Want to keep a Journal but find it's NOT your forte?

These days, many find pleasure and answers through the art of journaling. You can journal about any topic under the sun. You can journal about the sun if you choose – anything you’d like to write about, you can have a journal for it.

But is journaling really an art form? Is it something made by the hands of only a creative few? Are there special skills involved in journaling?

No. Then why do some consider themselves journal-challenged? Why does it seem to come so easy to some people while others struggle with it? And how can the seemingly journal-challenged individuals find the same pleasure as the journal-inclined?  

There are various ways to keep a journal; audio, video, etc. But if you find journaling hard to grab hold of, try your hand at these alternatives to traditional journal-keeping to get you started. You can always alter your techniques later:  

1. Check out the ready-made journals in stores. Select one with a cover that seems to fit your personality (landscapes, cartoon, blank cover, etc). It doesn't matter if the pages are lined or unlined (you'll understand why, later).

2. Along with your newly-found journal, purchase a small note pad that's easy to carry around in your purse or pocket. Fasten a pencil or pen to it for convenience. 

3. Whenever a thought comes to mind, make a note of it on your pad and add the date. You can jot it down as a title, heading, or bullet-point; any way that's comfortable. Don't try to categorize your thoughts and don't worry about editing your work. The object is to write 'something'.

4. After a few notes, tear the sheet away from the pad and using glue, tape, or a stapler, secure it to a page in your journal. Attach it in the middle, at the top, or wherever you feel you want it. Date the journal page to reflect your notes (use a single date or range of dates). If you feel like jotting down additional notes afterward, by all means, do so. There's no right or wrong way to do this. Experiment with these steps for a while and after a short time, you'll have pages and pages of your personal thoughts and ideas.

5. After a week or two, review your journal, looking for clues of your journaling habits. If you decide to stop using your note pad and write directly in your journal now, do so, but if at any point you realize your entries were more regular at first, then go back to the note pad. Do what's comfortable and convenient and chances are that you will stick with it.

At some point, you may want to personalize your journal even more. Try adding drawings, stickers, pictures, color pens, pencils -- anything that makes writing down your thoughts, feelings and ideas fun. Before you know it, you've -- dare I say it? -- CREATED an extension of your true, inner self. And you thought it wasn't your forte.