The hard work of acknowledging feelings and thoughts as well as journaling my findings has allowed me to see patterns and investigate so many cycles that I was unable to process earlier in my healing/spiritual journey.
My journaling has been a miracle for allowing me space to investigate my emotions thoroughly and without the intense nervous system reactions that used to come with actually speaking to another person. It’s also a delight now because I am able to spend some time reading through my old writing and finding even more realizations months/years on.
I find the process of growth fascinating. My favourite types of books are novels of transformation. Autobiography of a Yogi, Eat Pray Love, Buy Yourself The F***ing Lilies, Wild, and so many others tell stories of demystification of the self and subsequent rebirth as metamorphosed individuals. It’s amazing to witness through reading and I love poring over my old work for the same reason. I can look at where I was and remember how it felt from an observational point of view. It’s a good reflection of my growth that I don’t keep entangling myself with all that has happened. This is so inspiring to me and encourages me to keep moving on my journey.
It’s a lovely practice even though I used to cringe HARD at the idea. When I started, my journaling was a lifeline. It felt like the only place where I could feel, think, or write about what I was honestly going through. I could actually exist authentically on those pages. It has allowed me to practice speaking my truth to other people as well. I’ve gotten to the point where I can appreciate my own growth and see it as necessary to being human as opposed to a shameful prior existence that I’d rather forget. I can grow from the growth… it’s been such a tremendous source of wisdom for me!
Do you journal? Do you ever look back on what you’ve written? How does witnessing your former self make you feel?
