The Art of Journaling for Catharsis
On how journaling to purge the subconscious can be a productive and powerful art.
“If you write, you’re a writer.”
I don’t know who coined that quip first, but it’s undeniably true. Writing is simply about putting your thoughts onto paper. If you’ve been noodling about starting a journal, exploring the creative writing tug you felt pulled by years ago that lays dormant, or looking for a way to purge your own subconscious, all it takes is one pen stroke (or keystroke) and you’re well on your way to catharsis and creation.
The art of journaling for catharsis has been one of the most important methods for me in cleansing my brain and reflecting on my innermost thoughts during life’s big and small moments — matrescence included.
Writing is an invitation to express your imagination and free your mind of clutter. Journaling is one of many ways to express your writing, either reflectively or creatively. You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need hours of time blocked out. You just need to be present in the little moments you can find for yourself.
For me, writing is an act of reconnecting with my heart. As I enter motherhood and prepare for an upheaval of life as I currently know it feat. New Baby, I am comforted by the fact that words will always be here to help me heal, vent, and process.
I’m super excited to start sharing journaling prompts soon to help encourage your own writing. I hope that writing can become a personal safe haven for you, too, in whatever form it takes.
Reflective Prompts vs. Creative Prompts
My journaling prompts posts will include either a reflective prompt or a creative prompt.
Think of a reflective prompt as something you would respond to, like a diary entry. To enable you to talk to your blank pages like you’re recording your own history. Like a memory book of your thoughts and feelings. Something you jot down simply for the act of jotting — of cleansing out of your mind and onto the paper (or Notes app).
Think of a creative prompt as something to inspire your own artistry and encourage creative writing. For example, a creative prompt could be one word (“Womb”) or a command (“Write about your ideal day with unlimited resources and the ability to bend the rules of time”). These types of prompts encourage you to write whatever your heart tells you from reading them. Perhaps a poem bursts forth, or perhaps a short story. Maybe it inspires you to write reflectively or scribble a stream-of-consciousness without picking the pen off the page before you finish.
The Journaling Process
I loosely apply this (very brief) 3-step process for most of my journaling:
Step 1 — Brainstorm: jot down any idea that pops into your mind. At any time. Run out of that shower and grab a pen before it falls away! This thought doesn’t have to make sense. It can be a feeling, a memory, a line from a book, or something observed. If it’s a thought you want to hold, greet it kindly and revisit it when you’re ready to uncover its meaning.
Step 2 — Absorb: find a moment of quiet time to absorb and outline your thoughts.
What are these thoughts for? Are you reflecting? Do you want to turn them into a story? Do you simply need to brain dump your emotions onto something tangible? Did you need to pull thoughts from your head just you can throw them away like a spring cleaning?
Sit with your words and let them become you.
Step 3 — Write: turn your words into whatever shape you want them to take.
There is no magic formula and you are entirely in control of your own writing process. No pressure or routine required. Journaling is always just for fun!
Fun Journaling Tools
I use different tools for reflective journaling and creative writing. Reflective journaling helps free space in my mind, so I like to journal on paper at night before bed. I have a designated night-time journal for this type of writing, and I simply fill the pages until I feel cleansed. Many people also journal in the morning (think writing routines like “Daily Pages” or “5-minute Gratitudes”). I prefer to reflect at the end of my day rather than the start, but it’s purely preferential.
Fun items I use for night-time reflective journaling:
A line-free journal. I feel less restricted without lines. I am not married to a brand but I love my journals from Papier or Leuchtturm for quality paper and binding.
A smooth gel pen that doesn’t bleed. I love Pentel EnerGel pens. I also love a sparkly gel pen (it’s the 90s girl in me). My favorites are by SAKURA Jelly Roll on Amazon.
Skinny markers for emphasis, titles, and any other doodles that find their way onto my journaling pages. I love Paper Mate Flair! Felt Tip pens.
A reading light because I’m always up later than my husband. I use a rechargeable light that clips onto my journal by Glocusent on Amazon.
For creative writing, I almost exclusively use electronics. I jot brainstorms and random thoughts most often into my Notes app, and then they find their way into cohesive form later, usually on my computer in a Pages document.
I have always felt like my night-time journaling is reserved for my private thoughts, and my creative writing is intended to be shared with others, so I like to keep them separate.
To all of you who have subscribed to Mother Love Letters this first month, I am endlessly grateful for your support, solidarity, and shared words.
I can’t wait to write with you.
Xo,
Violet Carol
Thank you for reading! If this post resonated with you, please feel free to “like” it or leave a comment to connect.
If you’d like to collaborate on a future post, I’d love to learn more! Send me an email with your ideas and we can noodle on creating something together.
Mother Love Letters posts include personal essays, poems, and journaling prompts on matrescence and identity.
All payments received from paid subscriptions are directed to my daughter’s 529 plan to help support her own passions and future education.
This made me want to start my own doodling and journaling! You make it sound so fun and relaxing 🩷
I used to journal when I was younger and now feel like I could get back into. It really helped me back then. Thanks for all your wonderful ideas to get started again.