Journaling

Journaling is one way to express your thoughts, feelings and experiences through writing or audio taping. It is a safe, personal and private activity that may help individuals with serious illness or their caregivers release stress and clear their mind.

How to Journal

You do not have to be a writer to journal, and there are no right or wrong ways to journal. Journaling

is for you alone, so it is whatever you want it to be. Some suggestions for keeping a journal include:

• Keep paper and pen nearby. You can write in your journal everyday or whenever you feel the need to express yourself. Don't pressure yourself to write. The words will come to you when you are ready to release your feelings and clear your mind.
• Let your thoughts flow. Do not worry about grammar or punctuation. Remember, you are the only one reading your journal and it only needs to make sense to you.
• You can write on any paper, in a notebook, a diary, a journal and even on a napkin or the back of cards.
• You can draw pictures if writing is not your favorite activity. You don't have to be an artist.
• Remember that your journal is yours alone, a private expression of your thoughts and feelings. No one should read your journal without your invitation or permission.
• If you are unable to write or writing is not comfortable for you, you can record your thoughts and feelings on audiotape.

What You Can Journal

You can write about anything that is important to you. Some suggestions of things to include in your journal are:

• Feelings and emotions
• Fears
• Accomplishments
• Major events in your life
• Your life story
• Favorite memories
• Favorite pictures
• Your hopes
• Your dreams
• Daily experiences
• Relationships and what they mean to you
• Conflicts
• Poetry or favority quotes and what they mean to you
• Anything that is causing you physical, emotional and/or spiritual comfort or discomfort