There has been recent surge of journaling within the world. Returning to the tactile experience of pen and paper, or experiencing the digital version, journaling has grown in magnitude and given leave to reflection, connection and escape.
This habit is an avenue of great mental growth, and a chance for you to build a stronger relationship with who you are, and who you hope to become.
Studies show that journaling can reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, and give people the opportunity to address past traumas, heal and find personal growth. It feels like the magical problem solving solution we’ve all been looking for.
So what are some of the more valuable benefits of this practice?
Reduce Anxiety
Journaling is an experience that can help manage anxiety. It gives us the chance to list our our stressors, plan our days, and realistically navigate the time that we have. This gives the chance to take a breath and realise that we actually have more time within the day, and less to be anxious about than we first realised.
Self Exploration
When we write our thoughts and stories of our lives we get a chance to explore the people that we are. We make discoveries and build understandings with our inner self. Maybe we revisit past traumas, maybe we realise that what we’re feeling in the moment is valid, maybe we learn a little more actively about who we are. It’s an opportunity to seek out a version of ourselves that we might not find without this tool in play.
Encourages Connection
While using the tools of pen and paper to journal we are forced to disconnect from the technology that surrounds us in this modern era, but we are encouraged to connect with ourselves. Life is littered with sources of connection; family, friends, peers, acquaintances, but it is that personal connection with who lies within us that should hold the most stock.
Keeps Track of Growth
Storing your experiences is a way to recognise how you have grown as a person over time. You get a chance to look back at your accomplishments and realise that you have done some incredible things. You also get to look at your vulnerabilities and note how you may have overcome them or navigated them, or how much longer you have to go on your journey.
Stores Memories
Our world is rapidly moving forward; time has become a fleeting commodity that slips away the moment the day begins. Within our days we accomplish so much and often our tired minds struggle in keeping track of the story that is our life. Journaling is a manner in which we can hold on to the moments that meant something, or hold on to the struggles that helped shape who we are today. These instances matter because they are vital in creating the legacy that we leave behind.
These are five things that I get the most out of my journaling practice and why I continue to go back even after a dry spell. This act of self care is not the end all and be all of life’s solutions, but it is a beneficial tool, so why not give it a go?
Do you journal? If so, how has it impacted your life?
Mums The Word 