The personal growth tool you learned in first grade

Would you like to know one of the most powerful tools I use in my own personal growth?

It’s my own handwriting.

Many studies have highlighted the value of taking notes manually on paper instead of typing them, how it helps with your comprehension and retention. But I want to focus on a different benefit today.

It’s not manual notetaking that’s my most powerful tool. Rather it’s journaling.

It’s forcing myself to take my own jumbled thoughts, organize them into sentences, and hold on to them long enough in my short-term memory that they can become pen strokes.

Often, I’ll write something down only to realize, “No. That’s not quite true.” Or I’ll wonder, “Why do I believe that? Where did that idea come from?”

Other times, journaling about a problem, challenge, or opportunity turns into a brainstorming exercise that uncovers ideas I wouldn’t otherwise have considered.

I love the way one-on-one coaching sessions bring insight through reflection. And when I’m looking for a similar insightful experience in between coaching conversations, I find that a pen and my journal are often almost as helpful.

So next time you’re in between coaching conversations and looking for insight, pick up the tool you learned how to use in first grade – your own handwriting.