Why Journaling is Healthy
written by Laya Vijay & Ashmita Annamalai
edited by Harini Akurathi, Tiffany Fang, & Samita Pandit
Our minds process around 60,000 thoughts a day. Close to 80% of those are negative and 95% are a repeat of the day before. As the world continues to test our perseverance by battering our emotions time and time again, it's difficult to stand firm. The overpowering thoughts will begin to bottle up in our chests and will only cause us to explode. Every little thought that crosses our mind will drown us out, hindering us from reaching our full capacity to move forward. The best way to release a bit of our inner stress and/or anxiety is to pour it out. Many resort to violence and others to deterioration. Yet fighting negativity with negativity does not balance out the forces. Instead, pour it all out on paper. That’s all it takes for some positivity. Just a pencil and paper. Writing the ups and downs of your life can lighten your mood and significantly improve your well-being. Journaling helps to prioritize problems, fears, and concerns, track
daily symptoms as a way for you to recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them, and provide an opportunity for positive self-talk and better self-understanding (Watson, Fraser, Ballas). As confessions of struggles and fear surge out of your mind, a sense of security is established as the way you express yourself won’t be faced with judgment or punishment. In this way, journaling proves to be therapeutic and ensures tranquility. It can indirectly strengthen your immune system and help manage stressful events and experiences, decreasing the unsatisfactory symptoms of stress. Recording details of day-today events can have a positive effect on your psyche as it boosts your overall sense of gratitude and assists with a feeling of groundedness and connectedness. It propels you toward your goals and brings your vision to life. Along with improving your memory and enhancing your creativity, it facilitates learning by creating a record of the lessons and
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