The Hidden Treasures In Journaling

"I changed so much, if I could only go back in time"

"I don't even know what I was thinking back then"

"Life was so much easier when I was in school" ... oh really?

Those are all phrases we've probably said over and over when reminiscing about old times.

To be honest, we can probably agree on one thing. It's hard to remember what was going on in our heads.

We do remember specific situations or feelings at certain times, but not what was going through our heads when we were sitting on the couch and mom yelled at us for not taking our dirty shoes off.

If there was only a thing that could take you back in time and observe the old you...

This, my friends, is where the holy journal comes into play.

It is incredibly interesting to observe your thought progress and overall change, over a longer time span. There is some great value to find.

Let me show you a quick example of how powerful and important journaling can be.

A couple of weeks ago, I took a look at my diary that I started back in 2017 when I was around 17 years old.

Once I graduated from high school, I stayed in my hometown and went to University. After high school, I thought everything was going to be better and so much more enjoyable.

I could finally study whatever I wanted and simultaneously have fun with it and experience different people and environments.

Due to a lack of action on my behalf, I ended up being in the same place, somewhere I didn't want to be.

I was the kind of person that let others decide what I wanted and just didn't take any action and let life come as it is.

I started to realize, after being in that exact position in which I didn’t want to find myself, that something had to change.

Was it me? Was it the environment that I was in? Or both?

This was an incentive that made me question my choices and behavior, which ultimately led to these outcomes.

After a year of mental conflicts about what I should do with myself and being frustrated about life, something came across my mind that really caught my attention.

My sister is a very gifted football (soccer) player and got many scholarships offers from US colleges. She decided to follow her passion and used football, to not only pursue her education in a foreign country but to also come in touch with another culture.

Seeing what was able with playing football, it came to my mind that I also had the capability of creating my own adventure.

I played the same sport as she did, and even if football wasn't necessarily my biggest passion, I was good enough to use it as a tool.

A tool that could help me get in touch with another reality, another life that I desired so deeply.

It was a thought that would keep me awake at night.

There was a solution to all my current problems.

But what would I have to do to get offers from universities?

Analyzing the situation, with my supportive parents, did bring everything into motion because we came up with an action plan.

A plan that would lead me to my desired journey.

Let's say you're at point A and you want to get to point B.

What are the necessary steps to get there? Break down the situation.

In my case:

1. Find someone that is specialized in connecting players to US universities.

How: Do proper research and contact them

2. Make yourself visible

How: Find an event where coaches can see you play or if there is no such event, make them see your abilities

3. If you should get your chance, be ready to perform

How: Prepare, train accordingly, and get physically fit

This was a breakdown of the whole situation. Very generic of course, since these steps are more complex than they seem.

But this is what I did.

I created highlight videos, went to showcases, and found a coach that would train and push me to my limits, but most importantly, I had to put in the work.

It was a long process, with many disappointments and uncertainties.

Looking back, this process was always about going to the US, but understanding what it had in store for me was unexpected and mind-blowing.

So many hidden lessons that I became aware of after looking back.

• Discomfort is what led me to my goal
• Becoming aware of my parent's endless support  
• Realizing my capabilities if I find true meaning in something
• Seeing what is possible if the necessary work has been done
• The trigger for wanting more

Those are only a few lessons of so many that I mentioned, but most importantly, you start to see what's possible.

This doesn't come all at once, but after proper reflection, you notice that you added more tools and wisdom to your portfolio.

Getting out of your comfort zone

Getting out of your comfort zone is when things start to change.

You get challenged by things you have never thought of, it can overwhelm you at times, but this is only a sign that you are growing.

It’s the same with going to the gym.

Your muscles will only grow stronger if they’re being confronted with heavier weights, that they’re not used to. You will feel sore for a few days, but repeat that process and face these challenges, and there will be quick adjustments.

Suddenly, it gets easier, and you’ll start to have fun.

All these events and lessons form a new identity.

This outburst of my dissatisfaction was only possible because of taking action and getting out of my comfort zone.

The intrinsic desire to change, because even though the path might be hard, it is better to go down this road, than be stuck in the same old position.

I have to admit, I got a lot of support from my parents, not everyone can be so lucky. But the original inclination for change came from my inner desire, and that triggered all of those events.

Long story short, after 2 years, I finally got the right offer. I accepted and went to the US.

This is a personal success story in my life, which incorporates so many lessons.

Adversity can light an inner fire and leave you craving more

More challenges, more growth, more of life.

Adversity can be real painful, but there is some beauty in it, which makes the pain tolerable.

Understanding how it can shape you and form you into the person you ultimately want to become is so powerful because you adjust your mindset and your approach.

Why did I mention my diary in the beginning?

All of what I am mentioning here is due to reflection.

Most of that reflection is due to journaling.

At some point, I stopped journaling. The days passed and I experienced cool adventures, but also painful experiences.

All those interesting feelings that came across my body, all these thoughts entering my mind that I found so incredibly fascinating, I didn’t write them down.

Self-reflection was present from time to time, but if I wanted to properly articulate something about myself, my opinion on certain topics, or experiences that I lived through, I started to stutter.

Not only was it hard to properly translate them into words, but I could only remember a fraction.

What a waste…

But how could I make them stick and use them to my advantage?

So back in 2018, before I started my adventure, I documented the whole process of being unhappy and pushing myself to get to a better place.

2 1/2 years later I opened up my diary while studying in the US.

Reading through my entries made me really emotional. It is hard to gather the right words, but it made me look at my life from another angle.

Especially at a time when I was being very self-critical and would always find annoying things throughout my day, I took a look at my last journal entry.

“The day has come. We're driving to the airport now. I'm really going to the US. I'm ready for this experience. I'm curious how it will change me. Let’s get it.”

Reading this entry at the end of my journey in the US, hit me hard.

I witnessed so many crazy things during that time and reading through my journal made me realize, how thankful I should be to be here.

This is what I was fighting for all this time, this is what I was working towards the last years.

I was standing in that exact spot, where the past Yani wanted his future self to be.

So many old feelings and memories popped into my head, and I couldn’t believe that 2 years later, I was somewhere in South Carolina, surrounded by completely random people that became family, and living a lifestyle that was out of a movie.

This is what you can learn from my experience  

Take this as an example of why journaling can be so important.

It will tell you a story about your life, your old self, and your desires.

I was able to shift my whole perspective on my experiences into a different light and I became aware of how unique this place was.

You will find dissatisfaction everywhere, but if you can put it in the right light, it is not nearly as negative and powerful as you thought.

This is what journaling has taught me, and additionally, over the last months, I became way better with my words.

I'm still learning, but it feels great to express difficult emotions and unique experiences in your way.

Also, if you already wrote down your thought, idea, or whatever, you explicitly tackled it in depth and it will make it easier to understand and express.

But when you’ve never put something on paper or said it out loud, it will make it so much harder to bring across (at least in the way that you want it to).

Sit down and start to write.

Write whatever you want, and you will see that your mind will take you in directions you had not even thought of.

A diary will show you things about yourself that you couldn't see.

There are so many treasures to find.