Unlocking Inner Strength: The Benefits of Journaling
In 2016, I picked up a long-forgotten journal and for the first time in my life, I started to write daily. Up until then, all of my attempts at journaling resulted in entries being months if not years apart and never more than a few pages long. I’d write about how long it had been since I last wrote followed by a sweeping declaration that this time would be different, but it never was.
So, what changed?
Well, that summer I took a class that encouraged us to journal as we moved through the course material. The more I wrote, the more came pouring out, and it made me realize how cathartic it was to get my thoughts and feelings down on paper. I remember sitting on my bed and looking at my journal with disbelief; I had done it, I had finished an entire journal! From that moment on I was hooked.
Journaling has changed my life in many ways, but here are my top 3 takeaways:
1: Your level of self-awareness has the potential to skyrocket.
Once you begin to write consistently, you start to notice certain patterns emerge. When I began to read some of my older journal entries I became blatantly aware of how harsh my inner critic was. I noticed that I kept writing lists of goals followed by my frustrations for never being able to reach them. It was kind of a ‘holy shit’ moment for me to see not only how hard I was on myself but how often too. 🤦🏻♀️ This newfound awareness allowed me to see how and where my inner critic was wreaking havoc in my day-to-day life.
2: It’s an opportunity to deepen the relationship you have with yourself.
When your first start journaling it can feel a little awkward and you might not know what to write. You might end up writing things like “Hello journal, I don’t really know what to say…” and then laugh at how silly that sounds, (or maybe that’s just me?) but as you move through the initial awkwardness, the floodgates will begin to open.
I have never loved myself as much as when I read old journal entries, it’s as if I’m reading letters from a friend, not that we send letters anymore. Do you remember writing notes to your friends back in high school? My friend and I used to fold them up in intricate ways and then pass them to each other between classes. I wish I had kept mine. I know, this is so 90’s, back before we could just text each other — but I digress.
When you write about your experiences or how you’re feeling, it provides the opportunity for you to know what’s actually going on internally. When I write down how I’m feeling, new emotions bubble to the surface that I didn’t know were there, sadness reveals anger, loneliness is hiding behind jealousy. Writing helps me express those more difficult emotions, and when I’m done, I can empathize with those parts of me. It’s almost as if I have created a safe space for myself to be authentic, and because of that, I can better understand myself.
I believe that one of the keys to unlocking compassion and kindness lies in our ability to listen to other people’s stories, and learn how to empathize with them. When we journal, we give ourselves the gift of listening to our own stories, and when we do that, we create enough distance to start seeing ourselves through a kinder and more compassionate lens. Writing allows us to look at our experiences from a new perspective.
This is why I believe that journaling is an important practice and an act of self-love.
3: It’s a space to reflect on the challenges you’ve overcome, and all of the wonderful moments in between.
There’s something magical in reading old journal entries, especially ones that were written while travelling. It’s such a fun way to re-immerse yourself in those moments and to remember little tidbits from your travels. Plus, it’s nice to have a resource to go back to whenever you’re dealing with something difficult, and your journal is a great reminder of how strong and resilient you are.
It’s easy to focus on our goals and ambitions, but we shouldn’t forget to reflect on our past. It’s important to reflect on what we’ve experienced and learned along the way, otherwise, we get swept up by what’s next without ever appreciating all that we’ve experienced, and all that we currently have.
Your journal is your private space, and it can be whatever you want it to be. It doesn’t need to follow any structure or repeat itself from one entry to another. It’s a place for you to show up and let out whatever needs to be released.
P.S. If you catch yourself wanting to make your journal a super structured space where you’ve decided you must list 3 things you’re grateful for, 3 lessons learned today etc., this might be your inner critic getting in the way. I’m all for gratitude and appreciation, don’t get me wrong! But when you turn your journaling practice into a rule-based activity, it takes out all the fun, which will likely discourage you from writing in it at all.
