Journaling - A Tool for Healing and Growth

The word "journal" comes from the French. It dates back to the 14th century and means daily. As recently as April 26, 1999, "Newsweek" magazine ran an article entitled "Pen, Paper, & Power. Confessional Writing can be Good for You."

Recently, the JAMA had completed a study in which sick participants wrote about their feelings and events in their lives. "Newsweek" wrote, "Researchers found that asthma patients who wrote about painful experiences, improved their lung function by 19%. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis saw their symptoms decrease by 27%."

Journaling can be a wonderful experience. It can be a place to express feelings not yet ready for verbal communication. The journal provides a private and safe place to reveal yourself. It can serve as a reflective experience to explore and interpret your inner feelings. It can also offer a tool to express your anger and hurts. It is a vehicle to help you to get the feelings out of your body. When we repress negative feelings, we may experience headaches, stomach aches, high blood pressure, to name a few.

Do not worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Let your words flow freely and do not judge them. This is a place to unwind, to focus, and to experience clarity.

If you take the time to write out your thoughts and feelings, you will discover that you usually feel much calmer than when you started. And you may find that the answer you seek is a few lines away.

Sound too simple? There are some guidelines to help you along the way. You can buy a notebook or plain paper. The important thing is to keep it in a safe place but get everyone in your family, home, office, to agree not to read it should they come across it.

Where to begin? A simple exercise can be writing down your name. Look at it and think about what it means to you. Free association can be very helpful too. Here are some other ideas for getting started:

Write down words to a song and what they mean to you.

Make a list of important people in your life and what they mean to you.

Write about what makes you happy.

Write about what makes you angry or sad.

Write about what hurts.

Write letters that you are never going to send, about your anger, sorrow, disappointments with someone.

Also be sure to write about some positive things in your life also. This is not a place to dump on yourself.

If you feel your emotions are getting out of control, you can stop writing for a time. It is important to return, but sometimes a pause is healthy.

If you seek more information, there is a wealth of information on the Internet. Although not a substitute for professional help, should you need it, journaling can offer joy, relief, and insight.

Karlynn Baker grew up in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Arizona in 1972 to receive her MS degree in rehabilitation counseling. She also specializes in addictions. She owns her own counseling business and enjoys life with her husband, David, three daughters, and three adorable grandsons.

---

Commit to Doing 80%

Instead of trying to be perfect, it is better to... Read More

The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement

Every week, I hear from people with the same Self... Read More

Make It Happen Now!

Most people think that when they have chosen a path... Read More

Change - The Skill Of Adapting To The Inevitable

Change your thoughts and you change your world. -Norman Vincent... Read More

Succeed Like the Super-Successful

Two undeniable traits of the super-successful are: their belief in... Read More

Going The Extra Mile

There is one sure way to get what you want... Read More

Ending Procrastination

Perseverance is about as important to achievement as gasoline is... Read More

Stop Procrastination--Just Do It!

In this article I'll talk about the reason that stops... Read More

Your Dream Can Be Your Future

Here is a basic truth you must accept and believe... Read More

If It Feels Good, It Must Be Right

Copyright © 2003 Priya Shah Is it... Read More

Breaking Through Resistance

Why is it that every time you start something new,... Read More

What Comes First the Action or the Feeling?

In other words, it is in the "doing" that we... Read More

4 Barriers to Overcome For Growth

As we begin a new year, it's natural to reflect... Read More

Starting Over

I worked hard for the past 17 years. I felt... Read More

A Quick Observation of the Low Class

We can all learn a valuable lesson about the types... Read More

Trust Your Intuition!

How many times have you been faced with a decision... Read More

Growing Out of Your Comfort Zone

It has been said that "if you are not growing,... Read More

Seven Aspects of Making Brilliant Decisions: The Relationship Between Work and Self

Workweek: an opportunity for discovering and shaping; the place where... Read More

Make Up Excuses Why You Can

We all have excuses as to why we can't do... Read More

6 Simple Steps To Accelerating your Learning

What is Accelerated learning?Simply put, accelerated learning is the ability... Read More

10 Things To Do This Summer

Looking for a summer project? How about working on who... Read More

Why Do Flowers Inspire Me So Much?

I grew up in a very cold climate where winter... Read More

Journaling - A Tool for Healing and Growth

The word "journal" comes from the French. It dates back... Read More

Have You Just Hit The Wall?

Have you hit the 'brick wall' yet?No? Well it won't... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know... Read More

What Google Can Teach You About Success

I just finished dinner and the segment was about to... Read More

Motivation By A Challenge

Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something... Read More

Violating Boundaries: Assert Yourself and Take Charge

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a... Read More

The Simple Secret To Lasting Motivation

This is a key to lasting motivation and beating procrastination.If... Read More

Finding the Easy Way

For the last hour I have been sweating over what... Read More

What is Your Challenge

January is almost over.Why do most New Year's Resolutions fail?By... Read More

Motivation - How to Design a Life

"Have you ever felt like you've become the worst possible... Read More

Questions for the Game of Life

"If you could eliminate one day from your past so... Read More