Day 8: Finding An Outlet

What small task do you do to connect with yourself? How do you engage your mind and dive into the depths? I truly believe everyone should have a sort of outlet that allows us to think in an unrestricted and vibrant way.

For me this is found in the process of journaling. I started journaling years ago when I was only ten years old. At first it was just a fun outlet for sketches and random thoughts filled with terribly spelled words. Then my perception of journaling shifted.

At the age of 13, my family and I moved away from my hometown. It was a few months after I moved that I realized I wish I had written more. Not just to remember the events I seem to have forgotten, but to record my feelings and emotional state.

Journaling is a way for me to channel my thoughts and feelings into something outside of myself. It started as writing a few pages every day and recently (before my trip a week ago) had transformed into writing 14+ pages a day. I dove into every thought and emotion and spilled it down on the page through ink and many hand cramps. But it was so beautiful.

I felt connected to everything that I was experiencing and could easily process any thought that entered my mind. Journaling is my way of dealing with what I go through each day. Sometimes that’s a page and sometimes that’s 14 pages. It depends on how much attention I feel a thought needs. When I get away from journaling for a day, I feel this disconnect inside. I use journaling as an outlet for processing and taking it all in.

Now, I’m not suggesting everyone should write 14 pages in their journal every day. However, I am suggesting that you find an outlet. Something you can turn to when you need to disconnect with the outside world and reconnect with what’s going on inside.

I feel as if we often do not spend enough time developing the thoughts and feelings that come into our mind. We experience the day, but do we really process it and understand what happened? Look for something that engages your soul and allows you time to think.

Journaling, painting, scrapbooking, etc. Find something that not only engages you physically but also mentally. Dive into your heart and your soul, you may be surprised at what you find waiting for you to explore.

Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt