Are you feeling lost and disconnected from yourself? Do you find yourself constantly looking for answers outside of yourself? People talk about slowing down, but how do we actually do it? For me, the answers to these questions came through connecting with my inner voice through journaling.

When I quit drinking over four years ago, I longed for a place where I could slow down and lean into the creativity that was bubbling up inside of me now that a substance was no longer dimming it. All the thoughts and emotions I had been numbing and trying to escape from for years stood before me. At first, they felt jumbled in my head, but once I started journaling, they began to flow from me—slowly at first and then, over time, more clearly and concisely—and I began to heal. Journaling is a powerful tool for self-exploration and self-discovery that can help you understand yourself on a deeper level. I’ve experienced its power first hand and I am deeply committed to the process. 

I loved to journal when I was younger, but as life became more of a hustle, this practice fell to the wayside, especially when I was drinking. Drinking squashed my creativity and my joy of writing. Now, alcohol-free, I have more time on my hands, and my love of journaling returned and became a tool in my self-care toolbox. Mornings became a sacred time to listen to the child inside me who desperately needed to be heard, loved, and validated. I began to let her guide me back to the truth of who I was becoming and, more importantly, un-becoming. I realized the answers I had been searching for outside myself were inside waiting to be heard. My journal became my sanctuary on my alcohol-free journey and still is today.

Journaling offers a safe space where there are no right or wrong answers. You can’t mess it up. I find it cathartic to be able to cuss, draw, write. This is where I let go of my perfectionism and self-judgment and empty out of all racing thoughts and emotions. It’s a safe place to slow down and to listen to my deepest desires. In my journal, I began to cultivate self-trust and to show up for myself daily, eventually becoming my own best friend.

So how do we get still enough to hear that guidance? To listen to ourselves? This isn’t a skill we’re generally taught. In my journaling course, Write Back to You, we begin each call with a grounding meditation to get into our bodies. For many of us, this is the only time in our hectic lives we get to slow down and reconnect to our mind, body, and soul. Once we’ve grounded ourselves, we start working with journal prompts, letting the creative juices flow as our inner wisdom begins to appear on paper. The process of journaling supports our transformation and the process of awakening. It allows each person to tap into her inner wisdom. Allow it to guide you on your journey of self-discovery.