Journaling

I think of “Journaling” as taking life notes.  Whether they are good or bad, happy or sad, confused or excited, I enjoy writing down my thoughts.   

After my dad passed away in 2019, I attended a grief support class put on by the hospice group who helped take care of him over the last few months of his life.  The leader of the group talked about journaling during grief.  At the time, I had not thought about journaling specifically about my grief and as I started, I struggled with what to write down.  I even shared with the group that I felt like I was needing to find my grief, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to write down how I was feeling.  I was right, I had trouble with it.  I started with short statements and I didn’t pick it up every day.  I pulled out a few stickers and used those to express feelings rather than writing which helped for a while.  Then one day I wrote several pages.  It was there and it was coming out of my pen, onto the paper, and it helped.   

Journaling through my grief helped get me back into the habit of journaling.  I still don’t necessarily journal every day, but when I do, it makes a big difference in my state of mind.  I enjoy journaling prayers, keeping notes about prayers and setting apart time to be still and quiet.   

During a coaching session, I might be seen taking notes.  This helps me remember key points during a conversation.  I encourage my clients to do the same.  

Overall, whatever kind of journaling works for you, I highly encourage you to make time for it.  Even if you sit down and nothing comes to mind, write down the date, draw a smiley face, pull out some stickers, or scribble all over the page.  Every stroke of the pen or pencil can wipe away a negative thought or a stressful feeling.   

My journal is my heart and mind on paper.  Journaling is only for the writer’s eyes; no one else needs to ever read it.  How much we write, or how often we write doesn’t matter.   

No fuss.  No stress.  Just a healthy habit of journaling.