profile

Figuring Things Out

How not to journal

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

How not to journal

Read on my website​

Hi Reader,

I tend to skip the process whenever I can. I look forward only to the goal. This would explain why I’ve dabbled with so many things.

I’ve been pulled by the result something might bring, rather than appreciating the process.

Journaling has been one of those things.

I journal now and then, but I used to do it every day, primarily to understand myself better.

I watched a video about journaling recently. The narrator discussed ways to approach journaling.

Because of the way it is branded, we often end up trying to make revelations out of this practice of journaling. We reflect internally, but it doesn’t happen naturally. We, therefore, end up giving up.

There was an excellent analogy he used: If you just met someone, would you ask them, “What do you want out of life?” or would you ease them into the conversation by starting with the weather?

For a conversation to be most genuine, it’s better to let it unfold naturally rather than you consciously trying to focus on something.

Focused writing is still sometimes needed, but journaling is not the place for that.

Start by talking about something near you. Perhaps write about what you see outside the window, or about something physical, rather than starting with what you’re feeling.

Reflecting externally often leads to internal reflection. An even better perk is that it happens without any force; it happens naturally.

Start with:

What do I know?

I’ll see you next week.

Warmly,
Suraj

If you'd like to hear more from me, here's my YouTube channel where I share lessons, experiments, tools, and resources to make life just a little better.

You received this email because you signed up on my website. No longer interested in receiving emails from me? Click here to unsubscribe.

Somewhere, New York City, New York 11373

Figuring Things Out

By Suraj Chaudhary

One lesson, thought, or resource to living a fuller life every week.

Read more from Figuring Things Out
on perspective cover image

By Suraj Chaudhary On perspective Read on my website Dear Reader, Suraj here – I hate to admit but I’m a captious person. I have a tendency to form opinions about others instantly. A part of this is definitely my intuition, but that is not the whole picture. Although this approach has often saved me from trouble, there have been more than one instance when I’ve judged someone way too quickly. For a while, I thought that I was past it, but as I’ve come to learn, that is not the case. When out...

5 days ago • 1 min read
Filial piety cover

By Suraj Chaudhary Filial Piety Read on my website Hey Reader, Suraj here – There is a particular kind of frustration that arises in conversation with one’s parents — not the clean frustration of a stranger who does not understand, but something heavier. It is the frustration of someone who loves, who wishes to be understood, and who cannot find the words to bridge the distance. Confucius addresses this frustration with a precision that is easy to miss on a first reading of The Analects. His...

12 days ago • 11 min read
More time cover

By Suraj Chaudhary More Time Read on my website Hey Reader, Suraj here – “What do you need to do better research?" More time. This was a conversation between my History of Math professor and her research sponsors. She mentioned this during a lesson about Euler. We were talking about how Euler was involved in a lot of Math. Regardless of what you’re studying, there is a very good chance that Euler had something to do with it. Even though he was not very wealthy, he had a modest upbringing...

19 days ago • 1 min read