“What’s the point?” That was the first thought that came to me today when I woke up. I hadn’t even gotten out of bed when my mind started assaulting me with negative thoughts. “Well here we go again, it all seems so pointless, nothing ever changes!” The voice continued, “Why do you keep working so hard when you don’t see any results?” I sighed and made my way to the bathroom. I knew I’d have to do some major work in my journal to prevent myself from crawling right back into bed.
What’s the point in journaling?
The point in journaling is writing down all the things you are thinking so you can examine them to see if they are true. Most of the time they are not even true, and once to see them on paper you will recognize that. Even if they are true in the moment, they may not be helpful thoughts. In this situation you can look at the thought and find a different, more helpful way to think about it. Journaling can also help you keep track of all the wins and changes in your life.
Six months from now, you can read your past journals and see how far you’ve come. You can see how your positive thoughts turned things around, and how much progress you’ve actually made. You can also pray for people and really let your true feelings out. Once you put your thoughts down on paper, you are freeing up the valuable real estate in your mind. This happens because you can call out the negative, unhelpful thoughts and release them. When they resurface you will recognize them faster, and escort them out of your mind with a simple, “you are not welcome here anymore.”
How I turned my day around.
On most days, I try to journal first thing when I wake up. Today I was running behind so even though I had my journal on me, I didn’t journal until noon. I know this practice makes my day slog on longer than necessary, but I was behind and told myself I’d journal as soon as I got a chance. After making breakfast for everyone, doing lessons with my son, and working for my clients, I started journaling. When I journal in the morning I start out by writing out 5 gratitudes. Sometimes it’s hard to come up with anything, but once I start with “God’s Grace, and Family,” the rest just come bursting forth. Starting with gratitudes helps you clear the cobwebs from your mind and start shifting things into a more positive light.
The next step is to write down the first thought that came into my mind when I woke up. Today it was “Well here we go again, it all seems so pointless, nothing ever changes!” It really stood out, as it’s not the normal first thought. I knew that would be the thought I’d have to journal through. Mentally I could call it out as being false, but it lingered until I was able to actually journal. It was such a relief to be able to get everything on paper and sorted through.
After that I write down an answer or reframe to the first thought of the day. My answer was, “My family needs me and God loves me; that is all the point I need.” This simple revelation broke a much needed whole into the original thought of the day. The whole point of getting out of bed, working on my coaching business and clients was to be there for my family. As long as I have God and my family loving and needing me, there is a point to all my hard work.
How to shift from dark to light.
My next step is to really start journaling on the thoughts and feelings that surface after the reframe. I ask God to help me get through the day, as I know I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Philippeans 4:13. In my brain dump of feelings, I realized that this thought was a direct result of the lack of sleep that I’d had recently. I have been pushing myself really hard lately, but that’s my normal as I manage my Fibromyalgia symptoms.
To be honest, I did something I don’t normally do, I actually napped during the day. It turned out to be exactly what I needed. I find that after journaling, my mindset shifts to where I can see things more clearly, show myself grace, and become way more productive. The nap was a result of showing myself grace. I knew I was too tired to accomplish what I needed to do, so I napped. I woke up refreshed and able to finish up my tasks for the day. Sometimes we need to do that, just take a much needed break.
In Conclusion.
The first thought of the day didn’t resurface after I journaled about it. By discovering why it surfaced in the first place, and that it wasn’t even a rational thought, I was able to dismiss the thought completely. This is just an example of how journaling changes my whole day. When my day is not going well, it can usually be traced back to the fact that I didn’t journal. Journaling helps me get my emotions and thoughts under control, which effects how I react to things for the rest of the day.
The great news is that you can do this too! You can change how you respond to negative stimuli by journaling and getting your thoughts under control. We all have the ability to manage our mindset for a more productive and happy life. Happiness is a choice. If you would like help making Journaling a staple in your daily routine, reach out to me at andrea@nopainallgain.ca, and I’d be happy to help you.
As a natural encourager, I live to help others!!! One-on-one coaching is a great way to start building your confidence, and improve your health! I help people with Fibromyalgia and chronic illness manage their symptoms with ease, so they never feel held back again! Click here for an application form and I would be happy to help you in your journey. You can also contact me at andrea@nopainallgain.ca or check out my website: www.nopainallgain.ca
