I never kept a journal consistently because writing my thoughts felt like giving anyone access to them, and thus, I felt pressured to write like an eloquent Socratic philosopher just in case anyone DID read it.
An interesting discussion on r/journaling about being honest, or not, in one’s journal. And how the OP found it to be tiring.
What do you think?
And do you lie or simply make yourself look better in your journal, just in case some would read it?
I tend to agree with the OP. But, I also understand that desire to please and to be liked (and to not be judged) just in case someone would read that journal, even without our consent.
I also think that when one stops being honest in their journal there is a very real risk to lose interest in journaling altogether. Which I would not want to happen.
I did lie for a while in y journal, openly I mean. I called that being ‘hypocritical’ but it was only me lying to myself and to that hypothetical and very unwelcome reader. It did not last long, it was during a very challenging time with a lot of self-doubt… not that long ago as a matter of fact. I stopped doing that soon after I started as it was exhausting and not very helpful. And not fun at all.
Also, there are much simpler way to tell lies to an audience. Being an actor or a politician are two obvious ways of doing it. Or be a writer and write (or sketch) stories in which you lie. Not all stories are lies, but many are and that’s perfectly OK.
Stories are great as in them one can pretend absolutely anything. And they’re also much simpler to share than a journal, if that’s what you’re wanting to do. I mean, beside traditional publishing in books or magazines there are many places and communities one could share their lies stories to an audience more willing to believe them ;)
I think if you can’t be honest with yourself it kind of defeats the purpose. But, I suppose it depends on your reasons for keeping a journal. I don’t journal regularly. I tend to use it as a way to vent and as a tool for self reflection. I think I would find it exhausting if I tried to do this every day rather than when I feel like I need it.
As for a fear of other people reading it, the only other person who might do that is my wife and she already knows my thoughts on most of the things I write about. Even if she didn’t, I would have no problem telling her. Aside from that, I don’t care what other people might think about my ramblings.
I go the Benjamin Franklin route. When I write in a journal, it’s honest. But nothing wrong with changing the narrative just a tiny bit. I may as well be the hero of my own story, right?
