Journal Writing Can Help You to Reconnect with Yourself

Journal Writing Can Help You to Reconnect with Yourself

If you are like me, after purchasing one of those pretty journals, you come home wondering what may be the best way to put it to good use.

Let me first say, there is no right or wrong way to write in a journal. In fact, remaining neutral regarding the quality of your writing is essential. Journal writing is an opportunity to be curious, exploratory, imaginative, and reflective. A non-judgmental attitude will allow a freedom of expression that is conducive to those qualities that will add depth and dimension.

There may be days when writing is a simple documentation of an event or occurrence. Other days, writing may be free flowing and non-stop; whatever thoughts enter into your mind wind up on the page. Other days, you may be reflective…writing about your emotions, your judgments, reactions, or disappointments to an occurrence, a memory or a wish.

The Prompts and Ideas below are for those days when you want to be reflective. They are designed to help you connect with your “self” at a deep level and help you discover hidden truths about yourself.

Writing something that no one else is meant to read, allows your thoughts, feelings, desires, wishes and traumas to reveal themselves. At first there may be hesitancy, but with practice one’s inner self is prepared for that opportunity to express what is wanting to be exposed. Invite your inner self onto the page. Give him or her the freedom to express with no judgment.

Writing has a way to help us stumble upon our self. We are reminded that we have clay feet. Our human-ness cannot be ignored. The ink on the page is permanent. We begin to see the many sides of our self and learn to embrace all of them. We become more human, more authentic. As such we become more compassionate and loving.

I encourage you to write in a journal frequently as a means of self-exploration. I hope it is transformative for you. It has been for me.

Discover Yourself

1. What wants to be revealed today?
2. What burning passion drives me?
3. Where do I need encouragement?
4. Who am I?
5. Who do I most admire? What are that person’s qualities? Where is that quality within myself?
6. Where do I find meaning in my life?

Take Off Your Shackles

1. A secret I’ve never told. What made it a secret?
2. What do I fear in my shadow (my dark side)? What do I most crave?
3. Does grief live within me? What is its source? Follow it back in time.
4. What do I regret most? Who would I be without that regret? How would I feel?

Be Truthful With Yourself

1. Make a list of the “should’s” in your life. For example, “I should spend more time with my husband.” List at least eight items. For each item write about your true feelings regarding this ‘should’.
2. What choices am I making that are unhealthy? Are there any that I am ready to change?
3. What am I afraid to admit to about myself?

Write a Poem

Poetry is the language of the soul. It has the power to expose our inner truth like nothing else. And, it is so much easier than one believes. Write your first line and then the second line and then your third. See what falls onto the page. Your first line could be taken from any one of the suggested prompts listed above.

For example, I started with the prompt about burning passion.

What burning passion drives me

I will never never tell

It is hidden deep within my soul

Not to you or anyone else.

But tell me now you say

Begging me in that way

I don’t even know myself

I am discovering it on

this very page today.

As I continued to write the poem, a burning passion was revealed to me. What came onto the page was unexpected and gave me pause. It explained a lot of my past behavior and helped me shape my future.

For me, writing poetry is an established way to communicate with my inner self. It is a writing form that has few rules. So there is no ‘bad’ poem. With little practice, I came to love it as a way to tell an inner story.

Make a date with your journal. Visit him/her regularly. You will be amazed at what you discover.

Paula Petry, PhD. Paula has her doctoral degree in special education from the University of Miami. Paula is the founder and honorary advisor of Parent to Parent of Miami. Paula attended Harvard’s Executive Leadership program and developed leadership programs for students and parents. She is a Light Body practitioner through the Four Winds Society and studied arts in medicine at the University of Florida, Shands Hospital.

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This post originally appeared on our July/August 2016 Magazine