How to Use Journaling as a Form of Meditation
Beginning a meditation practice can feel overwhelming. The mind inevitably wanders, you get frustrated, and decide meditation just isn’t for you. Sound familiar?
It’s okay to allow your meditation practice to be messy. Recognizing when your mind wanders and bringing yourself back to the present moment is a huge part of a meditation practice.
It’s also okay to allow your meditation practice to not look like someone else’s. Personally, I have found that sitting down to find a moment of internal stillness can sometimes feel counterproductive and escalate my anxiety when my mind is on overdrive. More often than not, I turn to journaling as a form of meditation. I’ve found that giving my mind something to focus on and writing my thoughts down helps to calm the internal chaos and guide me back to a place of stillness.
On our mats, in a seated meditation, or during journaling, we acknowledge what comes up and work our way through. No self-judgement or criticism.
If you’ve been feeling especially drained, an inability to focus, and just overall like you need a bit of extra guidance, then I recommend trying out journaling as a meditation practice. I prefer to journal in the morning while drinking a cup of coffee to start my day. I find that clearing my mind by journaling first thing in the morning helps me to begin the day with a fresh perspective. Find what works best for you. For you, journaling as part of your bedtime routine might work better, helping to prepare your mind and body for sleep.
Below, I’m sharing five journaling prompts to help you get started. Let me know in the comments below if any of these prompts really resonated with you and about your experience with journaling.
- Are you focused on the journey or the destination?
- Are you comfortable with vulnerability? What does it mean to be vulnerable?
- What are you holding onto that is causing you to suffer? Are you able to let go?
- What does a supportive community or relationship look like to you?
- How do you or how can you create time for curiousity and exploration in your daily life?
My favorite yoga workshop that I’ve taught to the public has been my Yoga & Journaling Workshop. Typically, I teach this special workshop once a year. The workshop includes an all levels vin/yin class, paired along with moments to pause and reflect. Attendees often request this workshop to be held more than once a year, so in light of so many requests, I’m planning to offer this workshop more often and even take it virtual! Sign up below to be notified when the next Yoga & Journaling Workshop will be offered.
