"Journal Mining"

Journal mining is approaching a journaling practice expecting specific results, to extract or "mine out" what you believe you are supposed to receive.

Do not confuse mining with intentionality.

Intentionality anticipates gratitude and carries that anticipation with humility.

Intentionality lives inside your purpose for journaling and can be thought of as velocity, or purpose in motion.

Journal mining leads to disappointment.

Assumptions are fragile, pre-fitted to lead us to disappointment. Assumptions about what journaling "should" be fuse together, forming expectations that we attempt to meet with an input-output approach to journaling.

Disappointment arises because linear approaches are counter to the organic, meandering nature of journaling. Growth, change, clarity, learning, unlearning, revealing, nurturing, and other spiritual processes unfolding on the pages are in constant movement. Assumption-fueled willpower will not yoke and control that movement, leaving you disappointed.