“Journaling is a profound—and simple—way to get to know yourself better. To figure out what makes you tick. What makes you happy. What makes you defensive. What makes you giggle or grateful or grieve. What makes you who you are.” ~Jill Schoenberg
Writing has been a part of my life for as long as I remember, but when I began practicing mindfulness nearly a decade ago, journaling changed for me fundamentally. I consciously began to use writing as a tool for healing and transformation, instead of just a dumping ground for my pain.
Having gone through some major life changes in the years prior made me realize how much hurt and inner conflict I was living with. There were past wounds that I never dealt with, self-sabotaging patterns I was subconsciously replaying, and I felt disconnected from myself, my body, and my heart. Chronic anxiety overwhelmed me constantly. Self-criticism and self-blame plagued me. I felt broken and alone.
Writing helped me clear my head and get really honest with myself. It allowed me to process hard feelings and painful events, realize my negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and that I could change them in order to heal and grow. Combined with mindfulness, writing helped me learn to become more compassionate and loving towards myself, and accepting of where I was on my journey.
Writing became the release I needed to let go of past hurts and disappointments. Instead of getting tangled up in my pain, I let it out of my body and onto paper. Page by page, I let go of what I’ve been holding onto for years—this pain was keeping me stuck and it needed validation in order to be cleared.
As I poured my thoughts and feelings on paper, I was able to make sense of what had happened, how it affected me for decades to come, and how I can grow from it and move forward, having learned valuable lessons.
Writing gave me the perspective to look at myself differently. No longer a victim of past circumstances, I wrote my way out—first as a survivor, then as a stronger, wiser, more compassionate self!
7 Mental Health Benefits of Writing
Journaling is a great practice for reducing stress, evoking mindfulness, increasing self-awareness, and nurturing self-growth. It’s a powerful mental health tool you can use to transform your life!
Writing can help you:
- overcome negative feelings, cope with stress and build resilience,
- observe the patterns in your thinking and behaving empowering you to change and grow,
- identify and shift your core beliefs about self and the world that might be limiting you right now,
- release suppressed emotions and feelings,
- process, integrate, and heal from traumatic events in your life,
- reframe negative experiences to rewrite your story and give it a new meaning,
- clarify and illuminate your path, identify what you really want, and create ways of reaching your goals.
What is Mindful Journaling
Mindful journaling is writing combined with simple mindful check-ins when we move our attention inward and observe what’s going on inside us. Mindful journaling is meditative writing. We observe our thoughts and track feelings that come up in response to those thoughts. We sense into the body and notice sensations that come up (tightness, heat, cold, numbing, trembling, heaviness). We listen to the messages of wisdom coming from our inner voice and our intuition. We pay full attention to our body, mind, and heart—then release it all onto paper.
Mindful journaling helps us look at ourselves differently. As we explore our experiences in an embodied way, we get out of our head, confront our issues head-on, unpacking them in a conscious, intentional way. As we examine things that may have been hidden deep in our subconscious, we bring them to light to be processed, healed, and integrated.
Journaling can be transformative, but also raw and painful. This is where mindfulness comes in. By bringing yourself back to the present moment as you write, and observing how your body is reacting to your thoughts with a compassionate and open heart, you can make better sense of the experience while moving through it instead of getting entangled in it.
Journaling is like meditation, especially in difficult moments. Ultimately, it’s all about giving yourself permission to release and refocus!
Writing to Heal
Getting in touch with the deeper parts of ourselves that are calling our attention is required for true healing to happen. Listening to that voice within that demands to be heard may be difficult, but processing what wants to be looked at is liberating.
Your pain can be the fuel for awakening, your wounds a birthplace of resilience, inner strength, empathy, and wisdom. As you embraced yourself—both strengths and weaknesses—you began to show up with the fullest of who you are. This is your homecoming!
Are You Ready To Reclaim Your Power?
If you are tired of playing roles, and feeling stuck, exhausted, and unfulfilled, I invite you on a homecoming journey with me.
This is a healing journey of reclaiming your worth, dropping what doesn’t serve you, and fully and authentically stepping into your power!
The Art of Homecoming is available here.
