Do you know who you really are?

In Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s enduring classic, The Little Prince, a pilot whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert encounters a little boy, a prince, from a small planet. The boy recounts his space-travelling adventures and search for the secret of what is important in life.

The little prince was very perceptive in his observation of grown-ups, and so often, this is the way a conversation will unfold when you meet someone for the first time. It’s all about what they do for a living, where they live, where their children go to school and so on. This level of understanding can build the framework of what we know about people and how we judge them.

But more than this, it can inform the way we view and feel about ourselves too, comparing life on a level of status and practicalities, rather than being deeply interested in who people really are, deep down, and what they believe in. By engaging on a deeper level, it’s much easier to find common ground or to be inspired by other people’s passions and ideals. But how many of us really know who we are, ourselves, to begin with?

Sometimes people don’t really know what they think and feel deep down, and can also lose sight of exactly what they want in life. But tapping into this and understanding more about our inner feelings is key to gaining insight into who we really are. One way of doing this is through creative journaling.

Usually when people think about a journal or diary, they think of a book of words. But a creative journal is so much more - the process allows us to delve into our feelings and thoughts in a very informal way. It’s fun, fulfilling, easy to do, and you don’t need any artistic skills.

What is creative journaling?

If asked, many people would say they’re not creative, but you don’t need to be artistic to be creative. I see this regularly in my work with clients. We all use our imagination to make the simplest tasks come alive, from making breakfast to choosing an outfit - even developing a business plan is a creative process.

The very act of being creative can increase our capacity to imagine possibilities and make them real. Creative expression can also be good for our wellbeing, helping us relax, connect with our imagination and express what may be hard to put into words.

In essence, a creative journal is a collection of words and images, which allows you to express yourself. This relaxing practice is sometimes combined with creative visualisation - a mental technique that uses the imagination to picture what you want in life.

Different mediums are used in the journal, like words, pictures, poetry, colour, doodling and textures. Much of the creation is done instinctively, but by observing your choices and direction, you may notice patterns and gain an insight into the way you feel about things and also what you really want in life. Understanding more about this is not only enlightening, but can be helpful for bringing about change.

You can begin creative journaling on your own or attend a workshop to learn the basics. It’s also really valuable to share ideas in a group dynamic, and many people enjoy this supportive approach. If you’d like to have a go on your own, Shakti Gawain’s book, Creative Visualization, offers a useful source of information.

One of the easiest and most accessible ways to make a start is by using lists. They are a simple, easy way to get into the process and engage your thoughts. Do trust yourself to come up with your own, but in the meantime, here are a few powerful ideas. Remember, the lists don’t need to be lists in the traditional sense of a string of written words. They could be pictures, scribbles or doodles. Discover what works best for you.

Appreciation

Capture things you are thankful for - this can really open up your heart and connect your awareness.

Self-esteem

What do you like about yourself? List all your positive qualities. The better you feel about yourself and the more you acknowledge your own wonderful qualities, the happier and more loving you may feel.

Success

Past and current successes, big and small. It’s great to give yourself a pat on the back and, in doing so, get a better understanding of the elements that contributed to that success.

Meaningful

Everything in your life that has meaning to you. From the smallest ritual to the deepest belief.

Fantastic and creative ideas

Ideas, plans or dreams you have, even if they are far-fetched or seemingly unachievable.

Never did

Things you’ve always wanted to do, but have never got around to doing or exploring. Simply including something on a list can sometimes be enough to help you start thinking about it differently.