By: Christin Snyder

So far we have discovered many of benefits journaling provides. Some of them include: at-a-glance records of health/diet issues, spiritual/emotional healing, dream interpretation, and creative inspiration. The list is ongoing, but point is they can be of great benefit to anyone who uses them. Journaling is something that can be personalized to suit needs of every individual. Journals are not just diaries where you spend hours each day recording all your deepest, darkest, secrets. Journals can be very practical, and in many cases, can simplify lives of those who use them. Everyone can find at least one style of journaling to benefit from, regardless of how busy their lifestyle is.

Below are some of different types of journals that can be created. Keep in mind one does not have to be a writer at all to benefit from journaling. In fact, many writers, myself included, didn’t realize their passion for writing until picking up a journal. Words can work for all of us.

*Dream Journaling

Recording dreams in a journal gives you a window into your subconscious. Our dreams reveal depths of our being. Dream journals allow us to better remember our dreams, to view repeating patterns, and to explore and interpret our own unique dream language. Many who keep them are surprised by how much they learn about themselves, and how effective these journals are in healing and growth process.

*Personal Diaries

These are standard lock and key books many of us have kept since childhood. This kind of journal allows us to record daily life experiences, our thoughts, feelings, and actions. This type of journal serves a great purpose, it allows us to express ourselves freely without judgment. Reviewing these journals over time allows us to see how much we have grown and changed. Often old ones are humorous ;), and we can see just how much wiser we’ve become.

*Food/Exercise Lifestyle Journals

The most fearsome enemy to any writer, attacking without warning, without predjudice and without compassion, is (gasp, dare I say it?) WRITER’s BLOCK. I feel a bit like Harry Potter speaking Voldermort’s name aloud to horror of his fellow witches and wizards.

Writer’s Block is a curse to creativity. It’s as if all characters and situations and what if scenarios, which normally ricochet around your brain have been sucked into a worm hole leaving only a void behind. It’s painful, it’s frightening and it’s self inflicted!

Writer’s Block is residue of fear. For me, it is fear of not being good enough. For you it may be fear of exposing yourself to criticism, fear of rejection, fear of humiliation, fear of failure, fear of success, list could go on and on. Regardless of fear that keeps you its prisoner, Writer’s Block is your prison.

It’s time to conquer your fear and get back to business of writing.