How to Start a Powerful Practice of Journaling For Self-Love
Journaling can be a powerful practice to connect with yourself and strengthen your self-love. But for a lot of people, they have no idea where to start. And I get it, journaling can sound daunting. Some days you might have the intention to write all your feelings down on paper but find you have no clue what to say. Don’t sweat, we’re here to help. Keep reading for a guide on how to start a powerful practice of journaling for self-love.
What Does Journaling for Self-Love Mean?
Firstly, let’s dive into what it means to journal for self-love. You might have flashbacks of rushing home from school to pour your heart out about your bad day in your lockable diary. Or writing hypothetical love notes to your crush. (Cute!) And wasn’t that such a relief to get those feelings out? Journaling for self-love isn’t too far off, except the crush in question is you! To put it simply, journaling is the practice of writing down your thoughts and feelings. They can be related to events in your life, how you feel about yourself, the future or anything you feel compelled to address.
What are the Benefits of Journaling for Self-Love?
If you haven’t picked up a journal since your teenage years, the following benefits might inspire you to do just that! Journaling has the following incredible benefits:
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Helps process trauma
- Strengthens the immune system
- Helps you learn from your mistakes
- Can improve your communication
- Helps you work towards your goals
- Boosts your mood
- Promotes creativity
- Allows you to practice self-love
- Allows you to practice gratitude
- Boosts your self-esteem
- Improves your mindfulness
Are you struggling to put down your phone, get off social media and prioritize your self-love practice? Check out our article here to find out How to Practice Self-Love and Self-Care in a Social Media World.
How to Start Your Practice of Journaling For Self-Love
If you’re ready to start your journaling practice, congratulations! There’s no better time than now to put pen to paper to de-stress, connect with yourself, and practice gratitude. Theoretically, all you need to get started is a pen and paper. But to help you stick with your journaling practice, it helps to have a special notebook to use just for your journaling ritual. Some journals have prompts and activities to help you with your practice which can be very helpful for beginners. But if you prefer to let your thoughts run free with no reigns, opt for a plain-lined notebook for your musings.
When is the Best Time to Journal?
The best time to journal is whatever time works for you. Everyone is different, and you might discover certain times of the day work better than others. For example, you might find journaling before bed helps you unpack your thoughts and the events of the day. For others, journaling first thing in the morning helps set them up for a mindful day of being present.
Think of journaling just like your other self-care activities. If you’ve had a stressful day, meditation may be your go-to practice to help you de-stress. Or maybe you roll out your yoga mat and go straight into a downward dog. Just like these practices, journaling can help you in moments of stress to ground you and help you get back to a relaxed state.
What do I Write About?!
Most people have this question when they consider starting a journaling practice. Am I writing a story? Recalling events? Writing about my day!? The truth is, you can write about whatever you feel called to put down on paper. But, most people find it helpful to have an idea of what they’re writing about before they get started.
Perhaps you could start your morning by writing down one goal you have for the day. Or end your evening by writing about three things you are grateful for. Why not write about how you feel in the moment and see where it takes you? You might find you quickly full three pages without trying, but other days you finish with a few sentences. There is no right or wrong way to journal, so continue to practice finding what works best for you!
Journal Prompts
Don’t worry, we won’t leave you hanging without proving some journal prompts to help you get started! Journal prompts are an awesome way to get a clear direction before you put pen to paper. They are especially helpful for those days when you have no idea what to write about. When you’re not sure where to start, use the following prompts to inspire your journaling ritual.
- How can I love myself today?
- What are three things I love about myself?
- What can I thank myself for?
- Are the negative beliefs I have about myself true?
- What am I proud of?
- What is the best compliment I’ve received?
- Who am I most grateful for having in my life?
- How would my best friend describe me?
- What are my talents?
- What makes me unique?
- I am happiest when I…
- What do I think I deserve and why?
- When do I feel most confident?
- What is one simple thing I can do today to make myself feel good?
- Why do I deserve to be happy?
- What is a challenge I’ve overcome?
- Who inspires me?
- What do I love about my body?
- I feel peaceful when…
- What do I love about my mind?
How to Stick With Your Journaling for Self-Love Practice
When you’re getting started with your journal practice, remember that it is exactly that – a practice. You might not be able to fill the pages of your notebook right away. But with time, you’ll find it easier and easier to use your journal for self-love and reflection. And remember, no one will be reading your journal, so let yourself be free and enjoy the process.
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