How do I start writing in a journal?

Question:

How do I start writing in a journal?

I've been seeing a counselor and she said that she would like me to start keeping a journal because getting my feelings out on paper is therapeutic..I bought a really pretty journal and a nice, pen but I don't know where to begin. What should I write down? Do I need to write a lot? Just the important parts of my day? My life story? What??

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hi,
that's an interesting question you have there. Since I used to assign a lot of journal writing to my patients, ( she probably calls you a client but my patients were hospitalized).

Journal writing won't be graded by anyone; so you don't need to worry about how you put your thoughts down on paper.
If you are seeing a counselor , then we have to assume you are struggling with something in your life that you can't handle with your folks, or friends; and what you are going to be writing about is your feelings--Everytime something significantly affecting how you feel are written down and maybe even discussed
with yourself.
An example might be I feel so stupid when the teacher calls on me, I just want to disappear...Feeling stupid is not any fun and I wish she wouldn't bother me....YOu must have a story to tell yourself, even though you are the author and narrator, you are also the
recorder of what has and is happening in your life.
If you write unimportant things and it helps you to warm up to the writing you want to get to, then by all means--use the device, if it will help you. Perhaps one of your little idiosyncracies is to
fear putting something down or committing
to the job because it won't be perfect or won't "look good." Remember, it's only a tool, not your avocation. Practice easy writing, or writing that flows the way you talk. Don't worry about punctuation, spelling and all that. For your purposes, it's just not important. OK? Get the picture? Often when you remember the feelings you have at events that are scary, or sad, or humiliating, and painful, it will give you and your therapist important clues
that will ultimatley help you identify
stuff and how to deal with with it, all your life. Make no decision about its importance as you write. Just write it down, even if it happened whern you were 6.
Now, I'm not going to get in the way of anything your therapist has advised you.
If anything I have said contradicts her, then you are to follow her. Ok?
Normally I wouln't even get involved but in a forum like this you will get answers, you might as well get off on the right foot, and get the answer that will benefit you the most. Remember, therapy is a great gift and will serve you all your life.
Good luck, take care *smle That's the great part, it's your journal and you can do it any way you want. Just start, you'll find your personal rhythm in a few days. Journaling can be hard to keep daily, trust me, I try and fail often, but usually I find it's easier if I get especially frustrated or happy, but if that fails, even making lists of what you have to do the next day or what you think of what you've done can help. Just let it come to you.. There is no right or wrong way to go about journal writing. It might help to freewrite-start writing with no mental censorship, although a lot of times you'll write so fast you can't read your own writing. I've written so many journals! I like to start off with a breif over veiw of my life; who i am, my family, my friends, job, realtionships, what i like to do, what i like at all, what i don't like....and then, from there i write down anything that happened to me that day that stuck out. I like to write it like it was a book in a series...ya know? Like I have a synopsis for the first entry, and then I jsut write down what happened to me. Write about things that bothered you, things that made you happy, sad, angry, anything that stood out that day. You don't hafta to write everyday, just when soemthing goes on that made an impact on you, ya know? Good luck with the therapy! ? Here's a formula that might work for you:
If you are journaling at the end of the day, write what you did from start to finish.

Step One: What you did...
Example: Woke up at 8 am. Showered. Got dressed. Had Breakfast (toast and coffee).

Step Two: How you felt and why...
Example: Felt a little groggy, didn't sleep too well last night.

Step Three: Reflection...
Example: I'm always tired. I don't go to bed on time. I worry about...

I know that's simplistic, a little cheesy, but a formula is a great way to start. Once you get used to journaling, it'll be easier and you can mix up your journaling style any which way. Good Luck:) so far wpepper has the best answer. I would start with the date and then: my counselor told me to start a journal. I don't know what to write. I asked yahoo answers and they told me to write about this and that and so I will. Just start, once you do you will keep going, I have kept journals all my life. I write what happens to me that I think is important and touches me - who came to see me, where i went, what I did, what i have to do. Just start and keep going. God Bless you and Happy writing. Start at how you felt when you woke up.through how you felt though the daily encounters to before you go yo bed