"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
-Benjamin Franklin

In researching for this post, I came across a study by Dr. Gail Mattews, a professor at the Dominican University of California. It said that a person was 62% more likely to accomplish their goals when they write them down and share them with friends. Writing down your goals allows you to organize your thoughts and ideas better, it also allows you to see and envision your “where” more clearly. Sharing what you’ve written with your peers allows for an additional layer of accountability on your road to your “where”.

The importance of the written word can be found in multiple scriptures and other ancient texts over the centuries. The more you write the more you can drill down and paint a clear picture of your “where”. Clarity is important because the more clear the “where” is, the easier it is to navigate the journey. Think about it. Imagine walking into a cluttered room to look for an ink pen. Finding what you’re looking for is just easier with clarity. With that said, if you’re not a writer or use to writing it’s completely ok. The best way to get better at writing is to simply start where you are and do it consistently.

If you don’t feel comfortable starting with blank journals, you can pick up different guided journals on Amazon that make the process a lot easier. A while back I came across The Burn Book. It’s a type of journal that guides you in getting to what you really want in life. It addresses past issues, present thoughts, and future feelings. Then when you’re done…you burn it. It’s a pretty cool journal.

Remember when we talked about the brain in the “where” section of the series? In that section, we talked about the limits of the Neo Cortex or the frontal lobe of the brain. Its capacity to hold information in relation to the Limbic Brain is dismal. It was there that we made the comparison to the two parts of the brain your phone’s hard drive and the cloud.

Well, in this post on the importance of writing down your “where” and “why”, your journal can be compared to an external hard drive. Your backup drive to your Neo Cortex and a complementary drive to your Limbic Brain. Writing allows you to capture your ideas at the moment without having to commit to memory at the moment. Capturing those raw thoughts through journaling gives you the ability to hone and sharpen that idea.

Let’s talk a little bit about another aspect of journaling, lists. Writing lists allow you to outline actionable steps, whether big or small, and give you a line item blueprint. I use different types of lists that range from ordered lists where items are prioritized, unordered lists where I’m just getting my thoughts onto paper, and even pro’s/con’s lists where I weigh my various options.

I’ve even used a writer's bubble diagram. Sticky notes and dry erase boards are also a personal favorite of mine. I use sticky notes for my incomplete thoughts and dry erase boards for detailed thoughts that I can see daily. Another fun place to write is the bathroom mirror. You either use your sticky notes or a dry erase marker on your bathroom mirror as well.

Essentially, the concept here is getting your thoughts out of your head and onto paper so you can better organize them. Also, you’ll be in position to see your thoughts daily and envision your “where” on a more consistent basis. Eliminating clutter helps you to see clearly. The better your thoughts are organized, the better you can execute your “what” on the journey to your “where”.

Until next week my friend. I look forward to jumping back into the “What” of things with you.

Chris Chaney

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, do more, and become more, you are a leader...”

- John Quincy Adams

6.10.22