USING THE DIARY FORMAT
YOUR THOUGHT S Dreams | Emotions | Moments
This is what most people immediately think of when “journaling” is brought up. The diary format is more about emotions and personal opinions than actual events. Situations that were upsetting or exciting are entered, then talked about.
TOO PERSONAL?
Some people don’t like this format because it’s “too personal.” That’s totally logical. A common misfortune in movies, books, and TV shows is someone’s diary being found, lost, and/or read. There are ways to get past this, though! For instance, try recording only “surface” information. Rather like a journal, but more about the fine details. Writing about something without actually going into what you think or feel about the situation can be just as therapeutic. For instance, instead of going on about that rude lady at the cash register, talk briefly about what the lady looked like (go into detail), then simply say she wasn’t kind… without an emotional rant!