What is Journalling?
Journalling is the practice of writing down your thoughts and feelings for the purposes of self-analysis, self-discovery, and self-reflection. As one of the oldest forms of self-help in the world, journalling is about exploring one’s own thoughts, feelings, memories, goals, and desires through the written word. As such, journalling is often prescribed by therapists and counsellors as a powerful way of developing more self-understanding and compassion.
Are you interested in growing and learning more about yourself? Great! The desire to learn is the entire point of journalling. Therefore, as long as you’re sincere about discovering more about yourself, you’ve already succeeded!
Journalling is a powerful way to get to know yourself. If you take the time to journal every day, you will discover subconscious thoughts and beliefs that you didn’t know existed.
Most journal writers have thought about whether to use a pen and paper or a computer and which way is best. They would write (or word process) daily. In an effort to change your mind: A pen coupled with paper can serve as a powerful life tool.
Journalling is a more free form of writing — less about recording events, more about externalising feelings. It’s a chance to be reflective, go deeper with your own thoughts. Journalling takes a little of your time but there are definite benefits to journalling.
Here are some of the many benefits:
- Strengthens your immune system and leads to better physical health
- Improves emotional intelligence (the ability to perceive and understand emotions)
- Soothes anxiety and increases feelings of calmness
- Helps you to deal better with depression
- Reduces symptoms related to anxiety, PTSD, and addiction
- Increased self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-compassion
