WHAT IS CREATIVE JOURNALING & CREATIVE SELF CARE? (and how they can help your mental wellness)
Today the life we are experiencing is so fast-paced and we are still looking for ways to speed things up, be more productive and get results now.
SHOCKINGLY WE ARE EVEN APPLYING THIS FAST-TRACK MINDSET TO HABITS AND PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
WHAT IF THERE WAS A DIFFERENT WAY?
Now more than ever we are living in an era of emotional intelligence, we are becoming more aware of an innate need to slow down and turn inwards and we are actively seeking out more meaningful ways to do so - but what does this look like?
INTRODUCING….CREATIVE JOURNALING FOR CREATIVE SELF CARE.
WHAT IS CREATIVE SELF CARE?
Essentially creative self care is about diving beneath the surface level ideas of self care, deeper than a superficial bubble bath, face mask or massage.
Creative self care is about fostering a mind and body connection, creativity is powerful human strength that is often overlooked or dismissed as ‘a waste of time’, but within the process of art making rituals and laying down paint and words comes a true connection to self; self-reflection, self-knowledge, self-development, self-worth and self-love.
So how can we identify our truest needs so we can continue on our self-development journey? We can choose at any moment to tap into this inner resource and discover more insights about ourselves than any bubblebath could ever give us. So much of creative self care is about mindset and using creative journaling to lean into and shift your mindset is tool and skill well worth learning.
HOW IS CREATIVE JOURNALING DIFFERENT TO REGULAR JOURNALING?
Creative journaling is not about a ‘dear diary’ style of writing and recording, it is about using journaling as a tool to foster a mind and body connection.
Studies have shown that engaging in mindfulness decreases stress, reduces sadness, increases focus and elevates happiness.
The style of journaling that I teach is a combination of thought-provoking and self-development inspired prompts, mindful practices and creative techniques which supports this mind and body connection, in turn giving our minds the space it needs to show us the answers we have been seeking all along.
Journaling is just one tool that you can use to engage in mindfulness, however, I am an advocate for journaling as it allows you to explore your mental landscape and bring consciousness to what you are experiencing in gentle but powerful ways.
Journaling creatively in this way supports us to express our thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement, bring awareness to emotional triggers and relieve stress in a safe and controlled space.
Taking time out with your journal requires you to step away from the fast-paced and heavily digital world you cannot otherwise easily escape from on a daily basis and to instead tap into something much less prescribed, something you can physically connect with to manage your mind and your life.
HOW CREATIVE JOURNALING AS A SELF CARE TOOL CAN IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS
To be ‘happy’ in life, you first need to know what makes you truly happy, when was the last time you asked yourself “what makes me happy'“ and then delved a little deeper into working out how you could achieve that?
My guess would be you haven’t… our lives are too busy, our minds are too full and the decisions and choices we make are so often influenced by other people than our own hearts. Throw anxiety, depression, grief, stress into the mix and it can be really hard to see a different way of living.
To understand what is holding you back and to address the negative thought patterns that we have created we first need to know what they are. Journaling does this. It allows you to get clear on you, your mindset, your worries and fears, your dreams and goals and paves a way forward for you to achieve them all, simply by getting to the root of our anxiety and stress.
Creative journaling can be a powerful practice for managing every day stress too, and has been shown to:
Decrease symptoms of various health conditions
Strengthen your immune system
Aide in shifting perspectives
Reduce ruminating thoughts
Support goal setting and promote action taking
Minimize negative self-talk and boost self-belief
Guide through trauma recovery
Provides an overall sense of gratitude
I hope this post helps you realise the potential of creative self care and creative journaling to support your mental health.
You don’t need to be an accomplished writer or an artist to benefit from spilling paint and words onto a page to connect with your thoughts and feelings.
Your journal is for you and you alone, there are no rules and no-one needs to ever see your pages. It is your safe space to brain dump and explore.
Do you keep a journal? What benefits have you seen? Please share your thoughts in the comments so we can inspire and motivate each other!
If you’re new to creative self care and journaling and are ready to give it a try why not start now with my 20 mindful journaling prompts - they’re free!