Journaling Your Grumpies Away
Guys…
I’ve been grumpy. It’s been stemming from a handful of different things - some valid, some not. There’s no need to get into any specifics, but “grumpy” isn’t a skin I wear that often, so if I’m being honest, I haven’t been entirely sure how to go about it.
I came at it from some different angles. I let myself sit in it to stew and sulk. I binged on lots of chocolate. I belted my guts out in the car with tearful eyes. I also sat silently in the car with tearful eyes. I forced myself outside for walks. I laughed till my belly hurt with my daughters. And still, the grump lingered.
As a writing and journaling coach, I wish I could say that my mind immediately went to JOURNALING about my grumpiness. But it didn’t. In fact, I hadn’t journaled for a couple of weeks. It forever boggles my mind how when we’re in a low point, we as humans oftentimes avoid doing the things that we KNOW make us feel better. Why are we so weird like that??
This morning, I finally pulled out my journal. I made a list of all the reasons I could think of that were fueling my grumpiness. My writing was sloppy and looked like chicken-scratch. I pushed through anyway. I quickly filled three pages (probably because of said sloppy chicken-scratch letters,) and was even able to end my journal entry on a high note with a few bullet points of things that are actually making me smile right now.
Do I feel 100% better? Honestly, no. That will come with time, I know. But I do feel lighter and more clear-minded after that little writing sesh. Like a bit of that gloomy cloud has been lifted off my mind.
Writing has that effect. Negative thoughts have the annoying tendency to circle around in our heads in a seemingly endless spiral. They’re not in any rush to leave, and aren’t eager to go on their own. The reason why talk therapy is so amazing is because when we speak these thoughts aloud, they’re forced to leave our minds. Writing has the same power. When your thoughts travel the length of your brain down your arm, through your fingers and out the tip of your pen onto paper, those thoughts are forced to stop whirlpooling through your mind.
That’s why I’m a huge proponent of not just journaling about the good things.
Which leads me to this week’s journaling theme: Journaling Your Grumpies Away.
Each day this week, I encourage you to sit quietly for a few minutes before writing. Touch base with the emotions that you’re feeling in that present moment. Be really honest with yourself in this. You don’t have to be happy-go-lucky.
Whatever emotion presents itself, write about it. Are there thoughts attached to that emotion? Maybe you just feel it somewhere in your body? Maybe it’s around an experience you can’t seem to let go of. Or one you wish you’d held onto. Write about it all. Let your words look like chicken-scratch. Or big and loopy. Or wispy. Whatever style they need to be to match the mood you’re working in.
Regardless of what comes out, I do encourage you to end on a high note. Even if it’s just a last sentence or last word that brings you back into your peace at least a little bit.
I hope in doing that, you’ll feel a little bit lighter, and more clear-minded.
Happy (or grumpy) Journaling!