What is Creative Journaling?

Creative Journaling is an underrated way to express, create and even find yourself. In this blog post I want to share my thoughts on creative journaling in hopes that it inspires you to start a creative journal.

What Is Creative Journaling?

Creative journaling is a little more distinct from simply writing in a book with lined paper. To journal in a creative way means the journal can be turned into many different things. 

My journals are:

• partially a sketchbook
• partially a stream of consciousness
• part therapy
• part planner
• part grimoire
• part whatever I need it to be to give me the ultimate goal of self-expression & clarity. 

Unlike traditional journaling, which focuses on simply writing words creative journaling invites me to play.

I might:

• write a poem about my morning coffee
•sketch the view from my window
•paste in a magazine clipping that caught my eye or
•doodle a lyric that is meaningful to me (see below) 

There’s really no hard set rule or requirement as to what journaling must be. The only requirement is that it comes from me. This is why creative journaling can helps me tap into my authentic self-expression because I get to practice doing and creating what I feel.

Why Do It?

Creative journaling is simple but it's powerful. I find it helps me process emotions in a somatic way. In other words, when I’m moving my hand, using colors, cutting paper, planning, writing a list, etc. my brain begins to slow down and process my life. It builds a habit of observing and creating.  It's also a low pressure way to build my creative muscle.

How to Get Started

You don't need an expensive journal or expensive art supplies. Grab whatever notebook is nearby and a pen. Open to the first page and write, draw, or paste something that reflects how you feel right now. 

That's it. That's the whole practice.

My Final Thoughts

 Creative journaling can give us the ability to express and find ourselves in authentic ways. The goal isn’t to make something for the sake of making it pretty and perfect. Although that can happen, too (and I like when that happens :))
The goal is to express yourself by using the journal as a tool to spend quality time with yourself and gain clarity.

If you want a journal that was built to be that tool (one that holds space for expression and clarity) the Creative Me Time Journal is a great place to begin.