The Art of Journaling
Journaling is a mindful practice that I began many years ago. Without a doubt, I own more journals than one would even want to count. Each page consisting of endless thoughts, feelings, raw expression, gratitude and so much more. I have always utilized journaling as an act of therapy as it produces the benefits of reducing stress and anxiety.
Throughout the years when I have been faced with situations and circumstances that had me feeling like my head was barely above water, I took to journaling to manage my stress, to process my emotions as well as for the purpose of self-exploration.
In past conversations relative to the topic of journaling, I have heard many people express an inability to remain consistent with such a practice; however, I believe that stems from a level of pressure that one places on themselves. Journaling can be whatever you want and need it to be. I, personally love writing, so it takes nothing for me to post up somewhere and get it going, but I do run into my “dry spells” every now and again where everything I would generally journal about remains tucked away internally. When this occurs I find myself overwhelmed and because I don’t like missing out on an chance to make note of something that I know I would want to reference later, I generally end up releasing days and weeks of stuff at one time, which is thee worst! Sitting there having to recall every detail; ensuring that I leave nothing out is such a draaaag!
So, how can we find that necessary balance of journaling if it is a practice that we genuinely want to exercise? I suggest keeping your journal handy. This will afford you the opportunity to fully write out or quickly jot down what it is you need to release in that moment. With that, I also want to encourage you to be intentional about your journaling. Meaning, you should also find some quiet time to sit in a comfortable and relaxing environment to explore your thoughts and feelings as it relates to the various events that are surrounding you in life.
Some of my best solutions have derived from simply brainstorming in my journal. I have gained clarity from jotting down bullet points or composing a complete mental dialogue. There have been numerous occasions where I would write about things that God has shared with me. Also, I love being able to revisit former journal entries to see how things have evolved over time.
Journaling has many methods, but you do not have to conform to just one. As I mentioned previously, you allow journaling to meet your individual needs. Whether you journal every day or every other month; whether you’re composing lists or writing “novels,” I encourage you to implement the art of journaling and see if it yields the results your mind and spirit needs.
Do you journal? If so, what methods do you utilize and how often do you journal?