The ability to express ourselves is a very important aspect of health. It is important to find a medium in which we can express ourselves, without any form of self-censorship. A medium where we can feel comfortable and secure, knowing that that no harm will befall upon us. Having such an outlet is an important step towards self-acceptance.

I believe having a personal journal can play a part in fulfilling this need of expression. There are many forms a personal journal can take. Online journals are very popular nowadays, and you can choose to have a certain degree of anonymity in what you write. For some people it is important to know that their expression can be seen or heard, and so knowing others may read what they write helps them with the process. Then there are others who prefer privacy, or who are selective of who reads what they write and there are options to be able to do both of these on most online journaling sites.

Whether you prefer to use pen and paper, or to set up an online journal, the ability to be able to write about your emotions, thoughts, and reactions to everyday life can provide you insight to the re-occuring themes that make up your identity. A journal also does not need to be limited to writing... a person could have a picture journal, where they draw their expression, and some may feel like doing computer art or animation as a form of self-expression. There are many possibilities, the key is to really use it as a way of free self-expression without censorship.

Obviously if your going to be making your journaling public, there are certain limitations as to what you can and can not do. In some senses it may be best to keep such journals private, or only share it with those who you truly trust. By truly trust I mean those who would be comfortable with your own form of blatant honesty, and raw uncensored content. If you are seeking to journal, as a way of connecting with other people then I think that is perhaps a different use of journaling then what I am speaking of in this article.

The content I am speaking about, is the content that you usually would rather keep to yourself.

Expressions that are hidden deep inside of you, that are waiting to be brought into the light of understanding. If you do no give it life outside of you it will most probably wreak havoc in your sub-conscious. Journaling is a way to give those “inner reactions” a life outside of yourself. Once they are outside of you, you can then view them with some sort of distance and acceptance.

One of the most important aspects of journaling is to read over your writing when you finish. Once you finish writing, take a few deep calming breaths, and read it over. You may be surprised at what you wrote in the heat of the moment. You may feel yourself cringing and thinking “that\'s not me, why did I write that”, or you may find it amusing that you got so worked up over some tiny little detail. Pay attention to your reactions towards your journaling. Your reactions say a lot about you, and can give you added insights into your character.

Try as hard as you can to accept whatever you have written as an expression of one moment in time, its not an eternal expression that stands for the eternity of time, it is just one moments expression in a series of many moments. Place each journal entry into such a context. In that way, when you look over your entries you will re-enforce within your mind that who you think you are is subject to constant change. Sometimes you are happy, sometimes you are sad, sometimes you are angry, and sometimes you are found wanting... All of this is a part of the changing “being” that is you.

Some people say it is better to not express negative emotions, as the expression of those emotions works towards re-enforcing the habit of expressing said emotions. I agree with that, but it is better to express then to suppress, and finding constructive outlets for the expression of emotions can be a beneficial exercise. Though it is very important that one follows through with the step of being able to re-read a piece of journaling, with an accepting non-judgemental attitude. This in itself helps to seal the whole process. Etched within your mind is your reaction to circumstances, and the suffering you have felt, and the very act of writing/drawing etc about it, is a part of the letting go process.

There is an aspect of self-discipline involved. This aspect is in relation to making sure you don\'t just blindly follow mistakes of the past. It is important to put effort into slowly changing habits that bring you pain, confusion, and suffering. The journal stands as a reminder of your past, it shows you that you are accountable for what you do, and it is because you are accountable that you have the power to change. So this accountability is actually a very freeing thing!

The proper use of journaling in the way I have described will help you to make peace with who you are. It will help you to accept your current reactions to things. And it will then in time, help you to find ways in which to free yourself from those things that lead you to suffering. The simple process of writing down your expressions freely, re-reading/re-viewing your expressions with a loving attitude, can really help you to feel more comfortable with yourself, which is a great basis for moving towards a more healthier relationship with yourself.