Reflection and Journaling
A guide to reflecting and journaling to help you make the most of your study time on this programme.
If you prefer a printed copy of this guide you can find a printable version in the section called transcriptions and printable documents.
6. How to get started
A journal can take any form. A written journal may seem a bit daunting at first, however many people find that a written journal becomes most useful for ongoing reflection, and if it is kept regularly rather than sporadically, whether that’s for a short period or over a lifetime.
If you choose a written journal then you can incorporate as many different styles of writing as you wish. Don’t worry about grammar or even punctuation; simply pour onto paper whatever comes. If the idea of writing seems difficult then practice a little first.
Below, and on the next page, are some exercises you might like to try:
Exercise 1
Write for 6 minutes without stopping on a key experience, important encounter, or significant conversation.
Try one of these as a heading:
- a piece of work I would love to initiate/complete;
- a relationship I find difficult;
- an aspect of my life that makes me feel really alive;
- the last straw.
After 6 minutes explore what you’ve written, what questions it asks of you, and what insights it reveals into how you feel and why you act as you do. You are likely to be surprised at how much this does reveal about yourself.