I will never stop talking about how much I love to journal!

I think it’s so important and beneficial for your mental health. I’ve kept journals since I was a kid and over the years I have created my own form of therapy through journaling .

I start with the question, “How am I feeling?”

It could be that I am feeling really down, stressed out, angry, bored or uncomfortable. Most people turn to journaling when they are trying to work through some kind of trauma. But it can be used every day! You might be feeling excited, happy, loved, grateful, peaceful.

Next I ask, “Why am I feeling this way?”

This part is usually where I really dive in. Not exactly sure why you’re feeling anxious? Just start writing. Keep going until you figure it out. I find that some times I really don’t know why I am feeling a certain way until I start writing and one thought leads to another. Sometimes something might trigger an emotion because of a past experience you forgot.

Finally, I ask myself, if it’s a negative emotion, “What can I do to change how I feel?” If I am feeling positive I will ask, “What can I do to share this with others?”

You might be surprised by the things that pop up for you when you start this practice. Learning how to harness your emotions and work through them can bring a new sense of stability and peace to your life.

Do you have any journaling practices?