I thought a blog was sufficient, but I guess I need a freer outlet. I still edit what I think in a blog, so that it doesn’t offend people that I know and still keep the message clear. That’s tough, which is why journalling helps. A private journal that is. A private journal allows me to “just write”. Many times my thoughts are not so free flowing when blogging, because I cannot just write.
After downloading The Journal, as recommended by Steve, I found it a joy to be able to type freely again. I have plenty of drafts in my wordpress which I feel it’s too personal, which is why they remain still as drafts. I guess I’m after all not a very open person, not yet anyway… 
For now, I’m keeping 3 separate journals – a daily one where anything goes, a Tai Chi journal where I’m keeping track of my progress, and a reading journal where I keep track of the books I’m reading (so I don’t lose the essence of those books). I’m considering keeping a professional journal as well, but I somehow cannot justify my personal time spent on reflecting on my work. I do feel that it’s important, but I feel that the company should allow such down time as part of work. The company that i’m with now is not so pro on that, although it’s much better than most other companies I’ve heard of already, so I’m still quite lucky to be here, and lucky enough to still have a job in the current economic turmoil.
A side effect of journalling? I get to write more and post more often. 
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6 Comments
Hey Shang.
Like you, I also keep a journal that’s private. However, for me, it’s a moleskine notebook that I jot things in, or Evernote.
Just curious, why use “the Journal” software and not just create a private wordpress blog (subdomain, or locally hosted, or wordpress.com)?
Hey wujimon, incidentally, i’m trying out Evernote as well! But i don’t think i’m going to use it now. I’m finding a balance between high tech and low tech. Although I love written note books (i think they’re a dying breed), typing on PDAs are still quicker. I’ve also toyed with the idea of a private blog, but that requires internet connection, which will introduce a lot more distractions. Which is why the current balance between high tech and low tech.
Hey Shang. I agree with the idea of balancing out low/high tech devices
I opted for the private blog thing b/c (1) it’s free, and (2) there may be a time where I will want to post something away from my home computer.
Do you have “The Journal” installed on your PDA (personal digital device)?
I tried that out with wordpress actually. There’s quite a nifty wordpress app for iPhone. Unfortunately, i found out the same thing as what I do with an online blog. The drafts stay as drafts. And there isn’t much time to reflect on a PDA. A journal allows a much better reflection time, and hence better understanding. So i end up jotting down the key idea i would like to journal about (if there’s one) on my iphone, and then let myself go when journalling. It’s working better than I expected so far. A simple notes program would do. (the journal has no mobile version)
I kept journals for about 12 years. Then after I did standing practice for a few months, I threw them all away. It felt quite liberating.
Hahahahhahah! i hope I won’t need the 12 years to realize that, but I’ll give it a go for now.
But you do have a point, instead of meditating in words, you meditate in your mind, which I suppose is what the journal is trying to do, but using written words. I’ll keep your words in mind. Thanks Rick.
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