At this point I can't imagine how anyone gets by without a daily journal. Everyday I eat, I sleep, and I journal. It's a non-optional part of my day even if it means sacrificing sleep. For me a journal is more than a history of my thoughts. It's an act of reflection, and a way to live deliberately. I journal to avoid being an aimless zombie. Before journaling I had nothing to do with my hopes and goals. They were just ideas that resurfaced every once in a while. Journaling gives you a place to better understand yourself, to plan your goals, and to followup.
