How Journaling Helped Me Find Confidence and Ace My Interview

I felt motivated and ready to study for my interview.

I was pumped and ready!

Two days earlier, I felt the opposite: low energy, no motivation, and many negative thoughts telling me I wouldn’t pass.

Where did my motivation come from?

Journaling got me started.

Not long ago, I found that journaling usually helped me make better decisions.

Somehow, putting my feelings and thoughts on paper decluttered my mind, enabling me to see my options more clearly.

So, I put journaling to the test again.

Before writing, I thought I wouldn’t pass because I didn’t have time to prepare.

After quickly putting my thoughts on paper and decluttering my mind, I remembered that I could take PTO.

It was an “aha” moment.

This simple idea was exactly what I needed.

Now I was studying for the interview, but I still felt anxious.

I had that uncomfortable feeling that it wouldn’t go well.

I journaled again.

While writing, I realized I wasn’t being authentic.

I was interviewing for a Backend developer position while my passion had always been in Frontend, or so I thought.

The more I wrote, the more I discovered myself and became aware that I didn’t hate Backend — I was just afraid of it.

By being honest with myself and accepting my fears, I saw Backend as a challenge rather than a nightmare.

Then, the motivation came.

I found myself preparing for my interview with energy and a real desire for that position.

I often get awkward in interviews and blow it.

I’m not a social butterfly.

Thanks to journaling, I reached a positive mentality before my interview.

This gave me confidence, which I’m sure my interviewer noticed, so I passed to the next round.

You could say that the deductions I took were very simple.

That I could have come up with them without journaling.

I’m sure there are people out there with more clarity of mind who make the right decisions faster than I do.

However, as someone who struggles with decision-making, anxiety, and negative thoughts, I can honestly say that journaling made all the difference.

Have you ever tried journaling to overcome anxiety or gain clarity before a big moment?

I’d love to hear how it worked for you in the comments below!