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The Road to Wellness
Keeping a Journal
By Janet Berg
Journaling is an inexpensive, private means of expressing your innermost feelings. It can include drawings, photographs and mementos as well as your own words. In the process of creating one, we document our journey through part of our life, showing how we've grown or where we're stuck. Some of the reasons and benefits in keeping a journal are:
1. Setting goals: organizing, planning, dreaming. You take the steps first on paper, then create your own reality.
2. Memories of trips: activities, new experiences, feelings, new learnings. Reading about these in years ahead will remind you vividly of forgotten treasures.
3. Life transition: becoming a parent, new job, new relationship, divorce, death, moving. Recording your feelings through the various stages can help you cope and develop perspective.
4. Voicing your feelings: Many people smoke, drink alcohol or overeat rather than give voice to their true feelings. They are, in fact, numbing themselves so they won't feel anything and remain stuck rather than working them through. The journal becomes a confidante and accepts you without judgment. Giving vent to anger, jealousy, hurt, etc. on paper can be a great relief and also lead to clarity and positive action.
5. Dreams: These are a great source of information, inspiration, problem solving and even communication with spirit. They can also reveal patterns in your life. Keep track of your dreams by writing them down immediately upon awakening.
6. Dealing with insomnia: Some night when your mind is running at full tilt, try getting up and writing down what you're thinking about. In this way, you empty your mind and record for safekeeping everything you're afraid you'll forget. You can then let go and relax. ©
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Previously in The Road to Wellness
Therapy After Exercise
By Kimberly R. Blanton and Shelli E. Jones
(March 5, 2003)
Mindfulness
By Janet Berg
(February 26, 2003)
Eating to Live or Living to Eat?
By Kimberly R. Blanton and Shelli E. Jones
(February 19, 2003)
more...
Other articles by Janet Berg
The Road to Wellness (January 15, 2003)
The Road to Wellness (January 1, 2003)
The Road to Wellness (December 19, 2002)
more...
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