The Simple Joys of Journaling

Journaling, in many ways, is akin to the confessional booth at church. While their forms differ, both provide a safe space to express some of our most troubling thoughts and feelings. My first encounter with confession came through reading St. Augustine's "Confessions," a powerful testament to the introspective nature of this practice. Later, I discovered confessional poets like Robert Lowell, whose raw and honest poetry resonated deeply with me. Even the rap music I listened to at that time felt confessional, as artists poured their hearts out in verses.

However, journaling doesn't have to be confessional. It can take many forms, each offering its own benefits. Confessional journaling, in particular, allows us to see our thoughts and feelings written down, giving us the space to process and release them from our bodies. This process can be incredibly cathartic, leading to a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Journaling may feel intimidating at first.  You may not see the point in journaling at all.  You may think you have nothing to say.  But I assure you that you do.  One of the most valuable things we can do is be honest about our experiences, thoughts, and feelings.  We don't do this to glorify ourselves, but to acknowledge our experience and clear our metal and emotional spaces, so we can be available to support our friends and loved ones.

To get started, just write for 5 minutes.  And for those 5 minutes, write whatever comes to mind.  This should ease you into the writing process.  It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not, or if it is even confessional.  Consider this initial writing a warm up to help you get started.

And unless you plan on sharing this journal with the world, who will ever see it?  The fear of my writing being discovered after I died both excited and frightened me.  I hated the idea that future readers wouldn't understand what I was referencing, or jump to conclusions about my personal life when I was simply exploring creative writing.  I dealt with this by realizing that, in a way, if anyone were to even care to explore my writings without throwing them out, that reading my writings with no context and no total understanding of them could be some form of literary art--poems disguised in prose forms and fragmented thoughts.  This thought helped me to be okay with continuing to write without fear and instead enjoy it.

And maybe you want to draw in your journal...do it! Exploring what a visual confession might look like can be an intriguing exercise. Start by asking yourself some simple questions.  A starter question could be 'how would you draw or paint your confession?' This visual representation could offer a new perspective on your thoughts and emotions.

Whether you choose confessional journaling or another form, the act of putting pen to paper can be a transformative experience. 

For more information regarding confessional journaling, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/202202/do-you-have-confessions-write-about