Journal Writing

Writing is a two prong thing for me.

First, the process of thinking and writing itself is enjoyable and vaguely satisfying.

Secondly, well crafted words can command enormous influence. Every good story, instruction or code starts with a written word. 

But what's also true is that writing regularly is hard work. It's not easy and needs discipline and willpower. It's like any other muscle to be trained to avoid atrophy.

I've done very little journaling in my life, and I always come across praise for this format of writing. Even doctors say it's good for mental health, let alone the self help types who think it leads to self reflection and motivation.

Beyond the fact that sharing what you write can be rewarding for reasons well known, it also forces you to think better to write better every time. This is also one outcome of writing. It makes you a clearer and more structured thinker.

Sharing your writing with others is a good way to motivate yourself. But even if you don't share, you still have the inspiration to come back to what you wrote months and years back and try to get into your ghost head. I find this act amusing, interesting, sometimes bewildering. But that's ok. Everyone should do it in my view. Those who aren't journaling, are missing out on this. 

As succinctly put by Margaret Atwood, a word after a word after a word is power. Not that I'm a power hungry maniac, but I can't help but come back and feel good about the nasty prose I wrote. 
That's reason enough to bring some much needed rigor in my journaling I guess.