Lauren discusses how she got into her journaling habit and how she found purpose in dedicating her journal to someone else.
It’s difficult to build habits. There are so many hobbies, habits, and skills that I have dropped throughout different stages in my life in search of what to do next.
Sometimes it’s because I have to make a choice between my wellbeing or schedule. Other times it’s simply because I didn’t have a real "why" factor motivating me.
What do I mean by this?
Well, we build habits all the time that get broken because we forget what caused us to try it in the first place. I started journaling at the beginning of this year when I set a personal goal during an internship. The motivating factor was for self-growth, processing my life, and helping me make better decisions. The moment I didn’t feel overwhelmed by life anymore, I didn’t make much time for journaling. Life became busy, but I never felt the need to journal. I didn’t see the point in taking the time anymore.
I forgot it until I found a purpose again. Every time I found a reason to journal, to let my life pour out on words, I did it for another person. I found purpose in writing to someone.
As I’ve started this project again, I am journaling for one hundred days for someone else to read. It isn’t long. Sometimes it's a page or two, while most of the time, it is simply a paragraph with a prayer at the end. It isn’t much, but I am still motivated because it is for someone else. Building a habit can be difficult, especially when you have a vague "why" behind what you are doing. Ask yourself who you are doing something for. It can most certainly be for your future self who will thank you later, or it can be someone you care about and share progress with.
Whatever the case, build your foundation in a lasting motivation.