Journaling: Psych Tips Issue 24

This week we continue our discussion of journaling. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Tip of the Week: Journaling Tips ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remember that journaling is for you. Don´t let spelling, handwriting, and grammar be major concerns. This form or writing is for you to get your feelings and experiences down on paper. No one else will review or grade it. Even everyday frustrations can provide topics for your writing. Take time to observe your life. Write about events that are happening to you or around you, from a third person perspective. For example, begin writing with the phrase, "It was a time when...," then describe the event in detail, use as many of your senses as possible. What were the sounds, smells, sights, feelings, etc. that were present? Describe the events as an outside observer, using "he" and "she." Many people find that this technique helps put things into perspective and is especially effective when writing about life changes, job or career, relationships or illness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Recommended Site of the Week ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This article, from BellaOnline.com, provides tips for healing through journal writing http://www.bellaonline.com/health_and_fitness/disabilities_and_disorders/panic_disorders/articles/art981517336866.htm Tara Kuther, Ph.D., is a professor of developmental psychology and freelance writer. Visit her latest site, ImprovingMe.com, for self improvement, self help, and personal growth resources. Http://www.ImprovingMe.com