Journaling Insights That Support You Through Challenging Times
Are you prepared to make lemonade from a pile of lemons? There are times when life hits you with an overwhelming number of lemons at full force, and navigating how to make it out alive can be a daunting task. So how do you not only pick yourself up, but also make lemonade from all that lemon? How do you resolve and overcome trauma and heartbreak? We all deal with trauma, stress and unsettling life events with our own unique finesse. But sometimes we are left alone to get to the other side of our recovery without any guidance. Journaling has helped me resolve complex issues because it’s a pro-active recovery technique that keeps me en-route toward progress and healing. Essentially, journaling is key to strengthening your perseverance, acknowledging your experiences, resolving fears and identifying what changes need to happen.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. - Maya Angelou
As You Continue Your Journaling Breakthrough, here are 3 insights to motivate you and help identify the depths of self-reflection that are possible.
Entertain The Possibility of Strength and Courage - Most likely you are in survival mode when chaos and overwhelm strike. For me, anything relating to pain, shock, anxiety, or disorientation shatters my life, so instantly accepting the fact that these intense feelings are temporary, is a little sour to swallow at first. However, I find my strength by entertaining the possibility that greatness will come to me again. I validate the circumstances I’m in and give myself the benefit of the doubt that these unforeseen obstacles are universal. Take a moment to define what your life would mean if you invite faith in, and have the courage to see an opportunity for something greater to come along. Journal Exercise: How have you persevered through difficult times? Remember to give yourself credit for doing so.
The Antidote to Recovery Is Presence - Facing your fears and confronting what has happened are small action steps bringing you closer to the present moment. The reality is exactly what I’m always protesting and as a result, my protest sets fire to my hope and recovery. When you are ready, acceptance around what has happened calms the storm and gives you the power you’ll need to conquer your journey. Finding your way to the present moment is worth the fight because it sets you up for success. Rather than living in the past details of trauma, or the future of ‘what-ifs,’ living in the now helps you identify the choices you feel are best for you. Journal exercise: Name some of your fears and the strengths you possess to overcome them.
Unsent Letters Bring Closure - Writing a letter to yourself or to someone else that has emotional significance in your life, even if they are not present in your life anymore, is a way to practice deep communication without risking harm. This exercise can bring closure to unresolved relationships or situations, bring insight into how you feel, and allow you to let go or prioritize what might need reconciliation. There is no need to share these letters. In fact, you can burn them, shred them or keep them in your journal. Journal Exercise: After writing your letter, can you see any solutions that may benefit your personal growth?
I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn. - Ann Frank
Journaling can help you overcome challenges. Reinforce your commitment to perseverance by setting a goal that highlights your determination. Write it out beginning with, my goal is to… and I will succeed by… When you reflect and journal, you tap into inner resources that soften the feelings of regression in your life, despite how it actually feels. Rather than feeling like you have to make lemonade out of a surplus of lemons on the spot, you have the option to organize your thoughts through writing, and taking the time you need before accepting what actually is. My hope is that through expressing yourself on the page, you will have the strength to find clarity in your present moment, the courage to look at the pile of yellow bitter fruit, and confidently know when the right time for you to make your lemonade is.
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