Journaling Your Way to Peace

We are very hard on ourselves. I can quite honestly say that we are probably our own worst critic.The media reports how we are suppose to look and how we should feel and what we should be doing. But, is any of that what your heart truly desires? I am going to give you one method for not only relieving tension and stress, but will set you on a journey of self discovery. If you are not sure about what your life has to offer, this journaling activity will help bring some clarity and solice almost instantly.

Journaling, by definition, is simply putting your thoughts into written word. For some people, journaling comes quite easy and a blank page quickly is filled with ideas or pictures. For others, journaling is difficult and a prompt is needed to get the throught process flowing.

It is important to note that journaling does not have to take the form of paper and pen. There are now several online journals and some even use casette recording. Individuals with writing difficulties have even used art as a way to express their thoughts and work through problems. So find the medium that works best for you.

Before you begin, find a span of at least 15 minutes of uninterupted time to yourself. Turn off your cell phone and make sure your voice mail is on. You don't want to break concentration to answer calls.

It is best to also find a quiet location that lacks clutter or anything related to work. A garden bench may be one person's haven, while the dining room table can be perfect for another. You need to decide what environment is going to help you relax and think.

As stated, some people have a difficult time begining, if this is the case, a list of prompts can be helpful. One quite helpful site is listed below. It may be useful to decide if there is an area of your life that is causing you undue stress. That may be the perfect starting point.

Take some time to think about your stress or problems you are contemplating. At this point you may start writing about the problems and let the journaling take you where you need to go. Some more analytical thinkers may find themselves making graphs and charts. Visual learners may find illustrations taking up a majority of their pages.

Do not worry about and punctuation. No one is going to grade this and no one ever has to see it. When you are done, go back and read what you have written. Listen to your inner voice and see what comes of it.

Every person has a positive and negative inner dialogue to help balance our decisions. And while critical thinking can sometimes feed anxiety and stress, it is also the part of our thought process that helps us rationalize tough decisions. For a large majority of the population, the two sides are not equal, and self criticism and doubt are much stronger. Journaling can help bring harmony into your life by listening to all of your thoughts.

Over time, and with practice, journaling can become a natural part of your daily routine. It may be the activity that lets you wind down in the evening or the morning spark that helps get your day going. Journaling allows you to make time for yourself and focus on the self-reflection that may be missing from your life.

Journals come in many shapes, sizes and price ranges. you can purchase one at your local store, online, or make your own. Below are some resources to help you.

Tibetan Handmade Green Lokta Paper Journal