Keeping a Journal

[Jordan~]

I think it was Auburn who suggested this to me a while back, and I dismissed it. Stupid of me. I tried it today, and damn, it works. It works so well. Things seem so much clearer, just committing them to the screen makes it seem so much easier to handle. It's incredible, feelings don't seem so... confusing, now. I can turn them into something I know. And everything I write will all be very amusing when I'm 80, I'm sure.

Anyhow, damn, I can't get out of that stream of consciousness way of writing. Does anyone else keep a journal? How well do you find it works? Can you recommend anything? I don't know what, just like, anything journal-y that you think... works.

 

[LucasM]

I have a text document on my desktop I use as a Journal. My entries aren't details or anything about what I did. It is just one giant text document.
What I write?
Theories, moods, philosophies, stories...

Totally random, yet it flows.

Especially if I don't write here.

Also, I can show it to a person so they can know 'me', just don't show it to a 'J' if you don't want unsolicited opinions.

 

[Jordan~]

I have a J I could show it to. INTJ, I'd trust him with my life. And an INFP genius.
I just write everything I'm thinking when I'm feeling troubled over something. Writing it out really helps the thoughts progress and resolve themselves, I find. It also helps me make decisions.

 

[FacetiousPersona]

I should have a journal with me all of the time to record my thoughts. They are sporadic.

 

[wadlez]

Ive tried before many times and failed, now I just write reflections when I get really good ideas and promise each time I write one that this will be a regular occurence. It never is though.
My prediction, if you are indeed an INTP, is that you will not end up writing a journal for any period of time greater than a week. At least you will not end up keeping a journal consistantly, you might write in it like once a month, if that.

 

[Ermine]

I have a few journals I've written in since I was about 10. It's very useful for getting my emotions into identifiable forms. However, my writing is getting more and more sporadic, and since I've grown older, there is a lot more to write and get out of my system and not enough time to write everything, so I have a bunch of unfinished entries. Perhaps I'll try the stream of consciousness method. And like you mentioned, Jordan, it's a lot of fun to look back a couple years and laugh at my naivete.

 

[sagewolf]

I've tried to keep journals. I just never manage to stick to it for longer than a fortnight or so. I don't feel comfortable with leaving it around in my room-- I now no-one else ever comes in here, but it's not a travel log, it's for my emotions, and those are private. I don't like leaving them on paper where anyone could read them. I feel really awkward when I write them down, too. I do keep a little notebook with me all the time in case I have any brilliant ideas that I want to jot down, though.

 

[Reverse Transcriptase]

I've been keeping a livejournal for five years now. I like how it's online, so I can access it anywhere. There's a bit of a social element, in that my friends can read what I deem to be 'friends' material, but almost half of my entries are private.

I'm not sure why you guys think you've "failed" to keep a journal. You're not supposed to write in a journal everyday! You can write it in however often you want. I'll go a month without an entry, and then write six entries in three days. But I usually write a couple a week.

I just like to have it there for when I need it. I write it in at whatever schedule I choose. I control the journal, it does not control me.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

My prediction, if you are indeed an INTP, is that you will not end up writing a journal for any period of time greater than a week. At least you will not end up keeping a journal consistantly, you might write in it like once a month, if that.

I found it was really difficult to maintain a day to day record of what happens, but it is kind of neat to have created. It's very interesting to be able to return to a period and see what you were doing day to day.

What I do keep is a sporadic journal that I write in around 3-6 times a month. I usually focus on any questions I'm working with, anxieties, troubles, stressors, turning points in events and in thinking, etc... All the big things. And I find that works rather well.
​

 

[cheese]

I'm on livejournal as well. I write quite frequently because it clears my mind and makes me think better. It really helps with clarifying things and it's also a great way of creating, if you're into that. There's a nice balance of truth, in the accuracy and precision of what you say, and beauty, in how you say it.

 

[Ogion]

I'm writing a journal/diary as well, on paper. I haven't written much the last month, but i have written a fair lot for something of one and a half years now.
I like it. I don't write in it what i did in my day, not on a regular routine anyways. I'll write in it what comes to mind at that moment, i just write ahead. I had already nights in which i started writing at around midnight and ended in the morning sun
Sometimes it is even that i don't know what i should write at all when i sit down to dpo it, but once i started to write some things trivial i mostly come to more important things and musings of which i did not thought before.
So yeah, despite the momentary break for a month i will keep this up.

Ogion

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

I've kept a journal sporadically for over 25 years. Sometimes going as much as five years without writing anything. All on paper.

 

[sagewolf]

I've commented on people's (live)journals more that I've written in my own, sadly...

 

[Anling]

Whenever I'm feeling or thinking about something I write out all my thoughts and basically have a written conversation with myself. It helps me to focus and get to the bottom of whatever is on my mind. Unfortunately these musings are destroyed as soon as I finish with them. I keep a regular journal too, in a rather sporadic manner. It's still personal, but it doesn't make me feel quite so exposed. I get rid of anything very personal. I blame this on my sister stealing and reading my journal as I grew up. So, I'm somewhat paranoid of people reading my personal thoughts. No one else is allowed in my head.

