Why is writing in a journal or diary a source of tranquility and organization?

Question

What is it about writing something down that clarifies thoughts and brings a sense of contentment? Why does it seem to reduce stress?

Answer 1

1* because you have a chance to get it out of your head....2* if you ever go back and read what you wrote at different points in your life you literally watch yourself grow(mature) in some way...and you also are better able to learn about yourself.I think its both,its tranqual because its just you and your thoughts,very intimate also,and you organize by whats important,cause you write that first...its wonderful free therapy either way,I highly recomend it..free stress relief.

Answer 2

When you write, judgment is kept at an arms length. There is no reason to hold back. You can say what you think and feel with relatively few repercussions.

The worst thing that can happen (unless you publish of course) is that you realize something you didn't see before. Because when all spilled out onto paper, things glare more heavily then when left in the dark corners inside ones head.

As far as reducing stress and bringing about tranquility and contentment, that is just for the fact of what we already know...it isn't good to keep things bottled up inside.

Answer 3

Because when you write something down its sort of like documenting how you feel at that moment and when you have clairvoyance to go back an reread what you wrote your more rational I think than being caught up in the moment which is why its a stress reducer.

Girl, I use to write in a journal until it became a midnight thriller for noisy readers, and no longer did I feel sanctified in my private thoughts. But yes it is a great way to reduce stress because you can tell the truth without the stipulations of being hurtful...your being bluntly honest with yourself.

Cute ? Good Luck

Answer 4

Well you can write everything that's been bugging you down on paper and no one can look at you differently or criticize you. It's like you just let it out, and it could a feeling like you told someone about your problems, especially if you wanted someone to read it in the first place. Then you just show your journal or diary. It's pretty organized because when you see your thoughts on paper, it's like "wow, so that's what really happened."

Answer 5

SWEET SU .... you are so right... they can be used against you. My ex made copies and showed what I had "vented" in my diaries to the people I wrote about.

I have destroyed all diaries and will never keep one again.

You can have a "grateful" journey. Like Oprah says, write down 5 things that happned during the day that you're grateful for.

I find that to be much more uplifting than reliving all the bad junk of the day.

I always begin my grateful journey with.... 1) My ex is way older than me and a vietnam vet. I've read that his age group is dropping like flies from agent orange exposure......

Answer 6

a journal will contain your thoughts and feelings at one moment in time, that will never happen again. You can look back on this journal in years to come, maybe learn something from it. I suppose writing down your feelings could help reduce stress in someways, because you are dealing or expressing difficult feelings

Answer 7

It's like having a friend that listens to you. You're able to vent your feelings. You can't handle things on your own or cramp every problem or situation in your brain so writing a journal or diary gives you that sense.

Answer 8

I journaled for about 3 years. Every night I sat in bed and recounted the day. I sometimes would go back and see patterns in my feelings. Worst thing that happened though is my ex husband took them while I was in the hospital just before I left him. He used them in court against me. Be careful of what you write.

Answer 9

Your getting something off your chest.

By having a medium to get things out does help. Maybe not with everything but in one way or another.

Kind of like when your craving something and you get it. Your happy. Same difference I guess!

Answer 10

for the same reasons you ask/answer questions on yahoo it requires you yo order your thoughts in to words it's like a link between your mind and "reality" it makes things seam clearer