JOURNALING CHANGES YOUR LIFE

Often when I'm facilitating a journaling workshop, people will stop by and wonder what's going on in the room. They look through the window or open door. "What's going on?" they ask. "Everyone seems to be having a good time, and they are all so involved." 

How do I explain journaling? It's writing, of course, but it's much more than that, more than I can possibly explain in the 20-word class description in the city brochure.

"Writing? You mean, those people are writing?"

Well, yes, but not exactly.

Journaling can change your life for the better.

Writing is a gift, and writing regularly can definitely be cathartic, therapeutic and bring about positive changes and benefits. The secret we've discovered is that journaling can change life for the better.

JOURNALING CAN HELP US MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD.  We write through resentment and anger. We wrote through loss and grief. We write through financial setbacks, aging, health issues, decision-making, transitions, crises, confusion, longing, depression, happiness, sorrow, problems, and joy.

JOURNALING EVOKES THE CREATIVE WITHIN. Writing helps us to get back in touch with that childlike self. Being creative helps make our lives more interesting and more satisfying. Through creativity, we are able to explore new ideas, make connections, see with the eye of an artist,  and find deeper meanings.

JOURNALING IS GOOD FOR THE BRAIN. Writing helps us remember things. Anyone who writes poetry, fiction, or memoir can benefit from journaling. As we create or recall sensory details of fictional or real life events, the wires in the brain are connecting. As we attempt to put the right words into the right order, we are improving brain function.  

JOURNALING HELPS US COMMUNICATE BETTER. There is nothing more frustrating than feeling misunderstood, as we struggle with emotions, desires, and thoughts we cannot express. Writing allows us to share our feelings, evaluate them, and reach others who can relate. 

JOURNALING MEANS DISCOVERING A NEW LIFE. We write; therefore, we are writers. We are, however, more than writers. We are better people when we journal. We create a new reality. We are more confident. We see from the point of view of others. We are grateful for each new day and mindful of the opportunities hidden within. We live happier and more satisfying lives.  

That's all part of journaling, and I haven't even begun to discuss all the poetry, memoir, personal essays, therapeutic prompts, and unique thinking that emerges during our weekly workshops.