Write Your Journey: Journaling Your Way to Inner Healing

Journal writing has been around for a very long time. I personally believe that human beings putting their thoughts down about what was going on in their lives and what was going on all around them has been around since the beginning of time. I can only imagine people hammering out thoughts on sheets of stone. Or perhaps, they drew pictures on walls like hieroglyphics to express themselves. Either way, it is the same concept that we still use today although our writing instruments have changed drastically.

Recently, I started teaching workshops here in Roanoke, VA called Write Your Journey Creative Workshop. The concept of the workshop is spiritual growth as well as inner healing through the power of the written word, specifically journal writing. I've two online workshops and two local workshops so far and I tell you the response has been wonderful. Granted, this isn't a new concept by any stretch of the imagination, however, the way it's presented and facilitated makes the difference.

My workshop is designed to focus in on writing the majority of the time allotted. I like to time the writings. Using guided journal entries, which are statements or questions that I pose to the participants and then allow five to ten minutes for the writing itself to take place.

One of the things I've learned throughout my experience with the healing power of writing is how easy it is to see the metamorphosis that takes place within the mind. For instance, the first journal entry, which is usually a five-minute stream of consciousness writing tends to start out a bit scattered - thoughts sprinkled all over the place, neither rhythm nor rhyme, just a potpourri of fragmented thoughts.

Then, I write a couple of ten-minute journal entries on specific topics. I return to the five-minute stream of consciousness writing again. What I found amazed me and it rang true for the participants of my workshops - that by the time I get to the second stream of consciousness writing, my thoughts are more focused and powerful. They are no longer scattered about in my mind.

Journal writing isn't the easiest type of writing to do. At times, it can be quite painful because you are allowing yourself to open up in a way that you do not normally open up, especially verbally. Even on paper, it can be a challenge.

My personal journey with writing is a testament to how powerful the written word can be when it comes to changing one's life by way of inner strength and growth. Journal writing is the art of telling the truth, whether someone reads it or not. Where there is truth, there is light...and vice versa.

Over the years, I've dealt with depression, physical illness, overeating, and so on as a result of being a childhood sexual abuse survivor. During the years that the sexual abuse took place; I started writing in a diary I had gotten one Christmas. Being able to put my thoughts down helped so much during that time in my life; it kept me sane and I've been writing ever since. I've always called writing my saving grace.

As a thirty-something adult now, I have made it my mission to share this gift of healing through the written word with others. Below are a few guided journal entry prompts to help you get started on your journey to inner healing. I hope you enjoy them.

Guided Journal Entries

I highly recommend that you time yourself on each of these writings. First of all, before you even start the following journal entries, write a 5-minute stream of consciousness journal entry. Stream of consciousness means to just write down whatever comes to mind at the moment you're writing, even if all you're just talking about not having anything to write about - just keep writing. As with all of these writings, do not worry about grammar, punctuation, and spelling. That's irrelevant here. The point is to open your mind, open your heart, write it all down, and feel better.

*10-minute guided journal entry - Write about an emotion that you feel quite often.

*10-minute guided journal entry - How do you feel about your body?

*5-minute guided journal entry - Stream of consciousness writing

Blessings to you on your path! Happy Writing!