the journaling method Tim Ferris & Elizabeth Gilbert love did not work for me

Morning Pages, first introduced in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, was my gateway to journaling.

It also turned me into a bitter person and threw me into a mental spiral.

Morning Pages in a nutshell is a way to brain dump.

First thing in the morning, take out your pen and paper, sit down and write every thought you have until you fill up three whole notebook pages.

It’s been praised by Tim Ferris, Alicia Keys, Elizabeth Gilbert, Reese Witherspoon, Martin Scorsese, and most recently Bella Hadid.

If all of these influential figures said it’s good, who am I to say otherwise? And why would you take my words over theirs?

Well, after ditching the Morning Pages for other journaling methods, I’ve FINALLY found the one that helps me find happiness from writing.

I’m 110% certain that you would benefit from this journaling method too.

Let’s dive in!

Why the Morning Pages did NOT work for me (and probably why it’s not going to work for you either)

The Morning Pages textualized my struggles

I was once told a story that is still burning at the back of my head. Its message is something along the lines of:

Coincidentally, I practiced the Morning Pages when I was going through the most horrid year of my life.

For an 18-year-old introvert who lacked communication skills and self-awareness, journaling was my only emotional outlet.

Everything I went through including the conversations I had, the feelings after arguing with my friends, and the events that made me question my existence, was in ink.

For a while, it helped me make sense of my hurricane of thoughts and emotions.

For even a longer while, my reaction to emotions was writing them down and never finding a way to untie the knot. I dwelled on those emotions for days on end instead of actively looking for a way out. I blamed other people for my misery because look, the struggles you gave me filled a whole notebook!

I always imagined myself during that period as someone trapped in a box watching everyone else move on while I was stuck in a place the sun could not reach: inside the pages of a notebook tucked away in my desk drawer.

This is the side effect of the Morning Pages that no one cared to tell me before I went down the rabbit hole so I have to tell you now.

Don’t come down when you don’t have a rope to climb up.

It became a burden

Had I been more self-aware, I would have realized that I had already grown tired of the Morning Pages about 8 months in. Yet, I kept going.

Gradually, it became a chore. I no longer felt happy and excited to start my morning with free writing anymore.

Three pages turned to two, then one, and then half a page. I stopped jotting down my thoughts and emotions. There was a series of pages filled with “I have nothing in my mind” written over and over again in one of my notebooks.

So I stopped altogether.

I wasn’t thrilled to have a written record of myself at the worst moments

Throughout my 3 years of practicing this method, I filled 5 notebooks with complaints and unresolved problems.

One day, I spent the whole evening reading everything I wrote. I was taken aback by how ugly, hateful, and bitter I had been. I was reminded of all the bad things some people had done to me. I had to relive my past and didn’t feel like letting go.

So I decided to throw them away and quit the Morning Pages.

But I wasn’t done with journaling, not by a long shot!

I tried a few other methods such as art journaling (which was exhausting because I was under the pressure of drawing well), reviewing my day (this acts as my second brain but I’ll talk more about this method in another post) and writing based on journal prompts I find online.

After 2 years of experimenting, I’ve found the most powerful journaling method that brings me immense joy every single day.

Entering the Gratitude Journal

It’s totally logical.

If I’m upset with noting down all the negative emotions and unsettling life events, I’d feel the opposite writing about the uplifting interactions and happenings.

I took out a brand new notebook (it’s the most gorgeous Barbie-themed Moleskine notebook that my friend gave me) and started writing.

Here’s how I keep my gratitude journal

There is no wrong way to do gratitude journaling. You don’t have to follow my exact steps.

But you might want to consider these following tips:

1. Be specific: “I’m grateful for my friend” is not as effective as “I’m grateful for the meaningful conversation I and my friend had today even though we’re both busy with our lives”.

2. Don’t write about the same thing: “I’m grateful to have a roof over my head” is of course essential to keep in mind. But repeating it for 5 days in a row makes it lose its magic. Try seeing it from a different angle or zero in on a different detail to make the practice more effective.

3. Don’t write daily if you don’t want to: When I first started, I had the impression that everything in the gratitude journal needed to be joyful. But there are good, bad and mediocre days. By writing daily, I was trying to fake positivity. That’s not what the gratitude journal is about.

4. Record what strengthens your love for life: When I stopped at the red light the other day, I stood next to a mother with her two kids. They had the most wholesome conversation and I just had to write it down. Your gratitude journal doesn’t have to only be about you and the people you directly interact with. Write whatever that makes you go “I love this life!!”

5. Use multiple colors: I have lots of colored pens to use up and a notebook containing my happiest memories. What’s a better way to elevate the joy? Writing in colors other than black or blue makes journaling so much more enjoyable!

Why the Gratitude Journal matters

Being grateful for what you have is fundamental.

It’s the key to happiness as many researchers have suggested.

But the reason why it is the most powerful journaling method to me is it reminds me of the good in people and myself.

I’ve learned to not respond to my anger or sorrow.

I’ve learned to question other people’s motives when they say or do certain things instead of jumping to a conclusion or taking it personally.

I’ve learned to deal with criticism and built a pretty solid shield for my confidence and self-worth while still keeping an open mind.

I had my first viral article that brought in mixed reactions including some harsh comments and I did not break down. How amazing is that?! I might actually have what it takes to be an online content creator (lol).

I can’t say I haven’t gone back into my pattern once in a while but there’s progress. And I’m excited to see how far I’ll come with gratitude journaling being my trusted companion.

Gratitude journaling has been a blessing to me and I have the Morning Pages to thank.

But just because it didn’t work out for me, it doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Give both methods a go and branch out into the journaling world. You’ll find out so much about yourself in the process.