(Or, How to Write Your Way Out of an Existential Crisis)
Journaling sounds like one of those things highly productive people do while drinking green smoothies and waking up at 5 AM to meditate. Meanwhile, the rest of us are just trying to remember if we paid the electric bill.
But before you roll your eyes and assume journaling is just “dear diary” nonsense, hear me out. Your brain is like an internet browser with 47 tabs open, and writing things down is basically hitting “clear cache” so you can function like a semi-normal human.
More importantly, journaling can actually help you figure out who the hell you are—which, let’s be honest, is an ongoing mystery for most of us. So, let’s dive into why journaling is the underrated tool for self-discovery (and how to start without feeling like an angsty teenager writing bad poetry).
Step 1: Admit That Your Brain Is a Mess (It’s Fine, So Is Everyone Else’s)
Every day, you have a million thoughts racing through your head. Some are useful, like “I should probably drink water.” Others are… less helpful, like “What if I faked my own death just to get out of this meeting?”
Journaling helps you sort through the chaos. When you write things down, you start noticing patterns—like how you always get existential dread on Sundays or how you secretly hate your job but pretend you don’t because capitalism.
The point is: your thoughts are a jumbled mess and putting them on paper helps you see what’s actually going on beneath the surface.
Step 2: Stop Trying to Be a “Good Writer”
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they try to journal is thinking it has to be good. Listen, no one is grading this. You’re not submitting your journal to The New York Times.
Your journal can be as messy, incoherent, and weird as you want. Write like no one’s watching—because no one is. Unless you have a nosy sibling. In that case, get a lock.
The goal isn’t to impress anyone; it’s to get your thoughts out so you can actually understand yourself.
Step 3: Ask Yourself the Right Questions
If you stare at a blank page and feel your soul leave your body, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Sometimes, you need a little push. Here are a few prompts to get you started:
• What would I do if I wasn’t afraid of failing?
• What’s something I keep pretending is okay but really isn’t?
• If my life was a movie, what part am I in right now? (Opening credits? Rock-bottom montage? Training sequence before my big comeback?)
• What’s something I used to love but forgot about?
• If I had to give my current life chapter a title, what would it be?
These questions force you to stop bullshitting yourself and start uncovering real answers.
Step 4: Embrace the Weird, Unfiltered Truth
Here’s the thing about journaling: it will reveal stuff you didn’t even know was lurking in your brain. You might start writing about how you’re stressed about work and suddenly realize, oh crap, I actually hate my entire career and want to move to a cabin in the woods.
(That’s totally normal. Just don’t make any drastic decisions while mid-journaling crisis.)
The key is to let the weird, uncomfortable thoughts come up without judging them. Your journal is a place to be honest with yourself—something most of us don’t do enough.
Step 5: Keep It Up (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)
Journaling isn’t a one-time magic fix. You won’t write one deep entry and suddenly have all the answers to your existence. (If only.)
But if you make it a habit—even if it’s just a few sentences a day—you’ll start noticing things. Patterns. Desires. The things that make you happy vs. the things that drain your soul.
Over time, you’ll have a clearer sense of who you are, what you want, and what’s actually important to you.
Final Thoughts: Just Start Writing (Seriously, Right Now)
Journaling won’t solve all your problems, but it will help you understand them—and that’s the first step to figuring out anything in life.
So grab a notebook (or open a blank doc if you’re fancy and digital), and just start. Write nonsense. Write feelings. Write bad jokes. Write whatever comes to mind.
The important thing isn’t what you write. It’s that you actually do it. Because the more you write, the more you’ll start to see yourself clearly—and that, my friend, is where the real self-discovery happens.