My Journal is my Therapist
& how writing keeps me sane
Ciao, friends.
I am five months from 33.
My Jesus year is fast approaching.
I find myself doing what I always do – reflecting.
And, as always, my journal is right there with me, a silent and tethered witness. A powerful tool in navigating these crazy times we are living in. This journal is not just a notebook with blank pages waiting to be filled; it’s become my therapist, my confidant, and my safe space to let it all out.
I've talked before about how much I love writing.
From my angsty teenage diary entries (where I untangled all those intense and hormonal emotions) to my cryptic Tumblr posts, and even those wildly inappropriate email newsletters I used to send friends (thank you for indulging me and my dating escapades and deep obsession with Bachelor in Paradise!), writing has always been my way of making sense of the world. And a lot of that processing, that figuring-things-out, started on the pages of my journal. It's where the raw, unfiltered stuff goes before it ever becomes anything else.
Honestly, I fear the day I die, because whoever, if anyone chooses to read these may look back and think I was a psycho.
But lately, I've realized that journaling is more than just a precursor to my "public" writing.
It's become essential for my mental and emotional well-being. It's how I navigate the intense feelings, the overthinking, the anxieties that inevitably pop up. It's how I keep myself from being completely swept away by the chaos of life.
I thank Julia Cameron and her “Morning Pages” for the come to Jesus moment that I needed with my relationship to journaling and writing.
Honestly, I used to be a really shy kid, I'd get caught in these spirals of overthinking, analyzing every little thing until I was paralyzed with anxiety. I was intensely nervous to the point where I would puke in front of the bushes in front of my class in middle school if we were late to school. But journaling has changed that. It's given me a place to process before the anxiety and nerves and paralysis demon come to get me.
Now, when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I grab my journal.
Sometimes I just start writing whatever comes to mind – a furious free-write, a brain dump of all the worries and frustrations swirling around in my head. Seeing it all on paper, outside of my head, already makes it feel less overwhelming.
Other times, I use my journal to ask myself questions.
Tough questions. Questions like, "What am I really afraid of here?" or "What's actually bothering me about this situation?" or "What's one small thing I can do to feel a little bit better right now?"
It's amazing what those questions can unlock. I'll start writing, and layers of emotions I didn't even realize were there start to surface. I'll see patterns in my thinking, identify triggers, and often, discover that the thing I thought I was upset about wasn't the real issue at all.
For example, I recently was majorly frustrated by a coworker who I rarely interact with. My initial reaction was to get angry and defensive. But instead of firing off a text or Team message, I opened my journal. I started by writing down exactly what happened, then I asked myself, "Why am I so upset about this?"
As I wrote, I realized I wasn't really angry about the disagreement itself; I was feeling insecure and unappreciated.
That realization completely shifted my perspective, and I was able to have a much more productive conversation with my coworker later on.
Journaling isn't a magic cure-all. I still have bad days. I still get overwhelmed. But now, I have a tool to help me navigate those challenges. I have a place to turn to where I can be completely honest with myself, without fear of judgment.
I'm more grateful than ever for the simple act of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).
It's a practice that keeps me grounded, helps me grow, and reminds me that even in the midst of chaos, there's always a space for clarity and calm.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, lost, or just in need of a good emotional outlet, I encourage you to give journaling a try. You don't have to be a "writer" to benefit from it. You just have to be willing to show up, be honest, and listen to what your inner voice has to say.
Here are a few questions to get you started:
What's one thing you're grateful for today?
What's a challenge you're facing, and what's one small step you can take to address it?
What's something you need to forgive yourself for?
What are you feeling right now?
What about you? Do you journal? What helps you process your emotions? Let's chat in the comments!
With love,
Marco (Your Friendly Obsession)
I used to have a locked password protected folder on my computer as my journal in highschool (yea I was a little paranoid 😂). It was such a great way to get all those teenage feelings out.
I should try to journal again! Reading your post definitely made me want to try it.