I can’t tell you how many journals I have. They started off as places to take sermon notes, then I kept track of quotes I heard, interesting names, really anything that I may want to reference later. That’s how my journaling started.
Then, at the suggestion of a therapist, I began using them to write out my thoughts. It helped to keep obsessive thoughts at bay, to help process thoughts that needed to be process, but also to let go of the ones which were only noise.
Somewhere along the way, though, I stopped using my journals for it. I can’t explain why. I still used them for the quotes and sermon notes, but I stopped writing out my thoughts. I have been trying to figure out the when and the why this happened and can’t put my finger on it.
So, my first entry into diving back into journaling, will be about that. As I look back, I know that not doing it took a tool on my mental health. Clearly, for me at least, journaling is a way to stop thoughts from swirling around constantly and never dissolving.
I could, I suppose, call this piece you are reading my first entry.
Writing has the power to help us process and heal. It can also help us discover our true selves and dive into a world of gratefulness and understanding.
So, back to journaling it is.
In the New Year, I am going to do a Gratitude Journal. Would anyone like to join me? If you have done that, I would love to hear about how you did yours. Let me know in the comments.
Raelyn Pracht 