My Perspective on Journaling as a Meditator

We have all heard the word “journaling.” From easing stress to sparking self discovery, journaling has been heralded as an excellent therapy to handle the vicissitudes of life.

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Those who journal can’t seem to get enough of it, often waxing eloquently about it’s myriad benefits to their friends and family alike. Besides, if you are an ardent lover of well crafted stationery, you will find that you are drawn to these beautiful journals like bees to a honeypot. Available in a dazzling array of colours, with eco-friendly paper and an option to either embroider or monogram your initials, there are plenty of choices to float your boat. So the million dollar question is, does journaling really live up to it’s reputation or is it simply over hyped, a product of clever marketing? I decided to bite the bullet and maintain a journal for a month. As someone who meditates daily, I thought it would be interesting to log my daily experience. It would give me a deeper insight into my habitual thought patterns, experiences and emotions.

Having undertaken this commitment to document my daily experience on the meditation cushion, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of accountability this simple act instilled in me. As someone who meditates on a daily basis, there were occasions in the past when I have been tired. I would consequently, defer my practice to the following day. Justifying to myself that I lacked the energy and vitality required to focus on my meditation object. Through this exercise of journaling, I was able to stay disciplined and always make time for my practice. I am a morning meditator, and only occasionally I practice in the evenings. This is usually due to paucity of time.

My daily journaling allowed me to take stock of the impact of deferring my practice to later in the evening. Towards the end of the day, I would diligently sit to practice, but as the rhythm of my breath slowed down, I would quickly nod off to sleep. Journaling made me acutely aware of the discipline and zeal required to sustain my morning practice. As I was in the habit of writing my experience immediately after my daily sitting, I was vividly able to recount the various mental states I encountered during practice. On some days the mind would be quite agitated and restless, on other days it would wander ceaselessly. Often, it would chatter away furiously, complaining and commenting about anything and everything under the sun. Emotionally, I would vacillate between feeling deeply grateful, to being overwhelmed to even being resentful at times. Then there were the halcyon days, where I was calm and simply brimmed with inner peace and joy.

A Meditator’s Perspective on Journaling.

It was fascinating to observe how this mental states simply came and went, all of their own accord. How the mind could grasp a thought or an idea and stubbornly refuse to put it down. It felt as if each of these thoughts, irrespective of whether they were vexing or pleasant had it’s own lifespan. As a meditator, I had no choice but to witness them arise and pass away, as they always did unfailingly. On a few occasions, I observed the mind could get entangled on a particular subject for days on end. It would eventually let it go. As someone who is open to all world philosophies, witnessing these mental processes certainly augmented my belief in the Buddha's axiomatic teaching that "Everything that arises passes away."

Throughout the time I have been practicing, I have observed how my daily practice has contributed positively, not only to my physiological and psychological health, but also towards my spiritual development. This might perhaps resonate with those of you, who are seeking answers to the deeper mysteries of life by way of meditation.

Often, meditators can find themselves stuck in a rut and feel despondent that their efforts are leading nowhere and have been entirely futile. An all too familiar a feeling for those on this path of inner exploration. I felt victim to this line of thinking too. By documenting my daily experiences, I was able to see in real time my deep attachment to “I”, “my practice”, “my quest” to become a good meditator. As a result, I had the opportunity to to discuss this with my teacher and obtain further guidance on the subject. By daily journaling, I was objectively able to appraise how my practice evolved over a period of time. As I documented my experiences immediately after the conclusion of my practice, the entries were not speculative or coloured by the passage of time. It is perhaps imperative to highlight in this context that progress on this path is not necessarily linear.

Although, I committed to journal my experiences for a month, deep down I was a sceptic. I thought it was yet another advertising ploy to get our money. After all the economy is in recession and it’s a capitalist’s ethos to make the consumer spend. Despite all my misgivings, dare I say on this occasion, I have happily been proved wrong. As I discovered, daily journaling has a plethora of benefits to a meditator. Whether you indulge in a handcrafted journal made from the softest of nappa leather or settle for a 70p notebook from your nearest supermarket, I sincerely urge you to start today without further ado. Happy journaling!