Is it journaling if you write on a paper napkin? Or in a fancy notebook? Or online? I think so. There’s no perfect way to journal. So if you’ve wanted to journal, but never tried it, dive in—or least stick your toe in the journaling waters. If you’ve journaled in the past, consider testing the waters again.

Too busy? Yes, I get it. Not oodles of discretionary time. Still it’s worth it. It has been for me—and many others.

Journaling Research Study: In a recent study, 41 unemployed professionals were divided into 3 groups. All searching for jobs, they submitted resumes, made phone calls and had interviews.

1. One group wrote about the frustrations and trauma of unemployment for 20 minutes each day.
2. The second group wrote about non-traumatic job-search events.
3. Third group didn’t write at all.

After eight months, the results:

1. Over one-half of those who wrote about their frustrations had full-time positions.
2. 25% of the non-trauma writers found work.
3. In the non-writing group, 13.6 % had started new jobs.

Researchers concluded that the difference in re-employment wasn’t differing job-hunting skills; they all took approximately the same steps. The difference seemed to be a more positive attitude evidenced in those who paid attention to their thoughts, emotions and frustrations as they wrote honestly in their journals. Interesting, huh?

Journaling Benefits: Recently I asked several people for reasons they journal. A writer friend said, “It is my way of keeping track of myself.” My hair stylist said, “I don’t have much time with three boys, a husband, and job, but I like to journal. I do it off and on—just 2 paragraphs at a time. It helps me stay aware of the bright spots in my busy day, so I can enjoy the moment. Otherwise, I tend to overlook the good times.”

“A journal is a book . . . in which you carry out the greatest of life’s adventures–the discovery of yourself,” writes Ron Klug, one of my former editors and the author of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. “A journal . . . is a place to record daily happenings. But it is far more than that. A journal is also a tool for self-discovery, an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, a training ground for the writer, and a good friend and confidant.”

Journaling and God: In case you or someone you know pooh-poohs the benefit of journaling, consider this:

• The book of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon’s published journal.
• In Numbers 33:2 God instructed Moses to write a diary/journal of his journey with that often grouchy bunch of people he led.
• The Psalms include many of King David’s journal entries.

Journaling and You: Okay, so your writing might not sound like David’s songs (or maybe it does.) But your diary/journal doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Do what works for you. Keep it up or let it go. If you’re tired of journal writing, admit it on paper and skip a few days or longer. If you want a jump-start, consider jotting down your responses to these questions: When did I get frustrated today? What am I grateful for this morning?

Remember the basic guideline of journal-keeping: There are no rules. Enjoy. Your way is a good way. I’ve journaled on paper napkins, church bulletins, paper plates, as well as in fancy notebooks.

What are your experiences with journaling? I’d love to hear. (Send me your thoughts and stories and get your name entered into the summer drawing for an autographed copy of my new book, It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life.

Today I read my friend, Author Mary Pierce’s BLOG at http://www.laughlady.com/. I always LOL on Tuesdays because that’s the day Mary (When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister?) writes her Blah! Blah! Blah! BLOG. This morning her entry was titled “The 1% Solution.”

“Last January, I set three major goals for 2007. . .” writes Mary. “I missed each goal by–you guessed it–100%. HA! . . . [So] I’m changing my approach; I call it The 1% Solution. Here’s how it works:
Today, I’ll exercise 1% more than I did yesterday. Yesterday my only exercise was beating around the bush and jumping to conclusions. Today I’ll take a five-minute walk. . . . Then I’ll throw myself a little party. . . Woo-hoo!”

And I decided to respond to her blog, even though I’ve never done it before. I typed, “Fun stuff and reasonable idea—that Laugh Lady’s 1% plan! I just typed in a witty reply to your blog, but made a mistake and lost it all. Bummer. Oh, well, sounds like a little ‘Relief of Imperfeciton‘ for me today.” Comment by joancwebb — January 8, 2008 @ 11:02 pm

THEN I SAW IT! YIKES! So I wrote another entry to the blog. “Oops! I re-read the comments I just posted and I realize I’m having trouble spelling the title of my new book. (Hey, give me a break–typing comments on blogs is NEW to me!) Anyway, the word ‘Imperfection’ is not spelled ‘Imperfeciton.’ The title of the book is–The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It Just Right. And well, the truth is, I’ve made several ‘imperfectionistic‘ blunders today and I’m still standing and smiling.

“Just for the record, in addition to the two I’ve mentioned above, I forgot to get my husband’s boarding pass online as I promised I would. Now he’ll probably have to sit at the “back of the bus” on his flight from Phoenix to Little Rock! Double bummer. It reminds of the Laugh Lady’s 1%. Mary writes that she can’t do everything [just right], so she is going to make a 1% shift in the right direction.

And I did, too. I said, “I’m really sorry, Richard.” And since I’m not down on myself tonight, it is reason enough to join Mary, the Laugh Lady, in a “Woo-Hoo!”

The 1% Solution works! And by the way, so does The Relief of Imperfection! Try it! I think you might like it! Go to http://www.amazon.com/ and type The Relief of Imperfection in the “search.” Also, go to http://www.reliefofimperfection.com/ and write me an email under the CONTACT US menu. I’ll enter your email into my January FREE BOOK DRAWING. Maybe you’ll be a winner like Linda Christ. (See the recent posting.)

Relief blessings to you this January 2008!