Learning through journaling

There are always lessons to be learned in life. One of the best ways to learn them is by seeing how they affect you. In order to do this, you need a journal. Aside from stress, journaling can help us see the hidden messages behind life's twisting ways.

Dr. Carter McNamara, a professional authenticity consultant, said learning is linked to a classroom in many minds.

"One of the most critical skills to learn in life is the ability to learn from life," he said. "If you can go through life with learning in mind (as you did in your classes), then you can greatly expand your capacity for learning and living."

Stress is just a road block to living a happy life. Journaling can help us get through that road block and steer clear of any other obstacles along the way. All we have to do is look back and learn from the past.

McNamara offers some questions to help people who use journals to think thoroughly about what they have learned. He calls it "One simple format for a private, learning journal:"

1. What learning have you accomplished (or are you accomplishing) today?

2. What experience spawned that learning?

3. What learning did you accomplish from the experience?

4. How can you carry this learning forward to improve your life? Your work?

5. What learning might you accomplish in the near future?

6. What experience might span that learning?

7. What learning might you accomplish from that experience?

8. How might you carry this learning forward to improve your life? Your work?

Though these questions seem hard, they really can help teach you something about yourself. McNamara said journaling takes some effort — some effort people don't feel like putting in. Overall, it is your decision to start journaling therapy. Just like a workout for your body, you get out of journaling as much as you put into it.

When writing becomes your stressor, take a break but always remember to stop and smell the roses. Being fully engulfed in life is really what it's all about.

I used to think journaling every day was hard. Sometimes important things didn't happen every day. I found that it is more appealing for me to journal when there is no deadline or pressure. Currently, I am journaling about three times a week. This gives me a good amount of content to talk about without boring myself.

Staying on track is important. When it starts to get tough, I really know I am getting somewhere.