I kept a diary growing up but lost interest in high school when my mom admitted she read it. After college, even with the privacy of my own apartment, the endeavor felt juvenile and a little narcissistic. But as someone who lives with the barrage of never-ending thoughts that accompany anxiety, I now believe that journaling is an act I can do that makes me less selfish and more present in my daily life.
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry finds Professor Dumbledore’s pensieve, an object where memories are stored. Dumbledore explains,
“I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind… At these times, I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one’s mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one’s leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form.”
Journaling is my pensieve, where being pensive takes on a function. I don’t tend to “examine [thoughts] at my leisure” much in the form of rereading journals, but I am more aware of when I’m living the same circumstances over and over because I keep writing about them.
The practice of storing one’s daily experiences does not only carry potential benefits in fantasy. Numerous studies, including one that examined the impact of expressive writing on the wellbeing of healthcare professionals, have found that this form of intentional journaling:
- Reduces the negative emotions associated with specific words
- Assists with compassion fatigue
- Improves problem-solving skills
When approached with care, journaling helps my ability to live according to my values. In an effort to connect with others interested in this practice, I’m sharing prompts that I use. I hope these inspire other questions and actions that deepen our self-love.
- How are you feeling physically? Are you wired? Tired?
- What relationship or situation is most on your mind?
- What might help you to hear? Can you tell yourself that now?
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