For many of us, the stress of life can seem almost overwhelming, so much so that just getting through a single day can feel exhausting. Sometimes it’s hard to think much beyond that single day, and we may start to realize that we’ve left something behind: Our dreams! What did we aspire for when we were younger: To travel to some exotic land? Create some piece of expressive art? Or maybe pursue a passion we once had? As we think about those dreams now, they may seem even farther away than ever, but there’s a tool that we can use to start bringing us through the stress and back to our dreams: Journaling.
Whether we’re dealing with emotional or mental traumas, or health issues from autoimmune disorders to rare cancers like mesothelioma, writing in a journal can be a useful tool for helping to heal mental anguish and reduce physical symptoms regardless of a stated prognosis. A study by Philip M. Ullrich and Susan K. Lutgendorf from the University of Iowa, found that students who journaled about the emotional and rational aspects of a stressful or traumatic situation had a reduction in illness symptoms over the month they journaled. Key to that study was that the journaling done by the students didn’t just focus on how the students felt, but also on what happened, what led up to their traumatic event or stress, and how they were coping with the outcomes.
Journaling can also bring more than healing. Julia Cameron, in her book, The Artist’s Way suggests that writing three journal pages every morning can help to rekindle creativity, a key element in setting goals and pursuing our dreams. This concept was inspiring enough for Buster Benson to create a compelling web tool called 750 words to inspire himself and others to write daily. On his site, you can find many individuals who testify to the benefits they’ve gained from daily writing–benefits which include a stronger focus, greater creativity, and more clarity and motivation on achieving their goals.
If you’ve never journaled before, the task may seem daunting. But all it really takes is just some paper, a pen, and a little time. Give it a try for a week, writing a small amount each day, and feel free to keep what you write all to yourself. By keeping your journal private, you give yourself permission to write about anything you want. The writing can be sentences, or maybe just bullet lists. Since it’s private, there’s no one to tell you it’s wrong. You may find that journaling takes you back to those dreams and goals you forgot you had. But public blogs also have their place—it is a net of inspiration out there waiting to be tapped into. Encourage yourself and also encourage those around you in search of similar things that you are.
I want to thank Melanie Bowen of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance for a really empowering article that we can all benefit from. Journaling is a focused way that all of us can deal with our own stressful issues and become more empowered individuals.
Yours In Success & Spiritual Empowerment…
The Empowered Entrepreneurial Magnets
