The Benefits of Journal Writing

Reflecting about your life is one of the most self-healing activities you can undertake, and probably the least expensive therapeutic avenue to healing available in our modern world. You need nothing more than pen and paper to journal, and you can do it literally anywhere.

I can personally testify to the healing work that journaling has done in my life, and I realize after more than twenty years that it’s been the one mainstay in times of crises and change. Journaling saw me through my mom’s terminal illness and subsequent passing. The practice was a trusted ally on many darks nights of the soul. I also discovered some new things about myself throughout that time, all from putting pen to paper.

But don’t take my word for it. There are hundreds of academic reviews that prove reflective writing is healing. Here are just a few of the effects therapeutic writing/journaling can have:

• lowered blood pressure
• reduced stress
• increased clarity
• a sense of calm
• more balanced emotions
• the ability to better find answers within instead of seeking help (though seeking help is NEVER ill-advised!)
• increased ability to learn and retain info
• strengthened immune system
• better overall health
• lowered anxiety and depression

Interested in beginning a journaling journey, or taking your journaling to the next level? I’m writing an email course, Writing HERstory, that combines journaling and embodiment practices with prompts and exercises you can complete in a month. A daily email will arrive in your inbox each morning for 28 days, and a PDF guide of the entire course will be available at the end of the program––yours to keep forever. Sign up here to be notified when the course is available in early 2020.

DISCLAIMER: My services are not a replacement of qualified medical or mental health care. Writing and journaling are simply complements to primary medical and mental health care.