The Power of Paper

One thing that I have found powerful is keeping a journal.  Yes, I know that paper is old-fashioned, but I enjoy putting the pen to paper and letting my mind go.  You can keep an online journal if you prefer.  Primarily, I use a journal to write about things that I’m not happy about or I feel overwhelmed.  I don’t worry about grammar or correct sentence structure.  I write it out.  The benefit of writing it out compared to talking to someone is that you don’t have to explain yourself and you don’t have to filter your thoughts.  You can put it all out there in black and white.

Most of the time, I keep different journals for different subjects.  If I’m going through a painful experience, I dedicate one journal to that topic.  I find it helpful to compartmentalize what’s going on in my head.  Feelings and emotions are intense when you are experiencing them.  Keeping a journal helps you to realize that those strong feelings will pass and will be replaced by something better.

A journal is method to get things out when you don’t want to talk about it or really don’t want to think about it.  You create a distance.  What you are thinking or feeling comes out of your heart or head, down your arms to your hands and onto the paper.  It’s transferred there.  The more you put those feelings on paper the better you will start feeling.

My journal doesn’t have to be anything fancy.  One time I was getting over a broken heart, and I needed to write and write and write.  I would write on any piece of paper that I found, fold it in a small rectangle, and put it in my purse.  When I got home, I would three hole punch it and put it in a binder.  I filled up one inch binder with various pieces of paper.

When I’m complete with a journal (I no longer need to write on that topic), I may go back and read it over.  It’s interesting to review where I was and how far I have come.  I put in a storage box in a closet.  I have thought about destroying the box since most of the things in the journals are over and done with, but I’m not ready.  Maybe in my 90s, I’ll go back and re-read them.  It’s something to look forward to in my old age!

Writing journals has helped me.  I also talk with friends.  I am blessed with many good people in my life who have helped me through rough patches.  I also want to add that seeking professional help is good.  Personally, I haven’t worked with anyone, but I do kick myself that there were times in my life where I should have.  Working through something by yourself isn’t always the best approach, but keeping a journal is a place good start.

Journal Exercise:

Buy yourself a journal and a couple of nice pens.

Challenge:

Write on the first page of your journal a dedication to yourself and why you are writing in this journal.