Being able to process my thoughts and meditate on my path is super important; however, as things got busy, it was the least I did. So, of course, the first thing to do is to look at the things I am investing my time in and then make the proper adjustment.
Napoleon Hill said, “both success and failure are largely the results of habit.” So after I reviewed my habits and routines, I realized that I seldom examined my steps. This scared me. Because aside from the powerful words of Napolean Hill, I am also aware that many times the Apostal Paul, in his writing, said, “examine yourself.”
So, I started researching how to journal, and let me tell you, I went down a rabbit hole for days! While there were many details, one thing I knew for sure and that I had to get my hands on a Mulskine smart notebook. Several years ago, my wife gifted me a Mulskin smart notebook, which I loved! I used it until nothing was left, but I replaced it.
If you are unfamiliar with the Moleskine smart notebook, let me the one to introduce you to this powerful tool!
First, it's a notebook, except its pages are dotted instead of lines. Secondly, the Moleskine pen uses ink like any other pen and can be replaced with a 4C-0.7 Ball-point Pen Refill. However, aside from the ink, it also has a camera. Here is the magic of this pen and notebook.
As I conducted my research, there was an almost split consensus on whether the journaling should be done using pen and pad or digitally. Nevertheless, the Muslkine pen eliminates such a debate. You press a small button that is on the side of the pen to activate its Bluetooth and connect it to your phone; Mulskine also offers a mobile application, which, when your pen and phone are paired, with the camera at the end of the pen, you will not only have your thoughts written on paper but also digitally.
So, I ordered a new p[ack of Zebra 4C-0.7 Ball-point Pen Refills and two new Dotted Paper Tablet Moleskine notebooks. But then, how was I to structure my new journal?
The first thing I did was I the first page, I wrote and selected specific colors for my four core values: faith is orange, family is blue, service is green, and legacy is pink. Following this, I counted the total pages and divided them by four, 173 ÷ 4 = 43.25, but I decided to go with 40. And using a colored tab that matched the colors mentioned earlier, I divided the notebook. And finally, on the very last page, I wrote out my goals for this year.
I am not journaling every day unless the day calls for it. I am, however, journaling every week, allowing me to examine my steps from the previous week and the week that's to come. And when I do a journal, I write in the section particular section that I accomplished something in the particular week. For example, if I spend time with my daughters or my family, I write that activity under the action titled family. Or if I did something that was of service to others, I wrote it there.
But let me go back to that Moleskine application. Because when you complete your entry, you can label the particular entry so I have those labels match my values and the assigned colors. If I wanted to review my writing, I could do so from the notebook or the application, and either way, I could go to the specific section.
The way I have constructed my notebook for journaling is a combination of various articles and videos I reviewed. And I have made it work for me! I am looking at journaling as a tool and not a burden; therefore, the tool has to fit me and what I am doing from day to day or week to week.
Of course, if you do the math, you’ll notice I was left with about seven pages. So, I took this section and put a yellow tab; this is the “write about whatever you want to write about” section. So, if I want to write a particular win or experience that may not align with one of my core values but is still worth noting, that's where it will go.
If you decide to journal, think about this: it's not for anyone to read, so write as though no one will. The last thing you want to do is write timidly and then feel bogged down by whatever you should have written down.