JOURNAL THERAPY 

You arise in the morning, recalling the dream to mark an entry in your diary. Upon rising, scribbling on the paper helps conserve the creative flow brewing while you were sleeping and before your ego’s defences are in place. Recording your thoughts outside your head clears the storage, resulting in a clear mind. As teenagers, many of us had personal diaries, scribbling our angst on paper. Prominent visionaries like Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Francis Bacon devoted their valuable time chronicling their thoughts. Traditionally the domain of philosophers, thinkers, it may appear an archaic pastime in current times. Journaling has come back in a big way for people who value it for self-care and improvement. This cathartic exercise boosts brain development and retention.

Many  people reject diary writing, as the idea of penetrating the expanses of  intellect and spilling it on paper makes them squirm. However, our mind is a surprising place where we need to knock hard to discover the treasures and be in the zone. So it is not only life-changing but is life expanding, stimulating the brain’s highest cognition. Sometimes only the paper will listen to you. “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” William Wordsworth

In pandemic times, are you looking for a way to be stress-free or understand yourself better? Journaling is the answer which is healing, helping you deal with your thoughts or emotions. It is a simple form of psychotherapy.

Numerous studies have confirmed that chronicling boosts immunity, lowers stress levels. It reduces the impact of stressors by giving structure to your anxious feelings and helping you go past them. Your boss has run you down, or your husband/ wife starts yelling out of the blue. Writing your emotions clarifies your thoughts, helps you resolve the issue, reducing your distress. You earn some space from the incidents, thereby gaining insights in a new way.

 When you write, you immerse in that world and slow down, setting the filtering, retaining process in motion. Chronicling  traumatic or disturbing experiences has the most measurable impact on our well-being. “Journaling is paying attention to the inside for the purpose of living well from the inside out.” Rightly emphasises Lee Wise. 

Genuine gratitude journaling done in the morning  reverberates into the day, setting off a domino effect of optimism. Recording grateful thoughts at bedtime redirect your mind from dark thoughts that keep you up. This simple habit can improve your sleep. The added advantage is that it  keeps one away from over-exposure to social media. At times, we are not even aware of why we got there.

For students, reflective writing reinforces learning by enhancing the intake of information and processing through regular writing. Decision-making skills and critical thinking aids insights for future challenges.  

Start by thinking small, which is not too overwhelming. Old fashioned pen and paper are the best, recording digitally is good enough. Consistency is the key.

Write a morning journal or a gratitude journal; take your pick. My journal writing helps me connect with my spiritual self and sets the creative juices flowing. Even if I start writing in a distressed mood, writing insights shift my mind towards gratitude in a subtle way. When I transform the emotions invading my head on paper, my mental deck gets cleared, eliminating any distressing sensations leading to self-discovery. I end up feeling in control, stable, fruitful, and comfortable for the day ahead.  “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” Anne Frank