Many, many years ago- like a lot of people my age- I had a livejournal AND a Xanga...ha. Anyway, there's a reason why online journaling with no sense of shame or holding back is popular- especially among young adults and people going through certain trials in their lives- autism for example. There is a whole new branch of social psychology dedicated to why we plaster our lives all over the internet for everyone in the world with a connection to potentially see. With the dawn of facebook, people who were not necessarily writers, are now able to post short status statements about their days, how they're feeling, who just ticked them off...whatever. This too is a form of public emotional show.
Journaling changes people's lives. I'm not kidding. For decades therapists have suggested this to average people, telling them to just write a few sentences if that's all they're feeling. Journaling helps you know what you're feeling, and why. Many adults have a very low emotional intelligence- they don't know that they're even frustrated, let alone why they are. I've seen first hand journaling change the lives of people with autism and other developmental disabilities as well. It gives them new ways to connect to people around them without the stigma or pressure of the direct social situation. It can do the same for you.
Now, from a Christianity standpoint, you can find lots of information on the internet and probably in your home church that well tell you how to journal about the Bible, God's messages to you, whatever.... this is good, too.....but, not really the same.
As I mentioned, even writing one or 2 sentences down such as "I really don't want to go to work today, but I will anyway because it's the right thing to do"....can actually help you through your day. Journaling at the end of the day is also a great release.
So, the next time you feel like you "should journal"....find a piece of paper and a pen.... and do it!
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