Journaling isn’t a new concept, but nowadays it seems like it’s having its moment of resurgence when it comes to healing yourself.
Everyone is doing it, therapists recommend it, and it works tremendously, as it makes us confront the voices in our heads that we were too scared to face. Whether we are writing a few words or going for a full-on autobiography, we couldn’t help but feel relief; a huge weight is finally off our chest, and we can finally breathe again.
However, some people fail to express their thoughts on paper or
express them verbally, as they can have avoidant traits or they are the silent type who would rather keep things quiet because they were taught that suffering in silence is better than constantly “complaining”
What happens is that they dismiss the idea of journaling, to write down experiences and what led them to feel that way, to avoid therapy and speaking up.
It’s tougher for an avoidant or a reclusive person to swallow the idea of journaling because they don’t like the medium. If they cannot write what they’re thinking or how they’re feeling, the idea of journaling is daunting to them, because it’s a foreign concept, so pushing them into writing won’t work; it’s like making someone wear shoes that are clearly not their size.
Not only is this damaging to the avoidant/silent type, but it also alienates them from even going to therapy, and this leaves us with a question: how do you convince them to express their emotions and talk?
Change the medium.
You might be wondering, What do I mean by 'changing the medium'?
Well, our idea of journaling is limited to pen and paper, and just expressing what’s on your mind, and let me tell you that it’s harmful to exclude other ways of expressing our frustrations and anger.
Some resort to art, others to sports; it doesn’t matter, as long as it does the job, so why does it matter what way you use to allow yourself to feel?
There are plenty of ways to truly explore and confront what’s on your mind, directly or indirectly.
A playlist filled with relatable songs that perfectly encapsulate your state of mind, movies with gutwrenching stories that show humanity, and shows that capture the whirlwind of emotions through character development.
The medium doesn’t have to be a notebook and notes app on your phone; it could be a video diary, voice memos, making memes, doing reels with trending audios, as it’s not just about saying what’s on your mind, it’s also about allowing your body to express those reactions physically, too.
The main concept of journaling or expressing yourself is to allow those hidden thoughts, shameful acts, past regrets, and frustrations that you’ve faced to come to the surface, to not harm how you view yourself or approach life later on, to not be defined by the past, and to be more honest and clear, to let bygones be bygones.
So whatever medium you choose, it’s up to you. The start of self-improvement is what matters; it doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you start, that’s what counts.
And remember, your progress is not linear nor does your method have to be like the others, just don’t bottle your feelings.
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