We carry hundreds of thoughts every day. Many go unnoticed, others become painful and hurtful self-criticism. A journal is a safe place for you to release and reflect. You don’t have to share it. No-one needs to see it. The great thing is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. But journaling can do us good.

The actual act of writing slows our thinking just enough to notice what’s really happening beneath the surface. The process helps us recognise emotions, understand patterns, celebrate progress, make decisions, calm a busy mind, reconnect and re-examine our values. It’s a great place to offload your anger, resentment, jealousy, annoyance, and record feelings of love, pleasure and happiness.

Using a writing prompt or focusing on a particular topic, you may be surprised how the writing finds its own way. It can be a creative or visual response; or a time to mull over words and images and enjoy feeling them tumble out of your head.

Once committed to your chosen format (paper journal, digital file, art/junk journal, diary) it turns out to be a record to look back on.

• What do you notice when you read your previous journal entries?
• Are there acts of self-care or self-sabotage?
• Can you uncover patterns emerging?
• How do you appear when you read back your journal entries?
• Are there any problems that persist with the same people? What does this tell you about what you need to do?

When you trust the process, it changes your brain. The left hemisphere of the brain is associated with our ability to articulate our ideas, and the more we engage with the journaling process, the clearer our thoughts and emotions are captured.

Journaling is a multi-sensory experience.The physicality of handwriting is key in passing detail from short to long term memory- we are building more efficient neurological connections in seeing connections between events and ideas.

It relieves stress and anxiety.

By using greater levels self awareness it helps personal growth and development.By re-visiting our journal writing, you are actually reading into the entries. This helps you to distinguish between reality and your feelings or filters at the time of those events. The bonus of this is you can annotate the original pages with new insights.

Just remember. The page doesn’t judge.It just listens.

Do you journal regularly, occasionally or have you never tried it?

If you’re interested in joining a journaling group, I run one at The Fold, Bransford, Nr Worcester. First Tuesday of the month 2-3pm.