Using a journal to write out your thoughts and feelings offer many practical benefits that can make a world of difference to the way you function in your career, your relationships and your community.
We all have times of frustration, angst or confusion, and mostly these are provoked by difficulties in our relationships or work. Take the issue to your journal first and here’s what you’ll discover:
- You have “choice” – you can say anything! You choose how much you say, what you say and how long you want to rant about it.
- Your thoughts and feelings are not immediately exposed to the person/persons involved or to their reactions to your expressions.
- “Errors” can be fixed – though there are no errors in the feelings you have when you have them, sometimes such feelings are best kept to yourself while you sort through them. When you write them out, they are still yours and private, and the benefit is that you have not stuffed them. Energetically speaking, they have been released from your mind and body.
- You can, so to speak, “take back what you’ve said.” You can rant to or about someone or a situation on the page without negative consequences. Often, when we speak from strong emotion and blurt out thoughts, we are misunderstood or can hurt others with words we would not say when our thoughts and emotions are clear.
- When you release an issue from your mind to the page, you view it from a different perspective. That perspective can allow you to sort out fears and projections from the reality of the situation, possibly even view the issue from the other’s point of view.
- Journaling also gives you the time and space to brainstorm practical, even loving, solutions to your problem.
When we get a little distance from our emotions and circling thoughts – which journaling provides – often we find the clarity to solve our problems more easily than if we keep mulling them over in our mind.
If the issue is dire, trust that you will see this in your writing and consider seeking the appropriate professional help to guide you to a healthy solution.
Each of us has a wise counselor within us – journaling helps give voice to that counselor.
Blessings, Plynn
Plynn Gutman 