How Emerson Used His Journals to Think Better
I’ve been teaching you over the last few weeks how Ralph Waldo Emerson approached journaling—not just as a place to jot down thoughts, but as a tool to sharpen his mind and clarify his life.
Today, I want to show you how Emerson used his journals to think better, make connections, and live more authentically—and how you can do the same.
Robert D. Richardson, in First We Read, Then We Write, points out something crucial: Emerson believed in the synergy between reading and writing. He wrote in The American Scholar:
“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. First we eat, then we beget; first we read, then we write.”
For Emerson, reading wasn’t a passive thing. He read almost entirely to feed his writing. Every note he took, every passage he underlined, every idea he copied into his journal served a purpose: to be reflected on, questioned, and eventually transformed into his own thoughts.
His journals were where he wrestled with ideas, clarified his beliefs, and discovered his ideas.
But there’s more to it than just recording impressions. Richardson highlights how Emerson used his journals to build self-trust.
One of my favorite quotes from Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance is:
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
Writing in his journal allowed him to hear his own voice, separate from the expectations of society or the authority of other thinkers.
Through daily practice, he learned to trust himself, and that trust became his path to authentic living.
Let’s get you started:
- Define your purpose. What do you want to accomplish in your life? Emerson wanted to become a better writer. You might want to become a better gardener, parent, thinker, or philosopher. Write that purpose at the top of your journal or keep it as a guiding question: “What am I trying to understand, create, or improve?”
- Read with intention. When you encounter a book, article, or lecture, don’t just highlight. Ask yourself: How does this feed my purpose? Take notes in your journal with the goal of using them in your own reflections.
- Respond, don’t copy. Emerson didn’t simply transcribe thoughts—he wrestled with them. After reading, write a short entry responding to what you read. Agree, disagree, question, or expand. Make the material yours.
- Reflect to clarify. Use your journal to explore big questions: What do I believe? What do I want to create? Over time, your writing will expose your patterns, priorities, and insights.
- Revisit and connect. Emerson often returned to old journal entries for ideas. You can do the same. Look for recurring themes or unanswered questions—they’re clues to where your mind wants to go next.
Emerson’s journals were more than a record—they were a tool for thinking. If you approach your journal the same way, you’ll find it becomes a space not just for recording life, but for make the most of it.
What did Robin Williams say in Dead Poets Society? Oh, yeah:
Next week, we’ll wrap this series up with some final tips on getting the most from your journals. I hope you’ve found this series helpful.
👋 Until next week, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
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Works Cited:
Richardson, Robert D. First We Read, Then We Write: Emerson on the Creative Process. University of Iowa Press, 2009.
Richardson, Robert D. Emerson: The Mind on Fire. University of California Press, 1995.
