"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
- William Wordsworth
When was the last time you poured your thoughts out onto paper with no intention of anybody else reading them but you? Maybe you typed them out. Some people call it journaling while others keep a diary. There are so many benefits to the simple habit of recording our thoughts. Besides reducing stress and improving our mood, journaling actually helps to keep our memory in tact and boosts our immunity. It's one of those self-care tools that we may brush off or feel is not worth our time or effort.
One of the most intriguing benefits of journaling is it can help us to learn more about ourselves. There is something cathartic about jotting down our thoughts and ideas on a blank page with no intention except for seeing what spills out of our pen or pencil. It's almost like belting out our feelings into a blank void. We do not have to concern ourselves with what we are writing since it is only meant for us. There are no rules. Just write. Some of the most prolific minds in history including Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison and Mark Twain all kept journals.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Journaling also helps people who have experienced traumatic events and those who struggle with depression, anxiety or stress. There are these therapeutic qualities to transcribing our thoughts, feelings and recollections of our experiences. Another great benefit to journaling is it's free. We don't have to go anywhere or pay someone to talk to (Although having a therapist as well can be a huge help). All we need is paper to write on and something to write with.
It's that simple. We just have to carve out the time to do it, even if it's just a few minutes a day.
I encourage everyone to do some sort of journaling. You may realize you enjoy have such a convenient outlet for your thoughts. You may discover something about yourself that you may not like and want to improve. That’s the point, though. It can be a catalyst for positive change in our lives if we choose to do something about it. If you do not already do some form of journaling, give it a shot! There is nothing to lose and everything to gain in learning more about who we are and who we are striving to be. It all starts with putting a pen to paper. It’s that simple.
More Wellness!
Positive Psychology: 83 Benefits of Journaling for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
tiny buddha: 10 Journaling Tips to Help You Heal, Grow and Thrive
