Journaling -- what's the value?

Q:  When I journal it seems to help, but sometimes it gets me deeper in misery, too.  What are some rules I can follow so it is helpful all the time?  J.T.

A:  There is a physiological process that occurs when we journal.  Feelings that we have had, and memories, are stored in the body.  Journaling is one method of releasing these feelings.

When you journal, do so with intent.  Your will carries your intentions.  Intend that the journaling you are about to do will release the stored feelings that are "pressed down inside," which is the meaning of the word "depression."  Intend that you are "pressing out" those feelings, which is the meaning of the word "expression."

If the unconscious intent is to focus on the miserable feelings, those feelings will gain power and will seem to increase.  If the conscious intent is to release those feelings and make room for healthier, more comfortable feelings, you will find that your journaling accomplishes that intent.

It may help to address your feelings to a particular person.  Know that as you do so, that person will never see the letter.  Your purpose is to release your feelings, not to communicate to someone else.  Then freely say whatever comes to mind, and you will find that, with the intent to release, your feelings toward that person will be relieved.

You can write it, or you can keyboard it.  I like the idea of keyboarding, because both hands are engaged, hence both brain hemispheres.  And you can save or delete what you've written.  Deleting it, or not saving it, does not diminish the effectiveness of the process of expression.  And it prevents it from being inadvertently viewed at some time in the future.