Exposing my journal

Reflecting on a journal entry a year on, and how I use it to support my wellbeing

Hello, I’m Jodie. A Yoga teacher & wellbeing creator/ writer. I write about life post burnout with themes of rest, living slower, healing, self discovery & more. Please subscribe to support my work & to read more. As a paid subscriber you can join my monthly journaling club, gain access to exclusive content and meditations.

I’ve been journaling for over 6 years. I’ve gone through phases where I’ve journaled daily, and moments where I’ve dropped it for months, but ultimately, in one form or the other, I always end up coming back to the practice.

There’s something about physically writing down everything that’s in your head onto the paper that clears way for something new, brings clarity, or generally feels like a release - which has been supporting me a lot lately.

It also brings to light the things I’ve been avoiding. The stuff that feels tricky to get down on paper or uncomfortable to face which becomes my cue to get curious and dig a bit deeper.

It gives me the space to be more open and honest with how I’m really feeling and notice what comes up with that.

Basically, it’s part of my wellbeing tool kit. Something I can turn to in a time of need, but equally use as an aid to be more intentional. It really doesn’t have to be a daily practice either. It can be there to work around your needs, not a strict wellbeing practice that feels more like a chore (I promise you don’t have to force yourself into a 5am start to squeeze it in at all costs).

This time last year just after getting back from a month long holiday in New Zealand, I was journaling and reflecting on the experience. I noticed that being taken out of my routine made me realise that I needed to form more of a community and sense of connection with the work I do.

That was the missing piece. I felt isolated and lonely working from home so much, and the time away and my journaling practice helped me spot that.

An extract from my journal, 20th of May 2023:

“I’ve been back from New Zealand for a couple of weeks, and I think being out of my routine has been really good for me to notice what I need to do and change in my life. I’ve spent a lot of time saying I’m going to do something, but the action feels scary. I’m so ready to be scared again, to have new experiences and get out of my comfort zone, and I think feeling connected to a community is exactly what I need.”

As you can see, not really groundbreaking, but I go on to list a few ways I can do it, and here’s what’s happened since..

• I started this very Substack! It was May 2023 when I hit publish on my first post.

• I started a Monthly Journaling Club to help others connect with journaling, something I’d thought about doing for YEARS but felt too scared to go forward with.

• I finally asked around at a local community space if they need volunteers, now I help at a local organisation helping to tackle food waste a couple of times a month.

• I started a book club with a close friend (The Story Social if you haven’t seen!)

Journaling helped me spot the fear that was holding me back from doing these things, and basically made me realise I needed to pluck up the courage to move forward.

What I’ve found from years of journaling is that it’s almost impossible to go months, or years, writing down the same dreams, worries or fears without then finding the courage to make a change, or willingness to accept the circumstance.

What could you uncover through journaling?

As we close April and come into May (and hopefully some warmer weather), I invite you to journal, and if you want to do that as part of the Slower Space community, to come along to our Monthly Journaling Club.

I started the Monthly Journaling Club as a way to bring a sense of accountability and community to what really is an inward practice, creating that sacred space for monthly reflections and intentions.

Daily we’re bombarded by so much information, ways we’re told to live our lives, when so often the wisdom we need is within us - we just need a chance to check-in with it.

Our theme for May is Space 🌱✨

If you haven’t been before, it’s a 35-40 minute guided journaling session that happens at the start of each month. The session will include prompts, some are the same, some change monthly and are based off our monthly theme. You’re welcome to have your camera on or off, it’s all very chilled and really your opportunity to reconnect.

If you fancy joining for May, we’ll be meeting on Thursday the 2nd at 8pm on Zoom.

Here’s to the hidden wisdom in all of us!

Until next time,

Jodie x