Journaling for Health: Five Techniques for Wellness

Journaling for Health: Five Techniques for Wellness
 by: Patti Testerman

1. Write about how you feel about everyday events; writing about the events is fine, but be sure to include the feelings. The goal is to get the intense emotions on paper and out of your body/mind.
2. Write about the issues that are most impacting your life today, particularly any health concerns.
3. Make a list of everything causing you stress—which can lead to ill-health, then note what you can (or cannot) do about each item.
4. If you can't get an event out of your mind—like an unpleasant conversation with a co-worker—write what you wish the conversation had unfolded, in dialogue form.
5. Create a mantra or positive affirmation, then journal ways to fulfill the affirmation. An example of a mantra might be: "I am safe, my life is filled with peace."
Finally, re-read your journals on a consistent basis, looking for self-defeating or negative patterns.

About The Author

Patti Testerman is content manager at JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site.
patti@journalgenie.com

This article was posted on August 25, 2004