JOURNALING AND HEALTH

"Fill your paper with breathings of your heart." William Wordsworth

Hello glorious friends! Welcome and/or welcome back!

Did you know that journaling can be a fantastic tool for finding glory (that feeling of being fully alive) in our health and wellness? Journaling can actually reduce stress, strengthen our immune systems, increase our joy, and positively influence our mindset. No kidding!! 

When we write, we can let go of uncomfortable emotions. We can examine areas of our lives that are working well and also identify areas of struggle. We can write about our celebrations and our challenges. Writing can help us process our thoughts and ideas. A journaling practice does not have to have rules. I like to find a comfortable spot, pour myself a cup of tea, put some nice lotion on my hands, and just write. Sometimes I write for five minutes, and sometimes I write for more. Do what feels right for you.  I always feel a sense of coming back to center when I write. Sometimes I say a prayer before I begin.  I ask God to direct my thoughts, and then as William Wordsworth said, "fill the paper with breathings of your heart."

I actually grew up journaling, and as I look back, I can see how much recording thoughts, ideas, goals, feelings, and experiences helped me to live better and to feel better. In fact, a quote by Andrew Weil, MD says it perfectly. He states, "Journaling or expressive writing is a simple, gentle, and inexpensive healing technique. I consider it a powerful therapeutic tool to learn more about yourself and become aware of how your mind and emotions can influence you physically."

I am thankful to my dad for instilling a love of writing in me. When we were young, Dad encouraged my sisters and me to read and write as much as possible. He wasn't a stickler about topics or assignments; he just taught us to put the pen to paper and discover! When we were young teenagers, we even spent a few New Year's holidays thinking about what we'd like to accomplish in the next year! I remember writing down strategies and goals for making better grades, losing a few pounds, being a better sister and daughter, and being more consistent with my chores. Dad also taught us to write about what made us grateful (hence, establishing a positive mindset), and today I'm particularly grateful for that lesson!!:) Sometimes we tease my dad about making us spend the holidays this way, yet I look back and I am thankful for what we learned, and I cherish the family time we spent together. 

Today, you can find just about any type of journal, and I've written in several varieties. Journals related to fitness, faith, cooking, finance, meditation, beauty, free writing, vacation, detox, parenting, and so much more can be found on Amazon and in bookstores.  For me, I enjoy journals that track fitness and health progress. I also like Bible study journals, family history journals, and vacation journals. 

One thing I've discovered in recent years is how running and journaling (two of my very favorite activities) have worked together to help me find glory in every day. When I began my running journey, I was not the picture of health. I may have looked fairly healthy on the outside, but my insides were falling apart. I was in my twenties. I had brittle bones, many digestive issues, headaches, very painful cycles, and chronic moodiness. When I started running, I noticed that consistent exercise helped me to feel better.

Using a journal to record running exercises helped me to identify my current running level. I could choose realistic training plans and have confidence to increase my mileage little by little. With time, I began to experience what many health experts claim. Moving our bodies is so important for good health. We have to exert some energy to create energy. Once I started putting one foot in front of the other, I started to feel less stuck. Adding running into my routine actually gave me MORE energy for the rest of my daily activities!! Your movement of choice doesn't have to be running. Try dancing, swimming, hot yoga, riding your bike, or whatever seems fun! Take some notes about what works for you and brings you fulfillment. 

Journaling also helped me recognize that what I was eating and drinking affected how I felt in both training and on race day. Thanks to my running partner who has given me many food and fitness diaries over the years, I started keeping track of the foods and drinks that made me feel better when I ran. What I discovered was the cleaner my nutrition, the better I felt running and in life.  Keeping a record of my gradual release of processed food, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, diet sodas, sugar free creamers, and artificially flavored chewing gum basically painted a clear picture of how I was benefiting from tweaking my habits. Not only did my bone density stabilize, my digestion improved, my headaches went away, my cycles were less painful, and my moods brightened.  

In addition to keeping records of the unhealthy foods I was letting go, I also wrote about all the colorful foods and drinks I was adding to my daily routine. I started filling my plates with fruits and vegetables (Reminder-I'd love for you to click on the free Veg Pledge on my Home page for tips on adding veggies and to receive more health and wellness updates) whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. The energy and vitality I feel from enjoying these wonderful plant based whole foods AMAZES me!! 

I hope you'll grab a marble notebook or a special journal and see how you can add some glory to your day!! Have some fun and be creative! 

Grace and Glory until next time,

Jill