Dear diary: The quiet power of journaling

Dear diary, an opening many people find refuge in, because sometimes, putting thoughts into words is easier than saying them out loud. A blank page does not ask questions or expect you to speak about anything in particular. It simply waits, still and patient, for you to fill it with your thoughts, your pain, your happiness, your frustrations, well, your emotions.

Today, journaling seems to be finding its way into the lives of a new generation. Across social media, people are sharing their journaling experiences, encouraging others to pick up a pen and start writing. What was once a deeply personal habit has also become a growing business, with journals being designed and sold to an increasingly interested audience. But what lies behind this renewed fascination with putting pen to paper? Why are so many young people turning to journaling, and what makes it such a meaningful part of their lives?

A space for the unspoken

For some, journaling is less about documenting what happens throughout the day and more about making sense of what happens within. It offers a space where emotions do not have to be explained to others, and where even the feelings that remain difficult to understand can find a place on paper.

For 22-year-old Tiffany Toursarkissian, who began journaling recently, writing has become an outlet for emotions she sometimes struggles to share with those around her. Friends and loved ones may give you some advice, but some feelings can stay long after a conversation has ended. Journaling allows her to return to these thoughts privately, without feeling that she is burdening others with them. “You can write about the things you are scared to tell people, and even the things you are scared to tell yourself,” she shared during her interview with The Beiruter.

Maria Rita Daher told The Beiruter that she began journaling at 15, and now, at 24, she continues to write as a way to express herself and process her emotions. Having always found it difficult to express herself verbally, she sees journaling as a space where she can explore her thoughts freely without fear of judgment. Through journaling, she has also learned to acknowledge feelings she might usually ignore, recalling that “these feelings and these emotions matter.”

For 22-year-old Thalya Zalloum, journaling has been a way to release the emotions that accumulate throughout the day. After returning home from school or university feeling overwhelmed, she would turn to her journal and start writing everything she was feeling. “You just need to give your feelings somewhere to exist outside of your mind,” she said during her interview with The Beiruter.

What happens when you write down your thoughts?

Sometimes, you only begin to understand your feelings once you see them in front of you. A thought that keeps running through your mind might suddenly make sense when you see it written on a page. Journaling gives you the chance to slow down, look at your thoughts, and discover things about yourself that you might not have noticed before.

Thalya’s journals have followed her through different stages of her life, preserving memories of the person she once was. Looking back at old entries allows her to see how her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives have changed over the years. “Imagine having a little piece of your life that holds memories of who you were at every stage of your life and knows versions of yourself you no longer recognize,” she said

Going back to these pages can be a reminder of how far she has come. The things that once made her happy, the experiences that hurt her, and the way she used to see the world may no longer feel the same.  “There’s something really special about being able to see your past self on a piece of paper,” she reflected.

Maria Rita keeps two journals: one for her goals and another for her thoughts. While writing down her goals helps her think about what she wants to achieve and motivates her to work towards them, her other journal allows her to explore her thoughts and discover things she did not know about herself. “It helped me think about my own thinking and it helped me build my identity as well,” she explained.

A reflection of who we are

Writing in a journal can be a way to feel free from judgment and reconnect with yourself. As Maria Rita and Tiffany have both mentioned, journaling allows you to understand yourself in a way that others may never fully be able to. Maria Rita even searches for questions that help her reflect on things she might never have thought about before, allowing her to discover new parts of herself.

Journaling has long been a way to express oneself, recount the moments of everyday life, and put into words the things that might feel too embarrassing, too personal, or too difficult to share out loud. It becomes a world of its own, a universe in which thoughts can exist freely, without the need for explanation.

So, the next time you feel down and want to clear your mind, perhaps all you need is a little time for yourself. Light a candle, put on some music, sit down, and write. Let your thoughts and emotions flow onto the page. Like these young women and many others, you might find that journaling offers a comforting way to feel better, reflect on your experiences, and understand yourself a little more.