Journaling gives you a few minutes of solitude that engages the right side of your brain. Logic gets pushed to the side. Rules and goals go by the wayside, and the heart is allowed to speak its truth.
Busy, chaotic, exhausted. These are words that many parents and teens use to describe their lives these days. In a world of endless opportunities and immense pressure, we seem to always be on the go. Add in technology, and it is virtually impossible to hear your own inner thoughts, much less reflect on them.
Journaling is a habit that gives us the gift of personal growth, self-reflection, and forward movement. The first time I meet my teen clients, I give them a journal. They are encouraged to write in their journal every night or morning or afternoon, whatever works best for them. There are no rules except to write, draw, sketch for at least 5 minutes. Our goal is to let the mind unwind, the anxiety pour out on the pages, and for their heart to flourish.
The emotions that our children struggle with are immense. With a busy schedule, those emotions usually get pushed down and squashed, never to be dealt with. That doesn’t mean they go away. That means they fester.
I would encourage you to offer your child the gift of solitude and growth. Take her out to find a journal that elicits a smile on her face. If she needs help getting started, offer her a few questions that she can answer in her journal. (What do you like to do on a rainy weekend? What are your biggest fears? If you could start a non-profit, what would it support?)
And to make it even more fun, you can start journaling too! Answer the same questions in your journal.
Journaling is good for the heart and healing for the soul.
Happy Journaling!
With Heart,
Coach Sheri
