Rec | MAKING BIG EMOTIONS SMALL

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Rec'd on 📕 how has journalling impacted your mind and livelihood?

really hated “journaling” as a kid /teen because it always felt like a chore; part of that was not knowing how (or even particularly wanting) to get in touch with my emotions at that age, but today i journal almost exclusively when im overwhelmed, by positive or “negative” emotions, to be able to actually feel them and engage with them instead of being physiologically beholden to them over the course of a day until my body has processed the feeling instead of my mind. Doing this ~weekly or even bi-weekly (whenever im called to) has given me such a sense of relief and control in a way that makes me wish i wasn’t so resistant to it in my youth. taking the time to make the unsaid said on the page is top 5 ways to know yourself fr trying to get into the practice of a nightly gratitude journal as well (using a guided journal), when i do the entries it’s definitely “effective” (gratitude is def an emotion that suffers a lot from bouncing around your noggin “unsaid”) but daily journaling still feels chore-y 🥲

@alaiyo

Jan 15, 2025

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@Onyi_Budds

Love this! Journalling can definitely feel like such a chore. Instead of journaling I sometimes speak on how I’m feeling out loud and if I’m feeling like making voice memos I record my experiences, emotions (Whether positive or “negative”) and thoughts. I feel like we should embrace communication in different forms. Some people aren’t into writing their feelings but are very much interested in talking out loud. You mentioned how in your youth/teens you didn’t get much into journalling, what was the big “aha” moment or shift that made you get into it?

Jan 16, 2025

@alaiyo

Onyi_Budds i think it was less an individual “aha” as much as it was subtle conditioning over time; a lot of it was trying to do daily journaling despite not enjoying it (looking at you, the artist’s way), realizing my therapy sessions were very reactionary / slow-moving bc i was figuring out how i felt in stream of consciousness bc i didn’t do any work to process prior, then doing a more intensive mental health treatment program where i journaled once or twice a week and seeing the benefits clearly in a more intentional environment for emotional regulation. my fiancé is also an avid journal-er so throughout this journey i also had consistent support / encouragement to keep experimenting until i figured out what worked for me :)

Jan 16, 2025

@Onyi_Budds

alaiyo I just love reading your responses. They are so articulate and well-written. Thank youuu. Having your fiancé support you is so cute and I’m proud of you on your mental health journey and the benefits you saw. Even though you journal, always do what’s best for you. I know when I started getting into journalling I felt compelled to journal almost everyday all because social media “told” me so. Striking the perfect balance was essential. Thank you for your responses, they truly are so beautiful. <333

Jan 16, 2025

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