for the great suggestions on how to use the journal. I've been keeping one for a few years now, and, although it's been extremely valuable as a way to capture ideas, lessons, etc, I've yet to come up with a solid review process. Yours sounds like a good start.
You may be interested in this article: Matt's Idea Blog: Some thoughts from tracking "lessons learned" for a year
Thanks again,
matt
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