If you’re thinking that idea journals are for fully-formed, brilliant, world-changing ideas, stop right there. Idea journals are for all kinds of ideas, including those that need to be incubated for awhile. These journals can include all kinds of things, such as daily goals, achievements, observations, quotes, artwork, and ephemera. They're not so much about fully fledged ideas as they are about inspiration.

As I’ve watched my journals fill up over the past yeat, I’ve had some revelations. I've been on a journey towards self-improvement without even realizing it. Self-improvement through journaling can be focussed and goal-oriented. For example, you could write down your goals and brainstorm ways to achieve them. But self-improvement can also happen serendipitously, as you work through issues and review your journal entries for patterns and revelations.

There is no wrong way to journal. Well, actually, there IS one wrong way--being too negative. But other than that, your journal can be whatever you want it to be. Since there are no rules to follow, you can't be horrible at it. But, finding your personal journaling niche can take some trial and error. You may be feeling overwhelmed by all the options. Or, you may have chosen the wrong option and have gotten stuck because it doesn't work for you. If you're currently not journaling but you want to, here's a little push to get you back on track.