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Have you ever thought about using a journal?

If you think about using journaling as part of your wellness strategies, you may want to write down some goals first.  Here are some suggestions on how others use their journal and how you might want to as well. In fact, when you put pen to paper it helps the swirling thoughts of anxiety get down in a linear format. Similarily, if you are struggling with depression, it can help you to identity thought distortions to begin challenging negative beliefs.

Potential Journaling Goals:

Understand my thoughts and feelings

Help in achieving life goals

Track mood changes

Improve depression

Allow you to understand life issues that affect my moods

Give myself credit for my progress

Get to know myself better

Grieve a loss

Explore dreams

Pinpoint and address stressors

Deepen creativity

Or for any other reasons you can think of

Next Start Journal Exercises: Start your writing by answering a question

Describe what I like about my myself is…

Explain what made me feel low today?

The best thing that ever happened to me was….

I feel angry that……

Write a letter to someone you would like to tell off but won’t send.

Make a list of all the reasons you want to be alive today

If I had one day to live, I would….

Create lists – things to do for self-care, what makes you happy or sad, why you feel stressed, etc.

Sometimes these prompts will help and other times I encourage you just to start writing, try to keep the internal critic off your back and just free flow. Just write what ever comes into your head. There is something therapeutic about putting pen to paper.

Nancy Ryan, LMFTNancy Ryan, LMFT

specializes in working with individuals and couples who want deep, satisfying relationships with themselves and their partners. She works with couples who are ready to stop the destructive patterns and want to build the love, friendship and romance back into their partnership.

Relationship Therapy Center offers individual and couples counseling in the Sacramento area, individual and couples counseling in Roseville, CA and individual and couples counseling in Fair Oaks, CA  Contact us today via phone or text 916-426-2757