The Healing Power of Journaling:
Five Ways Writing Can Help You Heal
Courtesy of MarketAbility
From the outside your life looks perfect, but inside your
heart aches from the loss of someone you love or a spouse
who filed for divorce. Or maybe old wounds are still simmering
within your soul, caused by painful events years ago. You
feel a violent emotional yanking on your heart and a labyrinth
of confusion.
Forget a prescription for painkiller
-- you need a pen and paper. Journaling, it turns out, can
help you heal on a number of different levels. The mighty
power of words can help you to heal.
“Studies show writing about
traumatic events helps you recover and move on,” says
Hunter D. Darden, author of “Tapestry: A Story of
the Healing of the Soul” (Sunfleur Publications, $14.95,
www.booksbyhunter.com). “It allows you to come to
terms with stressful events and reduces their impact on
your health.”
Darden knows from experience that
writing can be therapeutic. She lost a big brother in childhood,
her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age
of 56, her brother is critically ill, and adding to the
adversity, Toxic Shock Syndrome claimed the life of her
sister. Through it all, Darden poured out her emotions in
a journal. She shares more of what she learned during those
difficult times in the free report “3 Things You Can
Learn from Life’s Little Knots” available at
www.booksbyhunter.com.
“Journaling helped me recover,”
says Darden. “It was a catharsis and a journey of
self-discovery. Writing is an honest avenue to find peaceful
resolution.”
But that wasn’t the only benefit
of writing. According to Darden, some of the other healing
benefits you can reap from journaling include:
Resolving "unfinished business."
Writing unearths areas of hurt you thought you’d already
dealt with so you can begin the process of putting them
to rest.
Clearing your mind. Right this minute
your mind is probably swirling with thoughts about everything
from what you should eat for dinner to how you are going
to cope with a difficult coworker. Journaling gives you
the opportunity to “clear the clutter” and focus
on what’s really important. Consequently, your productivity
and concentration can improve.
Expanding self-awareness and self-knowledge.
Journaling on a routine basis reveals what makes you happy
or sad, worried or confident. This is important information
for you to have as you begin the process of healing and
growth.
Experience fewer physical symptoms
of stress. As you release your angst on the page instead
of turning it over and over in your mind, you may discover
that stress-induced headaches may decrease or high blood
pressure may return to normal. Your sleep may become deeper
and more restful.
Seeing your progress. Capturing feelings in a journal allows
you to look back later and see how far you’ve come.
Recognizing improvement is a great motivator!
To begin, Darden suggests that you
set aside about 20 to 30 minutes in a place where you won’t
be disturbed. Write about what you are feeling right now;
explore how that relates to other aspects of your life,
such as your childhood or relationships.
Write continuously and don’t
worry about proper spelling or grammar. Simply allow yourself
the freedom to express your thoughts. Remind yourself that
things will get better. You will heal. And as you do, be
sure to keep writing!
Get the free report “3 Things
You Can Learn from Life’s Little Knots” or purchase
your copy of “Tapestry: A Story of the Healing of
the Soul” at www.booksbyhunter.com.
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