How does your One Good Thing work?

Journaling is simply sitting down with a pen and paper and writing what’s on your mind. A digital device can also be used, but going analogue can help slow down your thoughts. You can only think as fast as your hand can write.

Depending on what you are struggling with, sometimes free-flow journaling can help as a way to purge everything that’s swimming around in your brain. However, if you find this difficult or you have something specific on your mind, it can help to research prompts (there are plenty in the Shadow Work Workbook), and start with a question you would like to answer. A few I like are “At the moment, I feel weighed down by…”, “My core values in life are…”, and “Right now, I am sabotaging myself by…”

You could also close your eyes for a few minutes before you start and ponder what is making you feel low, stuck, frustrated or any other negative emotions. You may not know what the underlying issue is straight away, but starting to write down how you feel can lead to discoveries about why you feel that way.

What are the benefits of your One Good Thing?

Journaling is thought to help us categorise and make sense of our emotions, and experience gratitude. Studies have found it can decrease mental distress, and improve physical and psychological health. Plus, it’s a screen-free activity, which makes it a more mindful practice that can help to reduce stress levels. I find it also helps me tap into my belief system and figure out my next move when I have a decision to make.

Journaling is a key part of the shadow work journey, as mentioned in My Shadow Work Workbook, so if you have unanswered questions about who you are and what you want from life, journaling can be confronting and cathartic when used as a self-development tool.

One Good Thing: why it’s important to journal with a goal in mind