If you know the benefits of journaling then figuring out how to start one is easier. Honestly speaking, I do not journal everyday or even every week. I turn to writing when I am frustrated about a situation in my life. It might be to do with accessibility as getting around in a wheelchair isn’t always easy in a world that isn’t necessarily designed for wheels. In this post, I will share some tips and ideas on how journaling helps me overcome my mental stress and stay focused. Perhaps it will help you too.
Better Stress Management – Journaling for me is like having a friend I can talk to. It is a good place to unload all the stress that builds up over time. I may not get the answers to my questions or the advice I might be seeking, but writing down how I feel certainly helps put things in perspective. When I take the time to think and write, I find that my racing thoughts slow down and I feel calmer. It doesn’t just have to be writing that helps manage stress. For example, you could draw or paint to express yourself which can also benefit you.
Mindful Living – I find that being aware of my thoughts and emotions helps me to live a rather fulfilling life. Imagine how much we miss out on life’s little pleasures because our thoughts are always wandering. Whether I am eating, traveling, spending time with the family or playing with my dog, if my mind is not present then I cannot fully appreciate the experience. I would miss all those wonderful opportunities to connect with myself and others and experience the joy of everyday life. Like so many others, I have been in situations where I was either worrying too much about the future or regretting the past and was unable to enjoy the present moment. I believe that through journaling, I am paying more attention to my feelings, thoughts and surroundings. If my mind is not present, then I will not have much to write about an event/experience.
I have been in situations where I wanted to write about the day but I felt that not much has happened and there was not much to write about. As I started reading more books on self help and mindfulness, I realized how I was not paying attention to the little moments in my life. Now I have started romanticizing my life where I am more aware of my actions, thoughts and emotions and appreciate life that much more. So those little things from waking up in the morning, having the first cup of tea, driving to work, listening to a favorite song on the way, they all add up to a wonderful day. Why not capture everything in my journal? For me, that’s mindful living.
Positive Mindset – Writing down positive affirmations in my phone notepad is something I try do to as often as I can. I write down how I want my life to be. For example, I want to be healthy so I write “I am healthy”. I want my subconscious mind to think I am healthy. We consume so much negativity throughout the day, so this mindful living approach has helped me eliminate the negative thoughts. Why do we always talk and think about what we do NOT want? How about we think about what we DO want? Journaling is a perfect opportunity to shift the mindset and start a positive conversation with myself. I have found that I write positive affirmations more often when I am going through a rough day or a phase in my life. This instantly helps shift the mindset and things start looking brighter. I started writing a journal with positive affirmations, and I write them at night and re-read them first thing in the morning.
Better Relationship with Myself – Journaling not only captures feelings and day to day events, it also helps me to grow emotionally. Through writing I find ways to express myself better, as it is a journey of self awareness. It started off with writing about day to day events and affirmations and grew to help me understand myself better as to what my triggers are and how to manage them. Sometimes writing on a piece of paper helps me better understand my situations and feelings.
Capturing Memories – Before marriage, my husband, Sunny and I used to write an online diary sharing our experiences. Now we look back and relive those moments. You can capture beautiful moments through writing a daily journal. Just as photos are a great way to capture memories, so are words.
Life can be a roller coaster ride, and we want to develop all the tools we can to keep our balance. Journaling is one of the tools that can help you get through some of the tough times and help you capture some beautiful moments by making you more mindful. It certainly is a path to self discovery.
