What’s on your mind?

For most of us, we tend to express ourselves by telling others about our feelings and opinions. Others would like to record theirs by keeping a journal or diary that only they can read. The present generations – the millennials – are very modern to document their life events and share it on social media for all the world to see. Whatever is the mode or manner of sharing our lives with the rest of humanity, these forms allow expression of ideas, bring mental clarity and somehow eases our life burdens.

Type, post, and status updated! Social media has been the new journal in today’s generation, a public diary for some wherein if you want to know how someone’s day went, it is just one click away. Social media has given us the freedom of expressing ourselves and in return the opportunity to be recognized and appreciated by others through the posts we make. And this gives us an elated feeling that somehow there are still people who still take time to check on us. Our posts make us happy, help relieve the stress and anger inside us because we get to express how disappointed we are when the only certainty in life is the traffic that we daily encounter. It serves us the catharsis of releasing our frustration over the dirty politics we see every day and lastly, it lets us tell the public how sad we were when cupid’s arrow broke our hearts.

Dear Diary. People who still opt the traditional way of putting into writings their everyday life, wherein there is no hold bars in writing everything you want to write, express yourself without getting dislikes or anger emoticon — where you think all your secrets are safe and no one will judge you. It is only you and your diary who know everything about you. And yes, despite the exclusivity it may bring, having a diary still makes these people feel relieved and safe when it comes to their emotions. “Some have found it valuable to keep journals and then go back and read them to see how far they have progressed.” Kathy Hardie-Williams, NCC, LPC, LMFT said.

Vlog and Blog. People who are tech-savvy enjoy this platform of sharing their day to day life through video recordings and putting up a website where they can upload everything they want to share with the world. And again, this is how they get satisfaction or appreciation from others. Lindsey Pratt Psychotherapy, LMHC used to remind everyone to “Get outside of whatever your thought of traditional journaling may mean, and have fun with it!”

Have it your way. The above mentioned are just some of the conventional journaling we usually see, and all these platforms are beneficial to our emotional and mental well-being as they can help people to keep a sound and peaceful mind, and that’s the power of journaling. In an article written by Purcell, journaling provides benefits that are scientifically supported. Wherein, through writing the analytical and rational part of the brain is activated. Hence, writing clears off mental blocks and lets, you work your mind and think as you better understand yourself and your surroundings. “Journaling is great for enhancing self-awareness through helping us detect and track patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings,” says Alison Stone, LCSW.

With these, there is no reason for everyone to feel that they are unable to unleash their mind power. Journaling gives us the ability to do this, to express our minds into writing and recording which helps us keep our sanity. Whatever form of journaling we choose to have it doesn’t matter as long as we can free our mind to the things that are giving us setbacks in life. The freedom of expression is the birthright of the power of journaling,.