Those of you who are familiar with me, the Retreat, and my life coaching will know that there are a couple of soap-boxes that I get up on every now and then during workshops or one to one sessions. Journalling is one of them and because it is such brilliant and wonderful way to encourage and entice change out into the open, I thought I'd share my perspective on the idea of journalling as just one part of a holistic view to creating change and bringing about balance in your life.
This blog could be just as easily titled 'Journalling 101' brought to you by the 'Mojo' lovelies from the Cotswold Coaching Retreat. It was a particular group of ladies on a 'Get Back Your Mojo' workshop retreat who found out the passion I have for journalling and came away from the day with their heads full of information and the instructions to 'go and buy a journal'!
Why do I feel writing things down has such importance in the process of change and balance?
Because:
- it gets the crap out of your head and down on paper.
This may seem obvious and it is. Sometimes the most brilliant things are the simplest. Until something is out of your head- a worry, fear, anxiety, stress- only then is there a chance for you to be able to gain perspective on the matter. This distance created between your head and the issue also allows for some measure of clarity.
- the truth behind the issue becomes clearer.
Once you have allowed yourself some space and distance to look at a worry with perspective, you take on a more healthy and objective role. You can then be more clear about what it is you are concerned about and more often than not, it's negative presence weakens.
- it gives a record of progress.
When you begin a journey of change or discovery and you record this in journal form, you provide yourself with a fantastic record of all you have learnt and how much you have grown.
It can be very difficult to see your growth when you are in the middle of making another mistake or repeating another negative pattern of thought or behaviour. If you have written regularly, it is at these times that flicking through previous entries can give you the strength to carry on and try again. You get to read and see just how much you have changed- how perhaps you didn't mess up quite so much as last time or the time before that. It is very hard to argue with evidence of your success when it is there in black and white. Or blue. Or rainbow.
- it is about the content, not the presentation
So many have yet to discover the powerful effects of journaling because they are not sure of the rules or are paralysed by the thought of doing it wrong.
Great news!! There are no rules.
Your thoughts and emotions, fears and feelings, loves and laughs are not any less potent or important or real because you haven't written in a straight line or only in black fountain pen. In the world of self-awareness and development, it is the substance that matters. Start at the back. Draw pictures. Create poetry.
One of my clients began her journal writing with the repeated phrase 'I don't know what to write'. Even this simple statement repeated down the page helped to unlock the phobia she had with blank pages and the feeling she had to write something 'good'.
- there are no standards or expectations
Like the client above, you might be crippled by the feeling that people who write journals create wonderful pages of prose or books and books of amazing personal insight and discovery. Sometimes yes. But most often no. Journalling is your personal sounding board. Just start it. Free yourself from perfection or expectations and write something. Your name. Anything. It is not to be read by others (unless you wish it to). And it is never to be marked or scored or judged.
- the process of writing affects an emotional change.
Studies have shown that writing feelings down on paper reduces activity in a part of the brain called the amygdala, which is responsible for controlling the intensity of our emotions. When people write about their emotions, the process helps the brain to regulate those emotions and ultimately reduces the neural activity surrounding strong emotions. The effect of MAJOR emotion is reduced when you write about it.
- it can alter your world view
Writing regularly about more positive issues will help promote a more positive outlook: listing things that you are grateful for at the end of each day helps you to stay focused on what brings you the most pleasure and purpose. You can then work towards getting more of that in your life.
- it is fun and creative.
This can sometimes be something we don't have a lot of time for in our lives. And again, fun and creativity are two things known to encourage better health, wellbeing and balance.
So if you don't already participate in regular journalling, I suggest you get to the nearest store and purchase one of the hundreds of beautiful journals available to you and get writing for your health and benefit!
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