Journaling Your key to happiness and mental wellbeing

Journaling: Your key to happiness and mental well-being

In times of uncertainty and upheaval, you have to look within to find happiness. Each one of us needs someone who can hear us out or in whose presence we can be ourselves. However, that someone may not always be there when we need them. That’s where maintaining a happiness manual can help. Aruna Joshi, a Happiness Coach and bestselling author of the book The Happiness Manual tells you why journaling is your key to happiness and mental well-being. She also shares tips to help you de-stress by penning your thoughts down.

Journaling: Your key to happiness and mental well-being

Journaling gives you that space where you can ‘just be’. In this space, you don’t have to pretend or be fake. You are not under pressure and don’t have the fear of being judged. Writing a happiness journal can de-stress you. It can give you time and space for introspection. It will also help you to get to know yourself better. Here’s how you can reap the benefits of journaling.

Pen down your thoughts to find happiness

Making an effort to pen down your thoughts at the end of the day gives you a clearer perspective on what happened during the day. Hence, journaling is your key to happiness and here are a few steps to unlock it.

  • Gratitude

The quickest way to change your state of mind to a happy one is to adopt the quality of gratitude. Every day pen down at least five things you are grateful for in your life. Doing this daily will change your perspective of looking at life.

  • Negative v/s positive

If something negative happens during the day or you are in a bad mood, make a note of that incident on one side and write about a positive incident to counter this by its side. This will help you shift focus immediately from negative to positive.

  • Acts of kindness

Write down acts of kindness you witnessed or if someone was kind to you during the day or you were kind to someone else. If nothing of the sort happened, ponder over how you can add value to someone’s life. This will instantly lift your mood and make you happy.

  • Handle your worries

Pen down your biggest worry of the day. Analyse it and jot down steps to address it.

  • A happiness mantra

Come up with your own happiness mantra. It should be a short and powerful one line such as…

  • Today is the happiest day of my life.
  • I will embrace even the smallest joys of my life.
  • I will bring a smile on at least one person’s face.
  • Love what you do

Write about what you used to love doing as a child and try and do the same now. Just thinking about it will make you happy.

Journaling could be a great way to focus on the positives than on the negative aspects of life.