Episode 12: Journaling -- The Superpower of Your Defining Decade

Ben shares a pivotal personal story about losing his job right after buying a house and starting a family, and how a surprising assignment from his friend Sid led him to discover the life-changing power of journaling.   What began as daily reflection turned into clarity, direction, and ultimately the discovery of the work that would shape his career for the next decade. You’ll learn why journaling is more than writing about your day. It is a tool for turning experience into insight, reducing rumination, improving decision-making, and building self-awareness. Ben also breaks down the research behind journaling, showing how it improves emotional regulation, clarity, and resilience, especially during uncertain or challenging periods of life. If you’re in your 20s and trying to figure out who you are, what gives you energy, and where your life is headed, journaling may be the simplest and most powerful habit you can build. This episode concludes with: Why journaling is a “Defining Decade” superpower How writing turns rumination into reflection, moving you forward The link between journaling and better decisions A simple approach to journaling you can start today Because when you understand your thinking, you don’t drift through your 20s, you shape them. Now It’s Your Turn 7-Day Journaling Challenge For the next 7 days, try a simple experiment: write for 10–20 minutes each day, or even better, do one deeper 1-hour session. Try to get into a flow state when you are writing, dont' worry about the exact duration. Your approach to daily journaling doesn’t matter that much. The key is to simply write whatever is on your mind. This can be a free-writing exercise. If it helps, you can use one of these reflection frameworks: Critical Reflection (Episode 1) Awareness — What is happening? Critique — What do I notice? What feels off or aligned? Realign — What small shift will I make? Decision Stool (Evaluate a Recent Decision) Values: What mattered most?  Alternatives: Did I use values to inform my alternatives? Information: Did I have good information? Daily prompts What happened today? What gave me energy? What drained me? What did I learn? What action can I take tomorrow? End-of-week reflection What patterns did I notice? What surprised me? What feels clearer? Journaling will bring clarity and clearer thinking which will set you up for better choices. If you find this exercise useful, share your story in the comments or post a question if you get stuck. Let's get a conversation going!