Posted by octopusprime on December 19, 2003, at 21:23:11
In reply to Re: my journal - a survey » octopusprime, posted by Penny on December 19, 2003, at 11:29:16
> Depends on what you're hoping to achieve. If you're trying to remember something specific that you know you wrote about, or if, perhaps, you are looking over old journals as a way of seeing how far you've come since then, then I recommend it. My problem when I read through old journals, however, is that I see the same complaints, the same problems, etc. etc. and it makes me feel (sometimes) like I really haven't made any progress at all! It can depress me too, so it can be dangerous.
hmm, maybe i will skip the old journals then.
i want to try to break the same old same old coping pattern cycles that i think i have been in for years. i think my ways of dealing with things started when i was too young to journal. i don't think i journaled my coping mechanisms, but i really can't remember what i wrote 10 years ago (and if i wrote it was probably some silly blather about boys :p)i also tend to write when i'm feeling bad. now i'm feeling somewhat stable - neither good nor bad, so i think it's a good time to start to write and see if i can construct a positive narrative to build on for the future.
i'm tired of coping with life and i'd like to start living it. i think what i have to do is become really, really honest with myself, my thoughts, and my behaviours, acknowledge all of me, then start to pinpoint visions of the future based on what i truly am and where i have been. i never recall articulating any life-long dreams (or even having them for that matter) ... i'm really going to have to dredge the old knowledge banks to come up with something. (or integrate parts of things that already exist)
i think what i'm trying to achieve is somewhat different than your aims of journaling, penny. journaling is a good way to document day-to-day things (especially when our memory banks are feeling faulty). i think i'm looking more for exploration.
cheers
poster:octopusprime
thread:291597
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031217/msgs/291765.html