Vantage Point Journaling: Unload Your Stress and Develop Creativity

Author: Nebo D. Lukovich

Learner, Reader, Student of Life

Nebo D. Lukovich

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

​Many successful people keep journals. Also, some famous figures in history, like Napoleon or Marcus Aurelius kept journals. This practice has some obvious benefits – it clears up your mind, releases stress, and brings you clarity and inner peace.
 
There are many varieties of journaling, like keeping a diary; journaling with the Stream of Consciousness technique; keeping a journal from others’ perspective; dream journaling; art journaling; and many, many others. For all of these methods, you can easily find instructions on the Internet.
 
However, in this article, I will focus on a new type of this practice: the Vantage Point Journaling, part of the Reintegration System methodology.
 
 
Vantage Point Journaling 

We could say that this is a unique journaling technique. It is different from all other methods in that it initiates writing from four distinctive points of view:

1. From our Temporary I – in a “normal” state of everyday consciousness;
2. From our Heart – done in a deeper state of consciousness;
3. From the other person’s perspective (optional);
4. From the state of Pure Consciousness (Presence).

 
You can adapt your Vantage Point (VP) Journaling practice to your own needs and circumstances. For example, you can keep your diary in a VP Journal form, or practice the Stream of Consciousness technique in a VP Journal framework. Of course, you can apply any other well-known journaling method and do it from several points of view of VP Journaling practice.

Vantage Point Journaling is different from all other methods in that it initiates writing from four distinctive points of view.

VP Diary Journaling 

This method of journaling is especially good for those of you who need to improve mental clarity, de-clutter the mind, and improve focus.
 
All of us know very well what a diary is. What’s important for this practice is that diary captures streams of thought in an organized and structured way. It requires investing a certain amount of energy and focus on writing.
 
In this framework we will write our diary from several vantage points – the Temporary I,[1] the Heart, another person’s perspective, and Pure Consciousness.
 
The VP Diary Journaling structure is the following:
  
Stage 1: Writing from the Temporary I
 
To begin with your journaling session, do not try to change your mindset or relax too much. Just stay in your current state of mind, whatever it is. Maybe you are anxious, worried, angry, or experiencing any other emotion. You have to write exactly from that state. In this stage, your vantage point is your Temporary I, your transitory I-feeling at that very moment. Just become aware of your Temporary I, its location within your body, and – write.
 
Think about your day, event, or person that you want to write about. The text should be relatively structured, with meaningful sentences. You may be putting on the paper the most important impressions of that particular day, event, or person. Your diary may also relate to thoughts, emotions, new ideas, etc. Let it flow from you.
 
If you are writing in the evening, you can structure your journal by creating a list of questions that you will answer:

• What tasks have I accomplished today?
• What positive things happened today?
• What am I grateful for today?

 
Give three to five meaningful answers to each of these questions.
 
When you finish your text, review it. Feel and fully accept main ideas or parts of your text, one by one. You must accept all the main thoughts in the text. By doing that you will effectively remove a great deal of that day’s burden.
 
On the other hand, if you are journaling in the morning, you can create a list of questions related to your goals or action steps for that day, like these:

• What are the top three tasks I need to accomplish today?
• How do I want to better myself today?

 
If you are working with goals, at the end of your text write down the most important goals you are currently working toward.
 
If you want, you can limit the time of writing in this stage, but it should last no less than five minutes. But don’t worry – if you are too tired, it won’t be a problem to reduce your writing to only one or two sentences that comprise your whole day.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

​Stage 2: Writing from the Heart
 
The second stage requires you to relax and open your mind. You will probably already find yourself pretty relaxed because the first phase (writing from your Temporary I) has surely de-cluttered your mind to a significant extent.

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