One of the best ways to get better at understanding our own boxes and their effect on us is through journaling.  I don’t mean the stereotypical daily page-by-page, blow-by-blow accounts, but more like letters to ourselves.  In fact, writing a dialog with ourselves is tremendously useful.

How does it work?

As we write, sometimes we have other responses in our heads to thoughts we write down.  For example, we might write, “I want to go to France.”  A response might be, “Yeah, right, like I have money for that.”  Another response might be, “Well, I could set up a savings account for it.”  And then, “Well, I’d better set up an appointment at the bank to talk about options for savings.”  If we label that first thought A, and then label each response, we can begin to follow a conversation:

A:  I want to go to France.

B:  Yeah, right, like I have money for that.”

A:  Well, I could set up a savings account for it.”

C:  I’d better set up an appointment at the bank.

“C” is the advisor that helps us get in touch with our deeper wisdom.  It might be D or E.  But if we dig deeply enough, we can find the inner strength to navigate many tough problems.

What do you think about journaling?  Do you use one?