Journaling

Writing in a journal will help you connect the dots of your journey. It’s a way of keeping track of your thoughts, a tool for seeing and understanding your progress. A journal keeps you centered; it allows you to see fears that recur—and to recognize ones that fall away.

Every evening I try to set aside five or ten minutes to pray what Saint Ignatius called the prayer of Examen. After putting our toddler down, I lie on the futon next to his bed, quiet my thoughts, and hit the “play” button on the video of my day. I think about the people with whom I’ve spent time, the conversations I’ve had, the places I’ve been, a