Do you ever seem all topsy-turvy and upside down?

I have kept a journal on and off for the last thirty-five years. Journaling is one the most successful development tools, if not the most successful developmental tool, I recommend to my clients. I believe that journaling is the most effective bedrock practice you can cultivate. It has helped me become more aware of my thoughts, drivers, behaviour, and reactions. Plus, I periodically write down lessons learned and milestone moments passed so I have a reference, a record of what has happened and what worked so I can use it in the future.

Journaling has helped me do the following things: Illuminate my understanding and thoughts, get to know myself better, disentangle painful emotions and manage conflict.

So powerful is journaling that Maud Purcell, psychotherapist and founder and executive director of the Life Solution Centre of Darien, says, “Writing accesses our left hemisphere of the brain, which is analytical and rational, while our left brain is occupied. As a result, our right brain is free to do what it does best, i.e. create, intuit and feel. Hence, journaling writing removes mental blocks and allows us to use more of our brainpower to understand ourselves and the world around us better.”

Without question, journaling has been the top inspiration for everything I do. Journaling is a habit you can recommence at any time. You don’t have to journal every day, even a few times a week.

Journaling is a practical and accessible way to stay connected to your inner self, your body, your dreams and your purpose in life. Charles Duhigg

You do not need to make a massive commitment. Try it for ten days. I recommend spending five to ten minutes a day reflecting in your journal. When the ten days are up, return and review what you have absorbed and the growth you’ve made. Then you can decide if you want to continue journaling. I would also encourage you to carry your journal at all times and have it available to you during the day. Some people are very structured regarding when and where they journal. I would invite you to make sure you choose a time when you will be uninterrupted from doing your journaling. Journaling helps us deepen our connection with ourselves and expands our self-awareness to better connect with others. I have noticed in my work that when clients write down and note their thoughts and feelings and record their emotions, their growth is more sustainable and enduring.

You may find (like me) that journaling helps release some of our emotional responses to events that have happened. It is indeed an effective way of dealing with daily occurrences. In addition, this can help process and perhaps encourage you to explore more positive reframing options. So try this today and see how you get on.

Taking a few minutes to jot down your thoughts and emotions will help you get you in touch with your inner world.

Personal Nudge Notes

  • My current challenge
  • My current constraints
  • My current resources
  • How am I getting in my own way?
  • emember, when you journal, bring your whole self to the process.

Author(s)

  • Sunita Sehmi

    Leadership Advisor I Exec Coach I Author I CEO Mentor @RichardBranson I Coach @Cancer Support Switzerland

    Walk The Talk

    I am an executive coach and organisational consultant with over 20 years of experience, specialising in leadership transformation and change management for C-suite leaders and senior executives. As the founder of Walk the Talk Organisational Consulting and Leadership Advisory Services, I have supported leaders across major industries, including Tech, Banking, Pharma, Business Schools, International Organisations, and Social Entrepreneurship, helping them drive impactful leadership development and cultural change. Having worked with CxOs worldwide, I am passionate about helping leaders unlock their full potential and align personal growth with organisational objectives. I’m known for inspiring authentic leadership, driving transformation, and creating sustainable organisational impact. As an author and thought leader, my work has been featured in publications such as Forbes Middle East, Thrive Global, and Huffington Post. I am the author of two books, How to Get Out of Your Own Way and The Power of Belonging, which explore the intersection of personal development and organisational success. Through my involvement with the Richard Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, I actively mentor emerging leaders and support social enterprises. I am deeply committed to empowering leaders and helping them create lasting, meaningful change within themselves and their organisations.