The Cluttered Mind
A call to journal - starting today
Journaling, like any exercise, is not done simply because you have skill. In fact, you don’t need skill to journal. This is a process of clearing out mental clutter by writing words on paper. And like exercise, it burns mental calories that would otherwise clutter your mind.
“I’m a hot mess,” you might say. When I think about all the mental health issues today, I wonder, I mean I REALLY wonder, how much mental clutter people have stacked in their minds. And for a few reasons, I think this.
We are over-aware of everything that goes on in the world. Never before in history do we know of politics of other countries more so than now. I remember reading how during the American Revolutionary War, there were most states that did not experience any combat, and did not even know about the war until after all the post had arrived. Mail travelled slower back then and consequently, our minds had plenty of space.
We are over-notified. Our phones, our work, our schools - all have way more than email notifications. The dawn of “apps” have provided a front row ticket to our mind’s attention via the notification. We check our phone. Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn’t. Either way, it’s a small fraction of energy siphoned away from our soul. Cha-ching!
We are over-produced. From the food we eat to the movies we watched, we have way to much on our plate. Honestly, please let a season go by where we must wait for the next great thing to come out. We need a break from the 24/7 live streams and all hours access to dining - again, I blame “apps.”
So, just like the proverbial prophet preaching against the empire on the street corner built by that very same empire, I say - journal. Deal with the over-splosion of information by journaling. We already have our own stuff to process, and with the world’s data on our minds as well, we have a hell of a fitness journey ahead of us.
Journaling processes mental clutter and it makes us trim. How many times have you lost your temper, acted inappropriately for the situation, been triggered by the smallest infraction against your boundaries, or even been unaware of your boundaries altogether until someone unwittingly crossed a trip wire and sent you steaming in blind instinct?
Journaling, even if it’s about no particular topic, processes all that mental matter so that when pressed up against the wall by the outer world, you will respond consciously. Just like a well trained martial artist, you will have disciplined not only your body, but also your soul. And in response, you may flip tables at the establishment, but you will do so by choice - not by an unconscious triggering.
By the way - journaling is NOT writing a book. Many journal entries I write in the morning are simple sentences on my mind. They look like erratic poetry that jump from thought to thought with NO consideration for the reader. But I’m not trying to appeal to an audience, I am trying to process mental clutter for the sake of a well-trained soul.
And remember, you don’t need to journaling about anything in particular in order for it to temper your will. Just like exercise, start today. Journal in morning, evening, on lunch break - whenever it works best for you. Journal lists, frameworks, thoughts or feelings - write poetry, or send a letter to your future self for memory’s sake. Get your soul healthy and fit, and no matter how you journal - as always, may your story continue.
I’m so glad for the sojourners who support my work - every week, I will post thoughtful questions as if I were sitting across from you to get you started with journaling. I will also post snapshots of my own journals to inspire you to continue your story.