What If Your Private Journals Fell Into The Wrong Hands?

Bestselling Author Robin Sharma Weighs In

The year was 1993.

I had been given a complimentary ticket to attend a full-day Jim Rohn personal development seminar at Chicago’s Rosemont Horizon arena (now Allstate Arena).

Sadly, because I had no clue who Jim Rohn was, my interest in attending was tepid at best. 

Reluctantly, I ended up going. But with one caveat — I would sit as close to the exit door as possible so that I could depart after an hour. 

Well, I have to say Jim’s information was so valuable and compelling during that first sixty minutes that I decided to request a seat in the front row at intermission.

And the rest was history. 

To this day, I have to say that it was the single most valuable self-development seminar I’ve ever listened to and/or attended. Among the ideas that he shared was a self-development tool that has had a profound impact on my life. 

Journaling

I’ve now been engaged in this form of daily writing practice for nearly thirty years recording both intentional and random thoughts about my journey through life.

I have no steadfast rules around how often I journal, how much I write, or what I write about. It simply embodies what’s resonating for me on any one particular day or period in my earthly existence. 

My journals have existed in all forms over the years. I am, though, partial to traditional physical journals where I can write longhand in cursive.

Journals made by Detroit-based Shinola have been my go-to in recent years although I’m pondering giving the hand-crafted, custom Zenit Journals made by my friend Alina Liao a try. 

I also have a secure digital journal called DayOne that I use from time to time if I’m in a particularly creative mood and want to use photos and graphics.

Now, let’s discuss the theme of this blog. Recently on a trip to the Starbucks near where I live, I chatted with my friend Katrina, who has worked with this coffee giant for nearly 20 years.

As an aside, a weekend trek to the location she’s at in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood is well worth the visit.  Possessing an infectious personality while sporting her signature horned rimmed glasses, Katrina displays an impressive “first-name basis” memory of hundreds of patrons that have frequented that Starbucks location over the years.

In any event, a few years ago while ordering my customary dirty chai, Katrina asked me what I was up to. I mentioned that I was going to be dedicating the morning to journaling.

I then proceeded to ask her whether she journaled. She responded, “yes at one time, but never again”, noting that someone she knew got a hold of her journal, taking it upon himself to rummage through her private thoughts. 

Enter Robin Sharma, author of The Everyday Hero Manifesto: Activate Your Positivity, Maximize Your Productivity, Serve The World. In Chapter 7 of his book which is entitled “The Time My Private Journals Were Taken,” he writes: 

“So, when people ask me, ‘Robin, I love your methodologies around journaling to boost optimism, authenticity, gratefulness, expertise, and spiritual freedom, but what if someone sees what I write?’ I answer from a place of extreme experience. I reply, “Why does it matter?” 

He goes on to make the point that when your journals end up in the wrong hands, that person gets to fully witness a human being who is “both hopeful and scared, fantastic and flawed, certain as well as confused. And is working on themselves to become a closer version of their highest vision. How brave. And how glorious.” 

Sharma says that having his journals taken and read increased his ability “to accept what is and make peace with whatever happens.” It helped him know “how to detach and release control over whatever unfolds. And disidentify with what others think of him.” 

“At worst an onlooker will learn of my errors, read of my frustrations, spy on my bruises and judge me as broken.”

Unlike his experience, no one to the best of my knowledge has ever pilfered and done a deep dive into my journals. And even if they did, they would experience a sea of random thoughts and musings that would keep them curious and entertained for a lifetime

(NOTE: Anything I don’t want you to know, I write in code). 

When I die, any and all can have at them and just read away. 

In the meantime…..