It's kind of ridiculous I guess. I'd rather that I saved my musings so I could return to them later, but I just can't stand the thought of anyone else ever reading them. I don't like the idea of anyone knowing me that intimately. Heaven only knows how I'm ever going to deal with a relationship.

 

[Jordan~]

I've shown them to two people, one said I should go and see Dr. Zimmerknaben (INFP), the other said they were proof I was human (INTJ).

 

[FacetiousPersona]

My prediction, if you are indeed an INTP, is that you will not end up writing a journal for any period of time greater than a week. At least you will not end up keeping a journal consistantly, you might write in it like once a month, if that.

I think this would apply to any stereotypical XXXP.

 

[Da Blob]

I think it was Auburn who suggested this to me a while back, and I dismissed it. Stupid of me. I tried it today, and damn, it works. It works so well. Things seem so much clearer, just committing them to the screen makes it seem so much easier to handle. It's incredible, feelings don't seem so... confusing, now. I can turn them into something I know. And everything I write will all be very amusing when I'm 80, I'm sure.

Anyhow, damn, I can't get out of that stream of consciousness way of writing. Does anyone else keep a journal? How well do you find it works? Can you recommend anything? I don't know what, just like, anything journal-y that you think... works.

Actually, I keep track of my posts in a folder on my desktop. Not only do I have old posts there but I also have the "blowing-off-steam" type rants there and the "I-wonder- what-would -happen types as well. there's a lot there I'll never post.
Writing engages a unique thought process. It can be quite therapeutic. One tactic used in therapy is to have a client write a very nasty letter to someone, think about sending it to that person and then subsequently throwing the letter (and symbolically the target of the letter) into the trash, it works amazingly well for some people, but then so does paradoxical interventions...

 

[wadlez]

Maybe its an INTP thing to be scared of having people read your journal/diarie/whatever because I also have the same thing.
Its good to have it on the computer because you can write out your thoughts quicker because your typing and you dont have to worry as much about people reading it.

 

[Anling]

Maybe its an INTP thing to be scared of having people read your journal/diarie/whatever because I also have the same thing.
Its good to have it on the computer because you can write out your thoughts quicker because your typing and you dont have to worry as much about people reading it.

Typing is usually faster, but for some reason I just think better with a pencil and paper. That could be because half the time when I'm writing something I'll get distracted and need to draw something. Hmm... I should try doing more creative writing straight into the computer to see how I adjust to it.
Gah! My train of thought is completely derailed.

 

[Perseus]

Aren't these called blogs?

 

[Jordan~]

Only when they're on the Internet.

 

[abandonship]

So, I'm somewhat paranoid of people reading my personal thoughts. No one else is allowed in my head.

It's kind of ridiculous I guess. I'd rather that I saved my musings so I could return to them later, but I just can't stand the thought of anyone else ever reading them. I don't like the idea of anyone knowing me that intimately. Heaven only knows how I'm ever going to deal with a relationship.

^this exactly.

the only time i tried keeping one was in 2008. i was under a lot of pressure and anxiety and being the intp that i am i was bottling everything inside. so i started keeping a journal to vent and verbalize my thoughts on the current situation.
it was nice and helpful but it became a source of stress rather than a reliever. i was always worrying that someone might read it. so i shredded everything and stopped.

i still write sometimes but it's often on text documents or blog entries which i don't save or post. if i was 100% sure that nobody would ever read it i would keep one but since i'm not, writing and then destroying the evidence is good enough.

 

[LucasM]

Aren't these called blogs?

I don't think so. With blogs, there is a sense of expectation required as to what you write, so it fits in nicely. With journals, it is private, and thus you can just be you. With blogs, you can write what you feel, but that sense of 'blogging' it affects what you write, either consciously, or subconsciously.

The privacy is essential.

 

[snowyashes]

Maybe its an INTP thing to be scared of having people read your journal/diarie/whatever because I also have the same thing.
Its good to have it on the computer because you can write out your thoughts quicker because your typing and you dont have to worry as much about people reading it.

I'm not sure it's an INTP thing, necessarily... I think everyone has certain thoughts/emotions they don't want others to see... it's kind of like what Anling said about not wanting anyone to know you that intimately. So, like I said, I do think everyone has those private things they don't want to share; however, I also think there are certain types who are going to be more worried about this than others, and INTPs are definitely one of them.

For me, I would never show anyone my journal, unless it was a very specific entry that I wanted them to know, and it did not include anything else that was private. I might actually imagine a close friend reading some entries, just to gain a new perspective, but I would NEVER actually show it to them. Like, I feel like I would like for someone to know me that intimately, but I know if I actually went through with it, I would seriously regret it, so I NEVER do it.

There are lots of pluses and minuses to writing on the computer versus in a notebook... I would personally have to side with Anling here, because I also think better with pencil and paper. Also, some people may actually write faster than they type. And as to which is less likely to be read, it again depends on the situation-- I have no siblings, a bedroom which is a major fire hazard, and a loft bed with lots of little nooks and crannies. So if I kept a notebook, it would be safe to say that probably no one would ever find it, whereas both of my parents use computers a lot in their jobs, and we all share the same two computers and use them quite frequently, so... yeah. But my friend has a little sister and a clean room and has company all the time, and is the only one in his house who is not a complete "techno-tard," PLUS he has his own laptop, so he has a computer journal.

