Fr. Fabrice is a director of novices. During a renewal course that he attended he was introduced to Spiritual Journaling. He says, “The Journal is a very powerful instrument both for emotional and spiritual growth. It helps me to enter deeply into my experiences, learn from them and become aware of how God is acting in my life. It is only two weeks since I started doing it and I find it very useful.”
What is Spiritual Journaling?
Spiritual Journaling is the practice of regularly recording your experiences, thoughts, reflections and prayers. It can be done through writing, drawing, preparing a collage, or in other ways. It includes exploring experiences, composing prayers, meditating on scripture, reflecting on spiritual texts, noting down perplexities, recording insights, etc. Its purpose is to gain greater awareness of your emotions and thoughts, explore more in depth daily events, become conscious of new learning and insights, become attentive to how God is leading and guiding you, and to grow in your relationship with God.
Spiritual Journaling is not a chronicle or a diary. A chronicle is an objective account of what happened, e.g. “John came to meet me at 3.30 p.m. We talked for twenty minutes.” A diary is an informal and personal jotting down of events and thoughts of daily life, e.g. “Today John came for a chat and we had a meaningful discussion. It would be good if I call him tomorrow.” Spiritual Journaling is a reflective recording of experiences, feelings and thoughts, to gain deeper understanding of one’s inner life and deepen one’s relationship with God, e.g. “Today John came for guidance and listening to him I was deeply moved. His situation reminded me of Jesus saying that he had compassion on the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
Different Types of Journaling
There are different types of Journaling.
- Gratitude journal – In the evening writing down some things that happened during the day for which you are grateful.
- Dream journal – Writing down your dreams and exploring what they reveal about you.
- Reflection journal – Writing down your reflections from a philosophical or psychological perspective with or without any reference to God.
- Intensive Journal – A structured/systematized form of journaling developed by Ira Progoff which uses specific exercises and prompts to help individuals explore their life experiences, emotions, and goals.
- Prayer Journal – Writing down and exploring what happens during your prayer. Its focus is prayer and not the other events of daily life.
- Spiritual Journal – Recording your spiritual journey.
While all forms of journaling help reflection and facilitate growth spiritual journaling focuses on life’s purpose, one’s spiritual journey and relationship with God.
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb
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