"Keep a diary, and write in it every single day."

When my mother told me to do this, it was so worth the effort. It took about 10 minutes of my time everyday, something I wasn't always willing to give up, especially when there was sleep involved. But I did it anyway, and thank God I did.

I could reflect on what I'd written and how I felt each day based on the tone of my writing in every situation I faced. My diary was to make me a better person, yes, but I could also confess things to it that I'd never dream of saying to an actual person. There's just something special about being able to vent out your feelings, knowing that you won't be contradicted or even judged.

My thoughts would always be there, and I could refer back to my diary any time I needed advice. It's like having a guide from the past that helps you in the future...only the guide is you.

These days at least, my diary entries are actually more attuned to my stress patterns because of the increasing number of things I'm putting on myself, especially since it's high school. Stress is something that compresses you from all angles and makes you want to drop everything and let go. It's something that causes you to tense up so much that you don't know you've been holding your breathe until you let it out. It feels like your brain is being squeezed... even though it's not a headache. It's a terrible thing.

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Stress can also feel like a jumble of things where nothing makes sense. Writing out your thoughts in a diary helps you make sense of those thoughts and see what first comes to your mind when you let your mind wander on a particular topic. It can help your mind straighten out as well and make better choices regarding your thoughts and commitments.

When you write something, you remember it better by up to 14 times than you would by just reading it. If you remember something, you believe it.

I write down my goals and aspirations in my diary as well. They can be long term or short term but they're all the same when it comes to one thing: believing will make it happen. Whether it's scoring a 100 on the test next week or becoming an astrophysicist, every goal can be achieved if you write it down.

So write it down. Write your story, your dreams, your fears, your worries, your daily actions and your everyday thoughts...and eventually they'll start writing back in your own life.