People often tend to disregard their mental health. As minute adversarial emotions build up within and fester until they lead to an avalanche, mental health becomes impossible to ignore. As such, mental health is precarious in today’s age and time which is why it is important to promote it. The best of mental health allows us to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. It prods us in our goals and progress while motivating us to do our best in any given circumstances. Although many don’t give a second thought when it comes to medical consultations for physical ailments, they shy away from consulting on their mental health.
However, it is crucial to take care of brain health, which encompasses psychological, social, emotional, and even physical well-being. If mental health is so vital to health, how can we ensure its upkeep? These days, self-care is a popular trend and billions of dollars’ industry throughout the world. Log on to social media, and you will see influencers and content creators suggesting tips on mental well-being through self-care, which range in their scope. Some suggest a beauty regimen, while others advise splurging on a vacation.
Some suggest yoga and meditation, while others will have a guideline for an organic diet for optimal gut-brain health. You may also have come across posts that extol the benefits of journaling for mental health. What then is journaling? Journaling is jotting down one’s pent-up thoughts, feelings, and emotions on paper. It could also be on a computer but writing down your thoughts on paper, such as a journal book, is more effective. It is an age-old practice, although it has gained traction recently thanks to social media and a surge in mental health advocacy.
Journaling is an act of catharsis as confessing one’s woes and troubles through written words grants a sense of liberation and a feeling of unburdening. The fact that journaling is a private act keeps one from being self-judgmental. And where judgment ends, there can be room for new perspectives and acceptance. Psychologists further suggest gratitude journaling for mental health. Gratitude is a much-talked-about subject and its practitioners say that they tend to look at the brighter side of things, even in the middle of a storm. Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness for the life one has despite all the plights and worries.
Even when we are mired deep in problems, there can be a few things to be grateful for. Focusing on them will give us an abundance perspective. And writing down things that we are grateful for today will pave the path for a better future tomorrow. It is empowering to give an outlet to our inner struggles through journaling. It is a fact that the act of writing leads to a sense of clarity in our thoughts.
What was a disorganised and chaotic mind becomes a lot calmer and attuned, thanks to penning thoughts and feelings on paper. An organised mind can achieve a lot through focus and concentration. This can be one of the many benefits of journaling. Ultimately, the best part of journaling is the release of subconsciously repressed feelings and thoughts for better mental health.