Why Journaling Can Be So Awkward — A Psychological Exploration

Thank you for watching this, and here are some links below about my other work on journaling (and self-therapy):

[pboytrif]

As someone who barely knows you Daniel, you seem like a lovely guy, vulnerable and authentic. I know it must seem daunting to share yourself with strangers on the internet but its a beautiful gift to the world. Thanks mate

[katatarot]

It's really beautiful that someone actually enjoys their own presence 🌷

[AissataDCisse]

Hello can you make a video on dealing with shame while journaling. The more i journal and express my feelings i am ashamed by my mistakes, my history. It's like a cycle and it's painful. When i feel this way i want to stop journaling and hide in my comfort zone because it is too painful to handle.

[.A]

Now I know how to release the ancient anger without hurting innocent people.thank you for sharing

[tribalkoala]

I get shy even reading old journals of mine, yet get delighted of the improvements I see and sometimes get reminded of some techniques I used that help me in the current situation. You are so brave and badass (excuse my language) for being so open online and with yourself, sorry about the unconscious parents to the level of evilness, it’s the trickiest thing to break away with so much pressure from the society to keep bonds with them ☺️

[julyy]

Thank you for this video, Daniel! I just happened to find my old journal from a couple of years ago when I was trying to just find some piece of paper that I could write things down but instead, found my old journal. So I had no intention on walking down a memory lane by reading what happened to me 4 years ago and how I felt then. It was eye-opening and I sobbed; I sobbed because I realized how I still think the same thoughts and feel these agonizing feelings (have I not grown more as a person? I thought to myselfand felt a little disappointed) and I cried because I felt empathy for the past-me.
The journals were mostly about my break-up from a long relationship and times just before that happened. I am glad I wrote these things down because even though it didn't feel nice to read about these things, I would have forgotten how awful the relationship made me feel; worthless and ugly, undesirable and how desperate I was in trying to love this man that didn't want my love anymore and who didn't love me. I am in my life now where I was just starting to make all these silver linings to this past relationship and forget about all the anxiety and sorrow it made me feel... well these journals brought me back to reality and to the realization that I am responsible for taking care of and loving me and that I will never want to experience something like that ever again.
It's ok to reminiscience on the good qualities of a past relationship as long as you remember the bad things of it too, and I wouldn't have remembered have I not wrote them down on my journal. And that is a major good thing about journaling on top of all the other qualities journaling offers (knowing thyself more for example.).
Thank you for reading this lengthy comment and have a good day!

[pinkythepolarbear]

Thank you for making this video Daniel. A couple of days ago I decided to be brave and try doing my journaling in a video format and I felt very much nervous and self conscious while recording it!!

[shintafukuda]

If _any_ of these are, this video is the most eloquent *masterpiece.* Thank you Daniel. Dostoevsky for one would be very proud of you.

[pod]

Your greatest work is still ahead of you. I can feel it. It feels like you're gathering a ton of experience and information for something big. Maybe you don't even know it yet.

[Hippowdon]

I love the second half or last quarter of this video; The looks at the awkwardness and changing level of honesty in journaling and being more able to accept your old behaviours and slip out of denial into another state of being.

[maiziemom]

I’m In awe that you were able to overcome your fears by doing the things you were afraid of, pushing yourself forward, having the intestinal fortitude not to recede back into the comfort zone. It’s fortunate that you started doing this 30 or more years ago instead of waiting until it was too late and you only had bitterness in your being. You gave yourself the chance to see, experience & overcome your fears, anxiety about your life growing up. That is BIG! You deserve a pat on the back (and more) that you actually DID something to help yourself into a healthy place within yourself. You kept trying, even when it the world was an unknown, scary and uncomfortable place. You picked yourself up and brushed yourself off and were the better for it. You didn’t get locked into the lie of your parent’s web of their self denial. In MY book, that is TRUE SUCCESS! Kudos to you! Most people fail at helping themselves at this...and they become my age, with maybe not that many years left in life. Thank you Daniel for sharing your life and learning with us. I’ve learned so many things from your videos, that I unconsciously did. Now, perhaps I can move forward in a better way.

[palmamingozzi]

You are so wise. I am so going on the trails and dictate my own notes. I love to write everyday. Thank you Daniel. Stay happy, stay safe and happy holidays 🌺

[jane]

You seem happy in this vid. Good to see. You're awesome. ❤

[ethanschneider]

Thank so you so much for posting this video!

I have watched literally every video you've put out over the years. Love it.

Great content!

I'm working on getting better at jouraling. Trying to go through the grieving process and connect the dots.

[efehansahin]

I enjoy your videos.

I would like to talk to you in person.

I followed your channel since even before the beginning of my journey.

And as time past I began to see and understand your words in a different, more meaningful way. - You are so right.

Keep making videos and help the world become a better place.

[recoveringsoul]

I've heard that some survivors of really bad abuse as children, like they were told never to speak about it, find they CAN'T speak about it. But they can start to write about it. And something about forming the letters by hand writing, somehow unlocks something in their minds so the words start to flow more. I don't think that typing would have the same effect, but it is faster. And I would be way too afraid to put anything very personal on a phone because, well, it's a digital format. Anything digital is subject to hacking.

my ex I caught him reading my journal one time and he said he was entitled to because we were together. I stopped writing, or changed what I wrote knowing I may have an audience. I could no longer even be honest with myself. But the urge to "talk to someone", even if it's only myself, never left. So I'd jot down stuff on scraps of paper, or doodle stick figures or something. I need to get back into it. But not my phone because I know it's hacked already.

[fromliamwithcare]

thank you Daniel I'm going to try this, i value the way you share your insights and experiences and I feel this practice could be very beneficial for what I'm holding in right now ❤

[bugbean]

It was a journey but I love dictating now, it really helped me to realize and learn about dissociated parts of myself I have amnesia for. It's much more powerful for me compared to writing because all the differences in tone of voice, emotions, wording, dialect etc. are there. For sure there are also differences when written in the handwriting, phrasing and punctuation but listening to them offeres a better opportunity to learn more about who they are - and furthermore who I am as a whole if dissociation wasn't that strong.

[jesseishere]

Writing allows me to see my cognitive distortions.

[dancheeek]

Appreciate your honesty and vulnerability. I feel like I can relate to someone, thank you.