as one "over-thinking machine" to another, GOOD ON YA! i hope you're ridiculously proud of yourself, because you deserve to be!!!
my journaling tends to be 50% Self-Doubt Extravaganza and 50% hard-won self-love & self-respect, sprinkled with a few poems for good measure. a few years ago, i decided i was going to write myself notes, daily, whose theme was "you can *not* want to do ________ as much as you like...AND STILL DO IT." that helps me acknowledge the emotions that are trying to sideline me and to choose to move forward anyway. because fear has been the driving force of my life, i needed a practice that incorporated the reality of chronic anxiety with the ability to act even in the face of that fear.
Oh also, I think it was just you and me around for Sunday 3rd. Plus one other potential (but she’s driving). Shall I just record a little something instead? Oooh and how about, if we still both write on that day in our own time zones, maybe we could write each other a little note? A little reflection or idea or snippet, I dunno. Sort of like giving each other encouragement and accountability to do some writing but in a quirky way. Is that a random thing to suggest? 🤣
Oh Kathlene that is an incredible sentence. I can totally imagine how powerful that is, particularly when it is written time and again. Hmm, I’m now thinking what my version of that could be. Hmm yes. Thank you xxx
to be completely honest, i started saying it to myself when i didn't want to exercise. that and, "you are always happy when you've done it and grumpy when you've skipped it, so which would you rather be?" not that anyone should be pressured into anything that isn't right for them, but i really wanted a couple of the things that exercise (now) gives me - a decrease in anxiety, a sense of feeling stronger, being proud of myself for doing something that was hard for me. i just adapted it for all the other parts of my life too. it continues to work, 2+ years later. (and i lost 140 pounds, so that's a bonus)
I do agree with everything you say here. We really have all the answers, but sometimes they remain locked in our heads until we access them…and writing is a great way to do this. We can even give ourselves permission to be really critical of what another person has done/said that we felt particularly hurt by…and somehow, getting it off our chest, find we have empathy for THEM after all! Journaling= a more harmonious world (inside and outside of us!)
Yes, yes so much this last part too. It somehow takes the sting out of it a bit when they are just there, words, flat out. You almost end up above the situation don’t you, not in a braggy way, just in a literal clear headed way. Thank you for reminding me of this bit x
Love, love, love this! And love you for turning something painful in to something that helps people. Classic you. 😘 x
Love you toooooooo x
as one "over-thinking machine" to another, GOOD ON YA! i hope you're ridiculously proud of yourself, because you deserve to be!!!
my journaling tends to be 50% Self-Doubt Extravaganza and 50% hard-won self-love & self-respect, sprinkled with a few poems for good measure. a few years ago, i decided i was going to write myself notes, daily, whose theme was "you can *not* want to do ________ as much as you like...AND STILL DO IT." that helps me acknowledge the emotions that are trying to sideline me and to choose to move forward anyway. because fear has been the driving force of my life, i needed a practice that incorporated the reality of chronic anxiety with the ability to act even in the face of that fear.
Oh also, I think it was just you and me around for Sunday 3rd. Plus one other potential (but she’s driving). Shall I just record a little something instead? Oooh and how about, if we still both write on that day in our own time zones, maybe we could write each other a little note? A little reflection or idea or snippet, I dunno. Sort of like giving each other encouragement and accountability to do some writing but in a quirky way. Is that a random thing to suggest? 🤣
ooh, i love that idea! random & quirky is my vibe, any given day :D
(plus, i'm fan-girling a little over the idea that i get to write a note to my fave content creator!)
let's do it!
Oh Kathlene that is an incredible sentence. I can totally imagine how powerful that is, particularly when it is written time and again. Hmm, I’m now thinking what my version of that could be. Hmm yes. Thank you xxx
too kind!
to be completely honest, i started saying it to myself when i didn't want to exercise. that and, "you are always happy when you've done it and grumpy when you've skipped it, so which would you rather be?" not that anyone should be pressured into anything that isn't right for them, but i really wanted a couple of the things that exercise (now) gives me - a decrease in anxiety, a sense of feeling stronger, being proud of myself for doing something that was hard for me. i just adapted it for all the other parts of my life too. it continues to work, 2+ years later. (and i lost 140 pounds, so that's a bonus)
I do agree with everything you say here. We really have all the answers, but sometimes they remain locked in our heads until we access them…and writing is a great way to do this. We can even give ourselves permission to be really critical of what another person has done/said that we felt particularly hurt by…and somehow, getting it off our chest, find we have empathy for THEM after all! Journaling= a more harmonious world (inside and outside of us!)
Yes, yes so much this last part too. It somehow takes the sting out of it a bit when they are just there, words, flat out. You almost end up above the situation don’t you, not in a braggy way, just in a literal clear headed way. Thank you for reminding me of this bit x
You’re welcome! I’ve been doing a lot of thinking around the subject of self-compassion and identifying what is hurting…
Love this piece! I’m going to give it a try next time the self doubt spiral starts.
Oh the spiral. I know it. I am an expert a jumping in with two feet. Let me know if it helps. Hope so x
Absolutely love this, Nelly, and agree with every word. Journaling, especially by hand, is medicinal. 💓
Yes 💯 by hand, ideally always by hand for me. Thank you x