Mari's Journaling Power Blog | Self Growth, Creative Journaling

Journaling and Self-Reflective Writing

CreateWriteNow is pleased to host Wendy Brown-Báez and her poetic story of self discovery and love, 'Catch a Dream', as part of her WOW-WomenOnWriting Blog Tour.

People often ask me what the difference is between journaling and self-reflective writing. Both are valuable and both can be cathartic. However, self-reflective writing taps into our intuition with intention. Journaling can also include analyzing, making lists, comparing pros and cons, planning, documenting emotions, recording events, and kvetching.  All of this is helpful but the studies done by James Pennebaker and others on writing for healing indicate that this is not enough. The final step of discovering meaning or the lesson learned shifts the writing to inner reflection, new perspectives, hope, renewal, and healing. Best of all is when the writing can be shared and the writer feels validated by supportive listeners.

Self-reflective writing uses a technique of spontaneous timed free writing, familiar to many of us. Spontaneous means to write without over-thinking, without correcting grammar or trying to find the perfect word. In this way, we soften the critical judgmental voice (in our left brain) and drop into our inner guidance.