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5 Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal  by: Patti Testerman Everyone who has kept a personal journal knows that writing is a therapeutic process that helps integrate seemingly unconnected life events. Some believe the process works because the physical act of writing (using your hand-eye coordination) occupies your left brain, leaving your right brain free to access emotions, intuit connections, and create new insights. How else can journaling help? 1. Journaling reduces stress by getting “monkey mind” thoughts out of your head. Mind chatter is a powerful stressor, stressor is a powerful health-buster, and journaling the chatter is a proven chatter-buster. 2. Writing about problems gives your right brain food for creative problem-solving. It’s amazing what happens when the creative part of your nature starts working on a problem—you’ll soon find solutions bubbling up from your subconscious. 3. Keeping a daily diary is one of the best techniques for discovering patterns, particularly those that are self-defeating. For example, a diary kept over the course of several months will clearly show any reoccurring difficulties like overeating, stress eating, poor (but similar) choices in relationships. 4. Want to better know yourself? Journal. Writing can help clarify your thoughts, your emotions, and your reactions to certain people or situations. In addition, as you read back through past journals, you’ll have ample evidence of the things that make you happy and those that are distressful. 5. Journaling can help clarify events, problems, or options. When you’re beset with a mind full of fuzzy, disconnected thoughts flitting here and there, writing about the event or issue will help bring focus and clarity. It will also help you decide on which action to take, or option to choose. About The Author Patti Testerman is content manager at JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site. patti@journalgenie.com This article was posted on August 25, 2004   View More Videos from the "Writing" category: The Process of Writing How to Measure the Results of a Book Publishing Experiences How to Consider the Possible Market for a Book The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World   Read More Articles from the "Writing" Category: My Favorite Errors to Correct (Don’t make these mistakes, and your writing will rise above most other writing.) Part 1 by Lisa J. Lehr Journey into the Past with “Melinda and the Wild Westâ€� by Linda Weaver Clarke Knock-Out Writer's Block: Listening To Your Inner Voice by Celise Downs The Crusades Of Writing by Tushar Jain It's Time To Start That "Swipe" File by David B. Silva Writing Help for College Students by Tamara Owen Catholics Need To Take a Second Look at Morality by Peter Mennona, Jr. Writing the Denouement for Mystery Stories by Mary Arnold Great Copy Writing Leverages Demand by TJ Philpott Protect Your Muse by Beth Ann Erickson << Back to "Writing" Index

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