At the beginning of 2012 I embarked on a journey, a journaling challenge. For almost a month – 27 days, I woke up at 6:00 each morning and began the wonderful process of putting pen to paper and letting all of my thoughts, desires, ambition and ambivalences out. What a cathartic and empowering experience it was. I am a writer by nature. I love to see words written on a page and I love the feel of the flow of pen to paper. So it is with great pleasure that I introduce to the blog a spectacular woman behind my journaling challenge – Mari L. McCarthy. Please joing me in welcoming her to the blog where she’ll give you some insight into why journaling is so therapeutic, oh and did I mention addictive. I hope that if you decide to embark on this journey you too will see the profound affect it has on your life.
Journaling and Stress
By Mari L. McCarthy
There are zillions of sources of stress, and people experience stress in different ways. But in just about every case, journal writing helps to ease the discomfort.
Life requires some amount of friction (i.e., applied stress) to keep going; without it we would atrophy! So the usual everyday ratio of stress to pleasure is tolerated, because we know these challenges are healthy, and cause us to grow.
At various times in life, stress may temporarily increase: when you take a test, or break a leg, or get married, for instance. How you cope at such times shows your character. If you have built inner strength, you know this too shall pass.
Highly stressful situations, however, are a different story. These are the ones that confound your emotions, your sense of fairness, your capacity to hope. Often, in a highly stressful situation, it looks as though there is no way out, no solution. This kind of stress can make us miserable, and affect our health in all kinds of ways.
Whatever level of stress is operative in your life today, you can become more at ease with it by journaling.
Are things swimming along for you lately, one thing leading naturally and calmly to another in your life without much complaining? Is your most bothersome stress point the moment when your alarm goes off in the morning, or worrying over what’s for dinner?
In such a life, your journal can be the place where you dream, plan, appreciate, and even bitch if you want to. Your journal is where you line up the details of your life with the big picture of your awareness. The process of writing in your journal not only relaxes you; it also inspires you to become even better than you are.
Other times in your life will include temporary intense stresses. Journaling through these experiences provides an intimate counselor and friend holding your hand. It also enlarges your understanding and appreciation of what’s going on.
But suppose stress is a constant presence occupying your awareness 24/7? Combat, being lost at sea, being diagnosed with cancer, or parenting children with special needs are examples of this kind of stress.
Helpful as journaling can be when you’re dealing with minor stress, keeping a journal when you’re highly stressed can be even more remarkably beneficial.
Your journal is your personal coach and confidante.
It’s also an interface between your inside and your outside.
With a journal, you are able to hear your inner self and also to see yourself from a distance.
Journal writing refreshes your perception so that you can understand more clearly and act more confidently.
Think you’re too stressed to keep a journal? Or is it possible you are too stressed NOT to keep one?
Bio:
Mari L. McCarthy is The Journaling Therapy Specialist, founder of Journaling for the Self of It™. Mari offers counseling and encouragement as well as hundreds of prompts through her many online journaling resources and her private consultations. Please visit Createwritenow. Mari’s latest publication is Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days! which is available now. She also leads a 27 Day Journaling Challenge designed to bring you to yourself in new and inspiring ways.
