Writing to Heal
Empowering 10,000 women through therapeutic journaling
I need a little favour…
Would you PLEASE share this Substack post for me today?
If you do, I shall offer one of you a free place on my next ‘Journal with Ease’ series that starts this Thursday as a THANK YOU. I shall pick a name randomly from those of you who share the love.
Here goes… therapeutic journaling isn’t just about putting pen to paper; it’s a transformative journey - a journey I’ve embarked on and am impassioned to share. I’ve experienced firsthand the profound impact it can have, and now, I’m on a mission to extend this gift to 10,000 midlife women.
This yearning and mission of mine, is deep in my gut today. Like a calling. I need to get this message out to 1000’s of women. Mainly because I received an email from a client of mine and it has moved me to the core.
“In all honesty I’ve never really understood journaling. I couldn’t really see how writing could help but when I needed it the most, journaling became my saviour. When my heart felt like it could not take anymore, my journal and a pen got me through each painful moment. As I wrote realisations sprang up out of nowhere. Connecting me with the parts of myself I’d hidden away. Suddenly my journal became my new best friend. One morning , I had a profound moment. Everything became clear and my body released so much trapped emotion. It really was incredible. All I can say is that journalling is transformative and without Tanya’s presence in my life, I don’t know what I would have done. If you have the chance to work with her, please do take it, it might just save you.” CP
This is the good stuff, the heartfelt stuff that I make happen, guiding and supporting women through some of their most darkest and emotional experiences. Just like my client has expressed in her testimonial above. This is what my purpose is. Because guess what, I have felt pain, horrendous emotional pain that nearly broke me. I have struggled and faced so many challenges and curve balls in my life, numb to the core and wiped out by failure. But I kept getting back up, time and time again. However, it wasn’t until I leant into a daily journaling practice that positive things started to shift for me. Spending days and weeks learning about the benefits of therapeutic journaling, going on to qualify with a diploma in therapeutic journaling, until one day something truly profound happened to me. One day I’ll write about that journey, not today. Today I want to highlight why I feel so strongly to share this message..
That journaling isn’t magic, but it’s nothing short of transformational. It’s a tool that shifted the course of my life and the lives of incredible women I’ve had the privilege to work with. The power of journaling isn’t just anecdotal; it’s backed by research and advocated recently by experts like Dr Huberman and Julia Samuel. Huberman launched a brilliant podcast episode about the Journaling Protocol for Mental & Physical Health yesterday and I highly recommend you check it out. I’ll leave the link to the episode below. Julia Samuel was being interviewed by the BBC earlier this morning about the power of journaling and how it can reduce stress and anxiety. Boom!!! I love them both for highlighting this. I am so thrilled that these well respected experts in the health sector are emphasising the profound effects of journaling for our wellbeing. That journaling isn’t woo woo and therapeutic journaling is so much more than just doing your ‘Morning Pages’ - I adore Julia Cameron but there is so much more to learn and apply than writing three pages first thing in the morning. Making therapeutic journaling a daily practice is like learning yoga, a life long learning practice - especially, if you want to perfect it and reap the health and wellbeing rewards.
One of the pioneers in the journaling and expressive writing field is Jame Pennebaker, he delved into the therapeutic effects of writing. His method of expressive writing, involves translating thoughts and emotions into the written words - an act that aids in coping with distressing situations. Science and research have validated what many of us have felt intuitively: journaling heals!!
Like my client wrote in her above testimonial, for some of us, the practice of daily journaling can be the soothing balm for the soul that we all need, now more than ever. It’s moments like this that reinforce my commitment to spreading this practice far and wide. My mission isn’t just about advocating for journaling - it’s about sharing a tool that has the potential to transform lives. And I am determined to make that happen, one journal entry at a time!
Until the next time
Take care & stay safe xxx
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/a-science-supported-journaling-protocol-to-improve-mental-physical-health