Have you ever wondered what you’re capable of if you just sat and thought about the possibilities?  In this chaotic world of multi-tasking and the need to keep in touch, this can impact on our levels of distraction.  I am always curious to find out what someone could really do if they got rid of the distractions and sat quietly, thought, and dreamt.

It’s been said that we can see what's hidden from view with silence and stillness.  Yet today it’s so hard to do. Those that make it a priority for themselves can unlock their own personal possibilities.  See, when you just sit and think and extract yourself from the distractions, you suddenly get in touch with yourself, your true self, your own thoughts, and in some cases your negative voices.  That can be a scary thought for many of us so we hide behind the world of distraction.  So perhaps it is time to be brave!

Start the process today. Make a time in your diary for tomorrow to spend 5 or 10 minutes, maybe more, just sitting in silence quite still with your journal - thinking. Write down pondering words that interest you. We may just start to glimpse what’s hidden from view by our usual distractions, through sitting with silence and stillness. It may take some time to become comfortable with this exercise, so make it a daily ritual to commit at some point in your day the time to immerse yourself in stillness and silence. 

The Stoics did it. Ben Franklin, Mark Twain and George Lucas did it. Linked In founder Reid Hoffman and chess prodigy, and author Josh Waitzkin do it. They all journal. Each has their own particular method and reason for journalling. It is a commonality in 9 out of 10 people that I interview on the Mojo Radio Show.

What I find curious is that many people who journal to record learnings, articulate their dreams, record brainstorming notes, or jot actions from their meeting feel like they are out of the digital technology loop by using pen and paper. This post is about telling you it’s okay. It’s okay to go old school and use pen and paper to think. You don’t have to record digitally if you lean towards pencil and paper. The great didn’t, and future greats will continue to do it.

I would say that each person should use the systems or processes that they feel work best for them. Research has shown that by using a digital device to take down notes you are ‘recording’ – as opposed to ‘comprehending’ when you use a pen and paper –ie: when you write, you are understanding the learning and taking it in with context.

It is up to you to use what works best for you, but don’t be discouraged by those who think that pen or pencil and paper are archaic.  There is something magical about a beautiful pen and a stylish journal that helps you dream and learn using colour, doodles, drawings and illustrations on paper. It’s OK!
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If you are looking for a journal that is a bit different, check out the Mojo journal, the world’s first thought-provoking journal, beautifully illustrated and styled. It’s a combination of a book and a journal to help you unlock your great ideas.