Since December is about holidays, I’m going to post an article that became the basis for an e-course about journaling and life changes. Holidays are a time when I look both forward and backward at changes I’ve made and at situations that have stayed relatively the same. Going through this reflective exercise helps me prepare and plan for the new year. Have a wonderful week of reflection and planning!

TEN WAYS THAT JOURNALING WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Whether you have been journaling for a long or short time, you’ve probably noticed that your life has changed.  When you examine your life, as you go through the journal process, your newfound awareness will nudge you to react by changing yourself or your situation or by leaving your situation just as it is.  Journaling is a dynamic skill. It’s a both a catalyst for change and challenges each journal person who chooses to explore its tools to change.  Here are my observations about how journaling regularly will change your life.
RELIEVING STRESS:  When you’ve had a long day, are going through a challenge, experiencing a loss or just feeling lousy, it’s nice to know that you can write about it in your journal at anytime of the day.  I call this process venting, which I will discuss in more detail later on in the article.   For now, venting is about writing your current feelings and experiences in your journal.  Just the act of writing an entry will begin to relieve your stress. Here are a few tools that you can use, in addition to using regular journal writing:  creating dialogues with different parts of yourself or a situation and writing unsent letters, then keeping them or throwing them away.  You can also write lists, write with your non-dominant hand, write from right to left, upside down, in all capitals or small letters.  It’s more important to write your venting out that it is to choose the perfect journal tool to express your emotions.  It will help you feel better. It will also help you prepare to problem-solve later on.
DECLUTTERING YOUR LIVING SPACE:   Whenever I write regularly in my journal, inevitably, I will start decluttering my living space. It works every time. It may not happen right away, but it will happen. When I journal I start to declutter my interior space.  I start letting go of old stuff, while making room for new stuff. I experience some degree of loss as I let go of stress. I may not openly weep, but I might be a bit irritated over a some trivial matter, that isn’t that important.  My point is that at some level I’m aware that I am letting go of something familiar, without knowing today, what will I receive to replace it.  Just a reminder that if you think you might be going through a loss, something less obvious than the loss of a loved one, make sure that you take very good care of yourself. When you are feeling irritable, take the dog out for a walk or go to the park with your kids. Taking a bubble bath or reading a good book is also high on the list of ways you can renew and refresh your soul. It’s important that you keep on taking care of yourself, while your body and mind are healing.  This will help you maintain the proper balance between receiving and letting go…

(Continuing on Wednesday with Part 2)

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