Practice of journaling for mental health

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Over 15 years ago, I started really journaling.  This wasn't a "dear diary" entry every now and then, it was a commitment to journal 3 pages every day, first thing in the morning without thinking...even if I didn't feel like it.  I learned this through a book called "The Artist's Way".   Some days I hated it and one particular morning I simply wrote "I don't feel like writing" for a whole page and then, shazam, the words flowed! 

For the first year, I would say, journaling without thinking allowed space for a lot of trauma to come out that was stuffed down for decades. 

I highly recommend that book - artist or not, we are creative beings - and doing it with a trustworthy and fun friend. At the end of the chapter she always provided prompts to continue to dive deeper into who you were meant to be and especially being present.

 If you want to get started right away however, I've included a few journal prompts below. The prompts can be a question or statement that makes you think about your life.
The goal of a prompt is to help you decide what to write in your journal by giving directions and guiding your thinking.

Not into writing or want to enjoy this process with your kids, see some prompts below.  When the kids were little, we had a little red journal on the dining table and would ask them to share one thing they were grateful for that day ....and one thing they wish they could do differently.   I always loved the discussion (no judgement parents, just write what they say down) and keeping a memory of those days. 

• Write down one good thing that happened to you today.
• What are five personality traits that you are most thankful for?
• What about your upbringing are you most grateful for?
• Are you happy with how your day turned out? Can you do better tomorrow?
• Name 5 things you are doing well currently.
• What family members are you most grateful for? Write about what makes them special.
• What is something nice you did for another person today or this week?
• Who or what in your life are you happy to have let go?

Donna
Hearts Landing Ranch