Writing as a Restorative Practice
Now that the veil of Covid seems to be lifting, the busy-ness of life is starting to return.
I have always turned to my journal as a restorative tool. It is my sacred, safe place to connect with my inner self. Writing in my journal is a ritual I intuitively discovered at a fairly young age, and it has supported me through all the years. It is the single most consistent part of my life in an ever-changing landscape.
It grounds me.
It nourishes me.
It is the container for my everything.
I find that even on my busiest days, I look forward to taking a break – even for ten minutes – to jot down my thoughts and feelings. It’s a kind of free-associative, brain download held in a nonjudgmental space. When I come to the page, it feels like I’m hanging out with my soul sister.
It clears the clutter.
It orders the confusion.
It purges feelings.
If I have more time, I may pull a Tarot card and write on it. It can be fun to have a few decks around to play with as a source of inspiration and reflection.
Did you know that there is real science showing a link between writing and wellness?
The research reveals that writing
Reduces anxiety, depression, and isolation
Bolsters the immune system
Improves memory and sleep quality
Enhances our ability to cope with emotional or physical pain, and
Infuses our lives with clarity of purpose and meaning.
So, if you don’t already have a practice, I highly recommend that you pick up a notebook and favorite pen. It doesn’t have to be one of those beautiful, leather-bound ones, unless the aesthetics are important to you. Just try not to make the writing too precious, or you won’t feel free to come to the page as you are. I tend to like blank or dotted journals because it can be fun to doodle sometimes, or to WRITE IN BIG LETTERS to match my BIG FEELINGS (The classic Moleskin is my favorite.)
I even have an art cart full of washi tape and stickers and colored pencils if I’m in a whimsical or playful mood—or need permission to let my mind wander around on the page without words. Sometimes I’ll paste images or quotes, or a photo that I print out on my Canon mini photo printer.
It is a space to dream.
It is a space to take inventory.
It is a space to be exactly who and where I am.
Flannery O’Connor said, “I don’t write what I know. I write to discover what I know.” This is what I too am doing, as I’m channeling my innermost musings. I follow the energy, the breadcrumbs, wherever they may lead. It’s a discovery process.
My journal is the place where I can…
Peel away the layers,
Deepen into the quiet stillness inside of me,
And connect with what matters most.