Whatever works...

 

[Ermine]

I type a lot faster than I can write, but I still like a pen and paper better because it seems to be a lot more connected to my mind/emotions, and even my handwriting shows how I was feeling. Sometimes my writing is really messy and scribbly, sometimes it's neat and almost bubbly depending on my mood and stress level. Reading handwritten thoughts is more poignant and effective for me.

 

[echoplex]

One thing I've wondered about electronic ...umm...thought-keeping is that it's possible that something could happen to the file, or that computers will disappear in the future. It's seems a bit risky to keep such a thing simply for the amusement of future reading, although I guess it could be therapeutic.

Plus, it's something I could never commit to.

 

[Mud~Eye]

I've wondered, what if I want to be able to go back and check on my progress? You know, compare how I once thought or felt to now, but perhaps the progression would be evident within me, and maybe that's enough. Just a thought. Happy journaling...or not.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

It's strange for me seeing the intense fear about the privacy of journals being violated. I don't really want just anyone reading my journal, granted, but some of the means of protection I'm hearing here... amaze me by how thorough they are.

My particular journal is paper (as well as a more public livejournal), and I know my journal's sanctity wasn't very secure while I was living with my parents. My older sister and I had a history of violating each other's privacy. Even closer to the mark - I had written something like a travelogue when I went to Ireland - most of which I put online for my friends, but 5% of the pages were private and not included online. I know my sister went into my room and the thing in totality because she referred to one of the private pages. I didn't write things in it which were quite as sensitive as my current journal, but given all this - I don't feel much fear about the issue. In fact, I've left it laying about at work a few times... Pretty sure no one ever picked it up, but it's possible.

Anyone reading a journal is someone who wants to know that individual far more in depth - either because they're interested or aiming to hurt. Personally, I find the possibility more important than the danger.

If you need to keep the journal truly hidden, I think you might do well to consider if what you're writing in it IS true, or is what you want to be true... Sometimes that's an issue with what I'm writing into my journal. And whenever I do, I start thinking I should be more careful about where I keep it.

Then there is the case of the entries which were so dreadfully true, I found myself making the handwriting as bad as it could possibly be, so I can hardly read it at all, much less anyone else.
​

 

[Auburn]

Journaling is indeed one of my favorite things to do...
When I journal, I spill out all my thoughts and emotional content on paper. I don't sensor it with any social regard - it is what it is, and I am who I am. I have to make sure that I'm being fully honest and naked at heart as I write otherwise the journal's purpose is defeated.

I then look back on that entry perhaps the next day and analyze it thoroughly. I've learned an incredible amount about myself by doing this. I decipher the true motives behind my actions, and even why I feel how I do when I do.

Considering how we INTPs are typically very emotionally suppressive, I strongly recommend this to anyone who is seeking to understand the ever-complex realm of emotions.

I'm not sure why you guys think you've "failed" to keep a journal. You're not supposed to write in a journal everyday! You can write in it however often you want.

I just like to have it there for when I need it. I write it in at whatever schedule I choose. I control the journal, it does not control me.

I second that...
Journaling for me is only something I do when I feel the need for it. Some days I'll write six pages and some weeks I'll write none. It is crucial for me to not feel obliged to write every day.

I still like a pen and paper better because it seems to be a lot more connected to my mind/emotions, and even my handwriting shows how I was feeling. Sometimes my writing is really messy and scribbly, sometimes it's neat and almost bubbly depending on my mood and stress level. Reading handwritten thoughts is more poignant and effective for me.

Precisely ^^
A magnificent thing about paper journals is that, for me, there are moments where I try to write down my emotional contents and I just can't put words to it. At those moments, I begin to either draw on the page what I feel, or just scribble on the page. The shapes of the scribbles usually capture the emotions better than any words could have done. I personally enjoy having that freedom which would otherwise be taken away in the formality of an online journal.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

yeah, trying to translate feelings on computer is like trying to talk dirty to Stephen Hawking.

Hey.y.yy. BA BY. h. ow y .u DO ing

 

[abandonship]

It's strange for me seeing the intense fear about the privacy of journals being violated. I don't really want just anyone reading my journal, granted, but some of the means of protection I'm hearing here... amaze me by how thorough they are.
(...)
Then there is the case of the entries which were so dreadfully true, I found myself making the handwriting as bad as it could possibly be, so I can hardly read it at all, much less anyone else.
​

i use the illegible handwriting too.
man, my "safety" methods were kind of psycho. that's the main reason why i became interested in cryptography when i was younger. i also tried making up my own language/alphabet but never went through with it.
at the end of the day though, if someone really wants to read it, they are going to figure it out sooner or later.

haha this is so fucked up, it's not like i want to keep a journal to keep track of people i've killed.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

i use the illegible handwriting too.
man, my "safety" methods were kind of psycho.

For me, I wasn't talking about a safety measure... it was more of a measure of state of denial and / or self-flagellation.

​