Noticing Your Private Voice: A Few Observations on the Benefits of Journaling

This interview of Dr. Jim Loehr with @tferriss reminded me of one reason I am so much better when I write every morning.

We all have a constant companion: our private voice, also called the “inner critic.”

And because no one else hears that private voice/critic, what it says and the way it sounds can be pretty harsh. Moreover, the story it tells is based on judgements, rather than observations- making it a notoriously unrealistic.

Judgements make seeing your world (your circumstances, decision making, relationships, challenges) in a clear way very difficult. And its harder to imagine something from which you’ve got less objective distance than your own inner voice. I have written about this before.

Sidebar: working to let go of judgement is not avoidance or ignorance.

“By ending judgement, you do not avoid seeing what is. Ending judgement means you neither add to nor subtract from the facts before your eyes.” — W. Timothy Gallway.

Journaling creates some distance from my private voice/inner critic. Writing out my thoughts, preferably in longhand, allows me to see just how unforgiving, ridiculous, and unrealistic “I” can be between my ears. There are other benefits, too.

Finally, journaling helps me tell my own story- not those of my parents, family, coaches and mentors (even though those have helped shape and inspire me). I only have room for one voice, and that’s mine. But that won’t happen without the work.

Of course, none of the above is original. I owe a debt of gratitude to so many for their wisdom and guidance. These folks know a lot about journaling, and the inner critic, and learning to live with one’s self- not just to survive, but hopefully to thrive. @katewhanley @TaraBrach @J_CameronLive @bjfogg @oneyoufeed @JohnSeanDoyle @Jeena_Cho @kellymcgonigal @briankoppelman @katiedalebout @goodlifeproject @danbharris