# Do I journal even the negative thoughts? ## Journaling and Negative Thoughts - Journaling is a highly personal activity with no rules, and individuals can choose to write about anything they want, including negative thoughts, in their journals [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=0s). - The decision to journal about negative thoughts is a personal one, and some people may find it helpful to include all their thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative, in their journals [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=10s). - Writing about negative thoughts can provide comfort and healing, and can also serve as a way to process and reflect on difficult emotions, allowing for introspection and personal growth [(00:00:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=49s). - Including both positive and negative thoughts in a journal can provide a more realistic and nuanced picture of the writer's life and experiences, and can be helpful for others who may read the journal in the future [(00:00:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=56s). ## Recommended Journal for Beginners - A recommended journal for beginners is the MD notebook, which is affordable, has high-quality paper, and is available on [[Amazon (company) | Amazon]] and in stores at [[Barnes & Noble]] [(00:02:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=171s). - The MD notebook has 176 pages and can withstand heavy use, making it a good choice for those who want to write regularly and fill up their journal quickly [(00:03:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=205s). - The journal can be used to write about all aspects of life, including thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and can serve as a valuable tool for personal reflection and growth [(00:03:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=219s). ## Journaling about Life's Aspects - Journaling can include writing about conflicts, such as arguments with a spouse, and their resolution, as well as frustrations with children, and even prayers for them, all of which can be included in a single journal [(00:04:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=242s). ## "Burn Journal" for Dark Thoughts - Some people use a "[[Barnjournalen | burn journal]]" to write down dark and negative thoughts, which they may later destroy to keep private, and this can be done by having a separate small notebook or insert that can be kept with the main journal [(00:04:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=267s). - Writing down dark thoughts, even those related to depression or suicidal feelings, can be a helpful way to process them, and it's up to each individual to decide whether they want to share these thoughts with others or keep them private [(00:05:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=345s). ## Journaling for Processing Emotions - Journaling is a tool that can be used to work through difficult emotions and experiences, and it's not necessary to keep a journal that is only positive or uplifting [(00:06:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=387s). ## Author's Journaling Practice - The journal discussed is one that lays flat and can be filled quickly, with the author including quotes, such as one from [[Winston Churchill]], and making notes about their experiences and thoughts [(00:06:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=398s). - The author practices what they preach by using the journal and including a variety of entries, such as a failed experiment with verse mapping, and then continuing to use the journal in a way that works for them [(00:07:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=431s). ## Personal Choice and Growth - The decision to keep a notebook, even if it only has a few pages filled, is a [[Personal Choice Party | personal choice]] that reflects individual growth and development [(00:08:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=493s). ## Flexible and Inclusive Journaling - Journaling is a personal and flexible practice that can include writing about all aspects of life, including frustration, happiness, celebrations, and mundane events, all in one book [(00:08:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=509s). - The practice of journaling has no rules, and individuals are free to create their own approach, including deciding what to include or exclude from their journal, such as negative thoughts [(00:09:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=541s). - Some people may consider using a "[[Barnjournalen | burn journal]]" to write down and then destroy negative thoughts, but this is a personal preference and not a recommended practice for everyone [(00:08:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=536s). - The goal of journaling is to use it as a tool to enhance one's life, and individuals are encouraged to share their own approaches and experiences with journaling [(00:09:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA&t=551s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aST4MV4YbCA)