Your Personal Cheer Squad: Journaling as a Strength-Building Tool

A new year is like a blank canvas for life’s artists. Here we stand, armed with our colorful resolutions—more exercise, healthier eating, world domination—and we wonder how long it’ll take for them to fade. But don’t worry, journaling is here to save the day! It’s like having a personal cheerleader who keeps you on track and helps you stay focused on your goals. And the best part? It also boosts your awareness of your strengths. With just a few honest words on paper or screen, that “I could” turns into “I did.”

But heads up, irony alert: If you’re already one of those enlightened time-and-money savers who firmly believe that a few sheets of paper and a pen (or an app) can’t possibly influence your glorious life path, feel free to dive into your next internet adventure. Journaling isn’t for everyone, and we wouldn’t want to tempt you into wasting your precious time on something that *might* just change your life.

For everyone else: What is journaling, anyway?

Journaling is basically like capturing your deepest thoughts, wildest dreams, and daily experiences in a diary. Imagine having a trusted friend who never judges and always has time for you—that’s your journal. You can write, draw, glue, or do whatever you want to record your feelings, ideas, or plans. And the best part? Your journal will never spill your secrets. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a little self-reflection or just needs a safe space to sort out their thoughts.

How can it help me strengthen my strengths?

By regularly writing down what you’re good at and where and how you’ve experienced your strengths, you create a written record of them. Think of it as your personal fan club in book form. Every time you write about a situation where you shined, you reinforce your awareness of that strength. Plus, on those days when things aren’t going so well (and who doesn’t have those?), you can flip through your journal and remind yourself that you’re actually pretty amazing. Over time, this helps you build a solid foundation of self-confidence and strength awareness. Don’t worry, you won’t turn into a superhero overnight, but feeling a little more like one? Definitely possible. And of course, it’s not off-limits to document those moments that didn’t go so well. Strengths grow through developing your personal talents, and development includes setbacks and plateaus.

And if you miss a week of journaling, no need to panic! Remember, journaling isn’t a marathon with strict rules. It’s totally okay to take a break. Use your next session to reflect briefly on what happened in the past week—no pressure to capture every detail. It’s about the process, not perfection. A missed entry isn’t the end of the world; it’s an opportunity to keep going without self-criticism. So just take a deep breath and pick up where you left off next time.

Paper or digital: Where’s the best place for your self-reflections?

Alright, let’s compare the classic paper journal with trendy digital apps. On one side, you’ve got the paper journal—old-school, tactile, and totally Instagram-worthy. It’s like a loyal, analog companion that never runs out of battery or bombards you with notifications. Perfect for those who love the sound of paper rustling and enjoy playing with pens.

On the other side, there are digital journaling apps—the modern heroes of everyday life. Always available (as long as your battery holds out), they sync your deepest thoughts across all your devices and often come with extra features like mood trackers or reminders. Ideal for the tech-savvy journaler who loves having everything in the cloud and making the most of the digital world.

In short: Paper or digital? It all depends on your personal style. Do you prefer classic and tactile, or the convenience and features of the digital world? The choice is yours!

Bernard has already put together the ultimate list of journaling apps—I’m happy to link to it here. I haven’t yet found an app that focuses exclusively on strengths journaling.

For all you paper-journal enthusiasts out there, especially those looking to boost your strength awareness in 2024: The Strengthmaker Journal 2024 is your ticket. Imagine having a tailor-made gym for your strengths, but in book form. It’s perfect for celebrating your successes, tracking your progress, and reflecting on where you can shine even brighter. Not to mention, there’s something magical about flipping through handwritten pages and seeing your own growth. So grab a pen and let the strengths party begin! By the way, you can find cool sticker sets at your favorite online retailer to jazz up your entries.

The Strengthmaker Journal 2024 is available in German and in English, and as a custom corporate version if you’d like. You can find more details here.