Journaling for Healing

Keeping a journal is one of the most effective things you can do to gain insight into current problems, and to grow emotionally and spiritually. Writing down thoughts and feelings is therapeutic. You don’t need to share your writing with anyone. You will gain new perspectives through writing, as though you had shared your thoughts with an actual person.

James W. Pennebaker, Ph.D., in his book, Opening Up, The Healing Power of Expressing Emotion, describes a study of unemployed men. The men who wrote about losing their jobs found new jobs much more quickly than the two control groups. Writing helped them vent anger, hurt and pain about their job loss. It enabled them to let go of painful experiences, and this in turn, helped them be effective in finding employment.

Writing will help with any type of crisis or problem. If you’re dealing with anger or resentment, write a letter to the person you’re angry with, but don’t send the letter. Sending an angry letter makes things worse. The point is to get your anger, hurt or pain out on paper. Include specific details when you write. This helps you understand what happened, and helps you let go of anger and hurt.

Writing about painful feelings isn’t easy. You may have to make yourself do this. When an issue troubles you, write for twenty to thirty minutes without censoring what you write. Let your feelings out without trying to be rational. Repeat this three to five days in a row. Save what you write and reread it a week later.

Journeling scripture is also life changing. Jounaling the promises and the commands in the Bible will grow your faith.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3

Blessings, Dottie