Here's my confession...
I have a confession to make:
Even though I’ve been journaling for a long time,
And even though I know the power of journaling,
How much better it makes me feel,
I have a hard time journaling when life is hard.
When I’m stressed
Overwhelmed
Frustrated
Angry
When I just don’t want to acknowledge my big feelings.
It’s silly
A disservice to myself really
Because I know that writing will make me feel better.
That, just like a pressure cooker,
It’ll release some steam so I can feel like myself again.
But it’s hard.
It’s hard to face the truth sometimes.
That my efforts haven’t paid off.
That despite my best efforts, things haven’t turned out.
That I can’t control the choices others make -
Even when they affect me.
I can only control my reactions.
Sometimes it’s that I’m not ready to see a situation clearly.
Sometimes it’s that I’m not ready to let go of the story.
Sometimes it’s that I’m not ready to admit I’m scared.
Because when I have a pen in my hand,
The truth comes out.
There’s no denying what I see in my own handwriting.
There’s no denying how I feel when I read back my words.
I can’t take it back.
I can’t shove it down.
I can’t ignore it any more.
And then I have to take action.
Because that’s the whole point of journaling, isn’t it?
To know how we feel
To understand the situation
So we can move our lives forward.
That’s the secret of journaling -
The action we take.
Because if all we do is write about it,
We’ll be writing forever.
So if there’s something you’ve been putting off journaling about,
If you’ve been letting excuses get in your way
I see you.
It’s okay that you haven’t tackled it before.
Take a deep breath.
Show yourself some compassion.
And allow yourself to move forward.
I believe in you.
And I’m cheering you on.
I’m reaching for my journal too
And writing about my hard thing.
Let’s do this together.
💛
Doing the work is easier when we do it together.
Each week in our Journaling for Growth membership community, we support and strengthen each other on our journeys.
Through both solo reflection and the opportunity to share and learn in community, we are learning deeper, faster, and stronger than we can on our own.
We hold space for each other to do the work of learning and loving who we are.
This September, we’re focusing on learning and growth.
And if you’re ready to go on this journey, we’re here to walk you home. 💛
This Week’s Journal Prompts:
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!
What excuses do you like to use for not doing the things you know are good for you?
What keeps you from taking care of yourself?
What do you need most right now?
How can you show yourself extra compassion?
What action can you take today to move your life forward?
Happy Journaling!
