Expressing yourself on paper is a liberating and cathartic experience. In the era in which we inhabit, it’s common for people to keep their feelings bottled up, out of fear of appearing vulnerable. That emotion stems from skepticism, concerning who around you or out in the world can be trusted to bear the weight of your truth responsibly.

That mindset is detrimental because the only thing that will come from it is you not writing and burying those negative feelings deep down inside. The objective of journaling should be for self-growth, and if your words resonate with someone, that’s just a bonus.

The Benefits of Journaling for Self-Growth

Reduced stress 

Journaling for self-growth helps chip away at those physical and physiological stressors that contribute to high blood pressure and anxiety, by enabling us to spew our emotions on the page, as opposed to just suppressing them and allowing them to manifest in an unhealthy manner. Incorporating journaling into your life as a meditative tool will drain the built-up negativity and leave space for positivity.

Improved memory

Journaling is an effective way to not only improve your memory but increase your capacity to remember. It trains your brain to preserve moments in time and reflect on exactly how you were feeling and extract lessons that could be carried internally for a lifetime.

Mature emotionally

A key benefit of journaling is that it allows you to express yourself in whatever way you deem appropriate at that specific time and once you’ve removed yourself from the moment, you can go back to your writing to see where you were at emotionally. With a clear mind and a fresh set of eyes, you can look back at your writing to get insight into the way you deal with situations. This self-reflection could create a perspective that transforms the way you react, thus, equipping you with the tools needed to deal with stressful moments better in the future.

What to Write in a Journal?

Learning how to journal is just as important as the words you etch into it. To find healing in your writing, you must look deep within to unearth the difficult thoughts you’ve kept buried for so long. The process of writing a journal that works towards achieving healing entails:

  1. Write down your fears

    How do you start writing a journal? The first step in overcoming your fears is being truthful about what you’re afraid of. Not only will opening up initiate the beginning stages of healing, but it could also help others dealing with the same issues to overcome their ailment through your bravery.

  2. Unleash your secrets

    Oftentimes, we keep secrets because we believe no one could relate to what we’re going through, and more times than not, that notion is usually always incorrect. No one is unique in their pain. Some are just better at hiding it.

  3. Work through challenges

    Go into detail concerning the steps you’re taking to overcome the hurdles you are experiencing in life. Write through it. Journaling can help organize your thoughts and create a clearer path with regard to life-altering realizations.

  4. Express gratitude and joy

    Remember, life isn’t all bad. While everything is relative, expressing gratitude for the people in your life, the roof over your head, or giving thanks for waking up in the morning can help create a perspective that may have been missing until you expressed it in words.

  5. Write a letter to someone

    Writing a letter to someone can be therapeutic for the writer and recipient. Even if it’s anonymous, an honest and heartfelt letter can help someone in need of genuine connection and understanding while allowing you to get those emotional burdens off your shoulders.

  • Imperfect Ink is a revolutionary platform, designed for those in search of a safe place to share feelings and deep inner thoughts via a handwritten letter. Our objective is to promote healing, human connection, and resources to educate and inspire change in writers by teaching them how to journal. To learn more about what to write in a journal, as well as the benefits and process of writing a personal journal for self-reflection, visit Imperfect Ink and get started writing today. 

Choose your favorite notebook or diary and think about all of the amazing benefits you’ll get from writing in a journal, like reduced stress, improved memory, and emotional maturity.

Write down your fears, unleash your secrets, write a letter to someone, or express gratitude when writing in a journal.

Keep your journal on your nightstand for nightly entries, or your desk for your morning coffee in order to incorporate journaling into your daily routine.