The idea of keeping a journal of thoughts and feelings has been around for a long time. The practice of “positive journaling” can help boost your mood, motivation and the way you feel about yourself.

So what is positive journaling, and how can it help with self-confidence?
It’s so easy in life to think about the negative things. And the more we think about limitations, the more limiting these things become. It can affect us at work, in social situations and at home. Because we can become so focused on “the half-empty glass,” we often overlook the good things about ourselves and our lives. Positive journaling works because it brings focus back to the things that are positive in life, even if they are very small. Developing a habit of noticing these positive things can help improve how you feel about yourself.

How it works:

Get yourself a special journal for this — one that makes you feel happy when you look at it and that most connects with who you are. It may have a beautiful cover, or be in your favorite color. Make sure it is in a size that lets you write comfortably; one with a spiral binding can work well.

Every day, write down positive experiences, thoughts and feelings. These can be things you have thought about yourself, or things about others you have noticed. They can be experiences of places or things. You can also include pictures, drawings, doodles, poems—anything that represents a positive experience, thought or feeling.

This doesn’t need to take more than a few minutes each day; it’s easiest if you make it part of your daily routine, perhaps writing down your thoughts either when you wake up or just before bed. Here are some ideas to help get you started:

  • Some things that I am grateful for today are:
  • Some things I feel positive about today are:
  • Some ways that I was strong today are:
  • Some things that made me smile or laugh today are:
  • Some things that I accomplished today are:
  • Some ways that I made others smile today are:
  • Some things I saw or heard today that made me feel optimistic are:
  • Some ways that I took good care of myself today are:
  • Some things that I liked about myself today are:
  • Some ways that I connected with others today are:
  • Some positive things I noticed about someone else today are:In addition to helping you notice the good things about yourself and your life, your positive journal can be an upbeat and beautiful part of your life on the days when your confidence needs a boost.

Linda Hayman

I am an ICF Professional Certified Coach, NLP Master Practitioner and Certified Hypnotherapist. I offer coaching face-to-face and by phone, or Skype.