Keeping A Daily Journal . . .

I have heard some people say that, with the introduction of e-mail, the Internet and text messaging, the art of writing is being lost. These are all ways of communicating with others but what about communicating with one's self? Crazy idea? Not really. A daily journal is a great way of doing just that and brings together the past, present and future. I began keeping one when I was in elementary school and still do.

I take time each evening to write down what I experienced during the day while it's still fresh in my mind. I usually cover what I have learned and accomplished that day, then write down what I want to accomplish the next day and, sometimes, even further into the future. Finally, I write down any ideas or thoughts I might want to save for later. It is very interesting to go back to previous entries and read them.

The computer has really made this much easier than the days when I carried a notebook around with me everywhere, though I still keep a small one with me just to jot down notes. There are other advantages to writing a journal besides keeping a record of your experiences, thoughts, plans and achievements. By keeping a journal, you will become much more organised in life. You will also improve your writing skills.

Ten years ago, when writing my first book on transformational thinking, called "Champions Of Change", I used the notes from many of my earlier journals. It was interesting to see how my own thinking had changed and evolved over the years. It takes a lot of time and effort to write a book and I believe keeping a journal all these years is what gave me the confidence to do so. I've written several others since.

By Dr Bill Gould

Human resources director

Wall Street Institute, Thailand

www.wallstreet.in.th