Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? Do you wish you had a simple and effective tool to improve your mental wellness? Give journaling a try. This powerful practice can help you gain clarity on your thoughts and emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, and cultivate a more positive outlook on life. If you're ready to discover the transformative benefits of journaling for your mental wellness, I've got a few tips for you.
As a young girl, I remember my very first journal - it was a diary; and it was Tiffany blue with the cutest, chubby hamster on the cover. She was wearing a big, pink bow, wore glasses, and was holding a pencil. The diary also came with a lock and key, I thought that was SO cool because it meant it was top secret and only for me!
I journaled off and on throughout high school and college - mainly free writing my experiences, travel adventures, and quotes and Bible verses that I found encouraging. It wasn't until the Fall of 2015, while going through infertility and grief, that I became...
Read more...As a young girl, I remember my very first journal - it was a diary; and it was Tiffany blue with the cutest, chubby hamster on the cover. She was wearing a big, pink bow, wore glasses, and was holding a pencil. The diary also came with a lock and key, I thought that was SO cool because it meant it was top secret and only for me!
I journaled off and on throughout high school and college - mainly free writing my experiences, travel adventures, and quotes and Bible verses that I found encouraging. It wasn't until the Fall of 2015, while going through infertility and grief, that I became...
Do you ever find yourself stuck in negative thought patterns that seem to drag you down? It's easy to get caught up in the things that go wrong in you life, but focusing on the positive can have a powerful impact on your well-being. In fact, research has shown that cultivating a positive mindset can lead to greater happiness, resilience, and even physical health benefits.
I'm sure you can relate, but I know for me, I can be my own worst critic. I can be so hard on myself and become easily discouraged when things do go as planned...especially perfectly planned like I want them to. Phrases like, 'You just aren't good enough,' or 'You'll never get it,' or 'She is way more successful than you are!' Have you ever had similar thoughts like that too? No wonder we....
Read more...I'm sure you can relate, but I know for me, I can be my own worst critic. I can be so hard on myself and become easily discouraged when things do go as planned...especially perfectly planned like I want them to. Phrases like, 'You just aren't good enough,' or 'You'll never get it,' or 'She is way more successful than you are!' Have you ever had similar thoughts like that too? No wonder we....
Journaling is an excellent way to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, set goals, and gain self-awareness. If you are new to journaling, getting started can feel a little overwhelming at first; so here's 5 tips to help you get started...
1. Start Small:
The thought of filling an entire journal with your thoughts may seem a little daunting. All you need to do is ...
Read more...1. Start Small:
The thought of filling an entire journal with your thoughts may seem a little daunting. All you need to do is ...
Journaling can be a helpful tool for managing anxiety and supporting your mental wellness. When you're in the midst of an anxiety attack or feeling panicked, it can be really easy to become paralyzed and to feel grounded again.
I know the feeling of being frozen in place from an anxiety attack. It's uncomfortable and your mind swirls with multiple thoughts - it makes it hard to slow down and quiet your mind. Before grabbing your journal, find a place to sit down and take a couple long, deep inhales and slow exhales. When you feel that your anxiety has lessened then you will be ready to grab your journal...
Read more...I know the feeling of being frozen in place from an anxiety attack. It's uncomfortable and your mind swirls with multiple thoughts - it makes it hard to slow down and quiet your mind. Before grabbing your journal, find a place to sit down and take a couple long, deep inhales and slow exhales. When you feel that your anxiety has lessened then you will be ready to grab your journal...
Have you ever been faced with a decision and you just have no idea what to do? Maybe you ruminate over the issue, you talk about it aloud to yourself or to a close friend, you go to bed worried about this decision and you wake up thinking about it. The worry has literally exhausted you.
That was exactly me a few weeks ago. I had such intense worry over a business decision I was faced with and I honestly felt so lost and confused about what to do. I played the worry in my mind over and over again. I spent time in prayer and reading my Bible. You know what I hadn't done though? I never journaled about it!
When you are faced with a worrisome situation and you find yourself stressing over it or becoming so full of anxiety, stop and take a deep breathe, give it to God in prayer, and then get out your journal. Free write all of your thoughts out onto your pages. There's a good chance that things might not make sense right away. The more you journal out this situation or decision though, the more clear it becomes and as you read back over what you wrote, the answer really is right there in front of you.
I discovered this approach by re-reading an old journal that I kept when I was in college. I was deeply stressed out about a relationship and I wrote out how difficult the situation was. I literally was telling myself in my journal what to do and that the relationship needed to end, but I was so consumed with my worry during that time that I didn't even see it clearly until many years later as I was reading it all over again. Read your journal entries back to yourself, you will be amazed at what you will discover and how clarity will eventually find its way in to your heart and mind.
If you need additional support with your journaling, I invite you to take a look at the 30 Day Journaling Kickstart Guide. Inside is everything you need to create a consistent journaling habit with step-by-step instructions and 30 days of prompts. You can check that out here.
That was exactly me a few weeks ago. I had such intense worry over a business decision I was faced with and I honestly felt so lost and confused about what to do. I played the worry in my mind over and over again. I spent time in prayer and reading my Bible. You know what I hadn't done though? I never journaled about it!
When you are faced with a worrisome situation and you find yourself stressing over it or becoming so full of anxiety, stop and take a deep breathe, give it to God in prayer, and then get out your journal. Free write all of your thoughts out onto your pages. There's a good chance that things might not make sense right away. The more you journal out this situation or decision though, the more clear it becomes and as you read back over what you wrote, the answer really is right there in front of you.
I discovered this approach by re-reading an old journal that I kept when I was in college. I was deeply stressed out about a relationship and I wrote out how difficult the situation was. I literally was telling myself in my journal what to do and that the relationship needed to end, but I was so consumed with my worry during that time that I didn't even see it clearly until many years later as I was reading it all over again. Read your journal entries back to yourself, you will be amazed at what you will discover and how clarity will eventually find its way in to your heart and mind.
If you need additional support with your journaling, I invite you to take a look at the 30 Day Journaling Kickstart Guide. Inside is everything you need to create a consistent journaling habit with step-by-step instructions and 30 days of prompts. You can check that out here.
