Successful people have a process of writing things down that helps them be what they are—successful. They write down their goals and their progress against achieving those goals. They have a very clear picture at all times of how they’re progressing and they make notes about what is and isn’t working so they can adjust their approach. All of this helps them to see what’s moving them closer to their goals and what’s taking them further away. Another word for this process, is journaling, and it’s something you should start doing today.
The Simple Power of Journaling
Seeing all of your goals, plans and accomplishments written down helps you to visualize the ideal life you want to create and are creating as you journal. Noting your activities and insights and keeping track of them serves to constantly keep you focused on your goals and the progress you’re making toward them. Your journal enables you to see a detailed snapshot of the actions you’re taking, changes you’re experiencing and anywhere you’re coming up short or not holding yourself accountable. Without the journal, you might not see any of these things.
Noted motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once described two test groups of top sales teams. One group kept thorough written records of their activities, including exactly what they were achieving and the outcomes of their activities.
The other group didn’t keep any written records of their activity. When they looked at the sales results of both teams over the test period, there was a very noticeable difference. The group that kept good records not only hit their targets but also exceeded them.
The group that didn’t keep written records didn’t come close to reaching their targets. They were sure they were hitting their targets, but because they didn’t have anything in writing, they couldn’t see how far from the mark they really were.
Journaling helps build confidence and self-esteem by providing factual evidence of success. It reaffirms the positive benefits and outcomes as you get closer to realizing your goals and helps to paint the picture of who you’re becoming every day and what you can achieve.
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