Creative Clarity through Journaling

Getting clear on who you are and what you want are important steps in life in general, and especially important on your creative journey.

Your creativity is the most authentic expression of who you are, so the more you know yourself, know who you are, and know what you want, the more your life + your creativity will flow.

Writing is a practice that I encourage all creatives to incorporate into their daily lives. What you do every day defines your life, and the habits + routines that you curate should encourage + inspire your creativity.

Writing brings clarity to your mind, and there is something very special about transferring all that's racing through your brain through a pen or pencil onto the page. I personally start my day with my journal, and it's a practice I've developed based on the philosophy of the amazing Julia Cameron. She refers to this technique of journaling as 'Morning Pages'.

The practice of writing with intention will get you closer to creating clarity around who you are and the creative life that you wish to curate and live. When you have this clarity in written form, you can devise a plant that will guide your decisions to be aligned with your vision.

Don't judge or critique what you write. And try not to overthink the process. Just allow yourself the freedom to write whatever crosses your mind in the moment. This will take time + patience (like all creative pursuits) so take your time and stick with it!

Some people find that a journaling 'prompt' is helpful if they feel stuck. A prompt is a specific question or phrase that you can focus on, and then write about it. If you'd like to work with a prompt, I recommend this video by Maria Brophy.

Nobody else will read what you write in your journal, so don't censor yourself. This is a time + practice for you, and you only.

And don't limit yourself to just writing 'words'. If you feel inspired to doodle, do that! If you feel like drawing, do that! There is no one way to journal, just as there is no one way to create. Do what feels right for you.

Carve out a time + place each day to commit to your journalling practice. Make it a habit. Choose a place where you can be alone and won't be disturbed. Get comfortable! Buy yourself a journal that you sparks joy (I am a huge fan of Mari Kondo and her philosophies) and a pen that feels good in your hand and leaves the stroke you like on the paper. Make this ritual a special + enjoyable part of your day!

Do you have any tips that you'd like to share about your journaling practice, and what has been helpful for you? Please leave a comment below! Happy journaling!