Struggle with lust is not a problem of behavior, where you cannot control yourself.

The problem lies deep in the heart.

You seek to fulfill, heal or run away from something.

I’ve been journaling for almost 8 years.

It is a great tool for organizing your emotions, identifying issues, and growing in your character.

In this letter, I want to compare two types of journaling: instructive journaling and constructive journaling.

Let’s dig in.

Instructive Journaling

Instructive journaling is a way to make sense of your emotions.

It's like having a therapist within reach at any moment to make sense of your emotions. You don't have to have a plan.

All you need to do is pick up your journal, take a pen, and write everything that's on your mind and in your heart.

Everything you're struggling with, everything you're excited and happy about. Allow yourself to write without judgment.

Even if it doesn't make sense at the moment, it doesn't have structure or seems to go nowhere.

After some time of writing, you will feel a release, as if you've spoken to someone about everything you're struggling with.

When you come back and read through your entry a few days later, you will be surprised how clear it is what you must do to move forward.

Congratulations on growing in your emotional intelligence!

Constructive Journaling

Constructive journaling is a bit more structured.

You know when someone asks you a good question that you ponder for the rest of the day?

Unexpectedly you’re hit with an answer that opens your eyes to see the issue in a new light.

After such a revelation, your life changes. You start living based on this new insight, leaving the old behind.

Constructive journaling occurs when you deliberately ask yourself deep questions.

Write the question and allow yourself to search your heart.

These questions will get you started:

• What draws you to pornography?

• What kind of issue are you trying to address by opening adult content?

• What do you try to solve by watching pornography?

• Why do you need to feel pleasure in the first place?

The deeper you go, the more clarity you'll get.

Be honest with yourself.

Be slow to judge yourself.

When you realize the root of the problem, you can start changing your behavior to address the root instead of merely trying to stop the behavior.

Once you address the root belief, the behavior follows.

Constructive journaling leads to growth because it challenges you to think about things you've never considered before.

These new thoughts lead to discovering answers you might never have found, leading to freedom.

The post discusses two approaches to journaling for dealing with issues like lust, which are rooted in deeper emotional or psychological problems rather than just behavior.

Wrap up:

1. Instructive Journaling:

   • This method involves free-form writing to understand and process emotions.

   • It allows for unstructured expression of thoughts and feelings, leading to emotional release and clarity upon later reflection.

   • It is a tool for making sense of the internal world without judgment.

2. Constructive Journaling:

   • More structured, this type involves asking oneself profound questions to uncover underlying issues.

   • The goal is to reach revelations that could fundamentally change one's perspective and behavior of pornography use.

   • It encourages introspection on what drives certain behaviors, aiming to address the root causes rather than the symptoms.

Grab a pen and give it a shot!

If you have any questions feel free to send it my way!

Blessings,
Vytas