One practice that usually keeps me afloat in stressful times (like now) is writing in my journal. Did I just hear you say “ugh”? I get it. You aren’t alone. Writing in a journal or a day-book might remind you of freshman English class. It sounds like work. Maybe you believe you can’t write. That writing is only for writers like drawing is only for artists? Nope. You can write. These days you probably should write. Hang with me here as I show you a simple way to start journaling.

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters . . . “

Proverbs 18:4a

First, my story.

Sometimes, there’s not enough quiet, and sometimes there’s too much quiet. Right? (Definitely lately.) I’ve been getting pulled into the constant updates about numbers and mandates and press conferences and maps. I scroll through social media to connect and see who needs prayers today. Text my family and respond to funny memes they send. Escape into a good book or a Netflix binge. Organize one more drawer.

I’m usually a comfortable writer because I’ve been doing all kinds of writing for years. Lately, though, I’ve been stuck. I’m swimming in some deep and murky water. I could blame it on the pandemic, social distancing, and the new staying-at-home world. The words just won’t flow like they usually do.

Yet these are excuses. Yeah, it’s a crazy time, but for Pete’s sake. Why can’t I focus?

Just write, I say. (Normally, I can free-write until the cows come home. Thousands upon thousands of words spilling onto the page or the screen.)

Not lately. I could not even begin to start journaling. So I returned to mind mapping.

Mind Mapping: a Simple Way to Start Journaling

This is a well-known technique to brainstorm. As an English teacher, I taught mind mapping (a.k.a. bubble writing) as a way to help students figure out the messy ideas in their heads before they attempted to write that essay. To get unstuck.

Until this past week, I had forgotten all about it. I felt completely stuck with a writing project, grabbed my journal and wrote a phrase in the middle. Then, I drew a circle around it, then a curved line to another idea and then another and so on. Before long, the page was full. The messy thoughts were on paper.

I could have made a list. One. Two. Three. But I needed it to be free-form, open, airy.

It worked.

The stuck things got unstuck. I discovered new ideas, solidified old ones, and found some clarity. (Then I cleaned out a drawer.)

Yesterday, I was stuck in my morning journaling. The previous day I had only journaled the date. Then a blank page. That blank page? It makes even us writers want to quit this writing gig forever.

I’m not a quitter, so I went to plan B. I began again. I bubble-wrote, and it worked. It’s amazing how shifting one simple thing can help.

How does this work for journaling?

If you already keep a journal, try bubble-writing and see what happens. Maybe you’ll get a glimpse of something new.

“But I hate journaling!”

If you’ve never journaled, and you are one of the “I hate journaling” people? Hmm. This may change your mind. Here are a few simple steps to help you begin.

How to Start Journaling with Mind Mapping

1. Find a blank sheet of paper or a fresh page in a notebook. Any notebook. Any paper.
2. Say a short prayer. (Here’s a suggestion: Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You. Guide me now as I unravel my messy thoughts. Amen.) You could also write out a prayer, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s keep things simple.
3. Choose one of the messiest things in your head right now. (Fear? Health? Prayer request? Finances?)
4. Write one word or phrase to pin that one down. Write it smack dab in the middle of the paper.
5. Don’t worry how it looks. Just write it.
6. Circle it. The messier the better.
7. Draw a curved line and write the next thing that comes to your mind. The curved line is important. A straight line is too concrete, linear, orderly. Remember, we’re going for messy here.
8. Circle that word or phrase. Don’t try to write complete sentences. Just a word or three or four.
9. Keep going until there’s more mess on the paper than in your head.
10. Write the date somewhere on the paper, and then set it where you can see it. You can add to it throughout your day.

There. You did it. You started a journal. An honest-to-goodness journal. You can add it to a notebook, or you can toss it. No one else has to see it and you don’t ever have to look at it again if you don’t want to. It was for you as you wrote.

I’d love to hear. How did it help?

Give thanks. And remember we aren’t stuck with our messy and deep waters. “The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” (Proverbs 18:4b)

Thanks be to God because He has spoken clearly to us.

Are you interested in journaling?

You may also like these posts:

• Journaling Techniques to Help You Start a Journaling Practice
• What is Visual Faith?
• How to Start a Gratitude Journal
• Two Things to Help You Cocoon (tips on how to write a personal mission statement)

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