5 WAYS TO JOURNAL FOR HEALING
REGULAR THERAPEUTIC JOURNALING HELPS US FIND MEANING IN OUR EXPERIENCES NO MATTER HOW STRESSFUL OR DIFFICULT THESE EXPERIENCES ARE
GAINING IMPORTANT INSIGHTS ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH CREATIVE JOURNALING CAN SUPPORT ONGOING RECOVERY. HERE ARE 5 DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN FIND HEALING IN YOUR JOURNAL
1. PERSONAL JOURNAL
Some beginners to journaling prefer to start with a simple practice of recounting their day using more of a ‘dear diary’ approach to writing. Although a simple way of journaling it can provide insight into any behavioural or emotional tendencies.
2. GRATITUDE JOURNAL
A gratitude journal is much more specific and focuses on thinking about, highlighting and acknowledging things in your life that you are thankful for. Simply listing out 10 things you are grateful for on a daily basis can show you what you might want to focus more on and invite more of into your life. This practice has also been proven to increase self esteem and resilience.
3. GOAL FOCUSED JOURNAL
Taking a more focused and pro-active approach to your journaling can really help you to identify and work towards major life goals. Keeping a goal focused journal is an excellent way of developing a mindset of personal development as well as being a tool for holding yourself accountable for decisions you make. A journal is a safe space to explore your big scary goals and map out the smaller steps you need to take to meet them, as well as provide a vessel for reflecting on your progress.
4. REFLECTION JOURNAL
I am a huge advocate for reflection, this is a technique I learnt in art school and I have applied to so many aspects of my life. Taking time regularly to evaluate and reassess (your life, your goals, your struggles, your progress… anything really!) can be a game changer in the process of healing. Giving yourself an opportunity for feedback by writing and then reflecting on your words really helps you to see your situation from a different view point and opens up new opportunities and ways to heal yourself.
5. ART JOURNAL
Adding creative elements to your journaling practice allows for a mind body connection to be achieved. Studies have shown that this form of mindfulness can open open up new ways of thinking, decrease stress, decrease symptoms of various health conditions, strengthen the immune system, aide in shifting perspectives and reduce ruminating thoughts
You don’t have to be an artist to add creativity to your journal pages, it could be as simple as writing in a different format, for example, expressing your thoughts by writing your words in a mind map or using highlighters to bring your attention to key discoveries you have made in your writing, or splashing painted backgrounds down before you write on them, or sticking in imagery or quotes you find inspiring - there really are no rules and its all about the experimental process and finding the joy within it.
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