Journaling: Releasing the Good, the Bad & the Ugly

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I can’t remember why I started writing things down in a notebook. I don’t think I care. Hand journaling is a simple yet effective way to gain insight into your thoughts and emotions. It’s a practice that has been used for centuries, and for good reason. Writing by hand lets you slow down and connect with your thoughts and feelings. And with the world’s communication state, we all could pause before we tell someone how it is.

One of the great things about hand journaling is that it requires no special tools or equipment. All you need is a pen and paper. You can choose a notebook you love or use whatever you have. It is vital to make it a regular practice, even just for a few minutes a day.

Now, I mean everything I said about not needing any special equipment. But, I can see how someone may believe they need something special regarding their paper and pen. I know a guy who journals daily but is so particular about his journals that he makes his own. He took the time to figure out the paper and binding that worked for him.

Now, I don’t expect many of you to get carried away like this gentleman. You may read the stuff he writes a few times a week. I suppose I could get him to write a blog post, making a journal from scratch one day. One of the main reasons I don’t, his head is already big enough.

When you sit down to journal, try to let go of any expectations you might have. You don’t need to write a masterpiece or even complete sentences. The goal is to get your thoughts and emotions down on paper. You might write about something specific that happened that day or jot down whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling – write.

As you make hand journaling a regular habit, you’ll notice some benefits. For one thing, it can be a great stress reliever. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you process them so they don’t feel overwhelming. It can also be a way to work through difficult emotions like anger or sadness. Writing can help you get to the root of what’s bothering you, which can be the first step in finding a solution.

Hand journaling can also be a way to cultivate mindfulness. When you write by hand, you’re fully engaged in the present moment. You can focus on the feeling of the pen in your hand, the sound of the paper rustling, and how the ink flows onto the page. This mindfulness can help reduce anxiety and stress and increase your overall well-being.

Think about it, sometimes when reading, you are like. That scene seemed so natural. I can’t be sure, but I feel confident that somewhere, that scene has been worked out in a journal.

In conclusion, hand journaling is a simple but effective practice that can help you gain insight into your thoughts and emotions. Regularizing it can reduce stress and anxiety, cultivate mindfulness, and build self-awareness. So why not give it a try today? All you need is a pen and paper and a few minutes of your time.

Here are a few articles on journaling for mental health