June 15, 2019 / Leave a Comment
So, I’ve been through an emotionally messy couple of weeks, and shared much of it on Instagram. I mentioned also the power of journaling (which I recently taught at a wellness retreat). In the comments on my Instagram post on journaling, some mentioned that their journal had been read and that prevented them from writing in a diary again.
I shared that I had disposed of my journals twice in my life because I didn’t want my kids or family to have to face the darkest parts of me.
But still, last week, I sat and wrote about all my frustrations and fears and inside hurts and in a matter of minutes, really, my whole mood and attitude shifted. There is something about putting pen to paper (not typing), that is cathartic and helps process feelings and move through them.
Tips for those fearful of being “found out”:
- Write on a pice of paper you will shred or burn right after.
- Write a line and then, instead of going to the next line to keep writing, write on the same line over and over. It will be indecipherable even to you, but you will still get the benefit of putting thoughts on paper.
- When I was younger I spoke into a tape recorder. You can do it on your phone, or just speak your words to the wind. For me, that was cheaper than therapy and it helped me HEAR my truth.
I hope these tips help you and would love to hear yours (maybe they involve keeping your journal under lock and key and that’s fine too).