Healing and hypnotherapy Volume 4, Special Mega Annual Issue , 15 June 2020 | Page 66

These are only a few of the many potential questions you can ask yourself. I
personally prefer to just allow my thoughts and feelings “vomit” out onto the
page (it’s part of my shadow work practice) – but other people prefer a more
structured approach. So if you’re one of those people, you might like to keep
a list of questions like the one above, close by.
9. Don’t be afraid to explore traumatic experiences
Journaling is about growth, and growth often includes digesting past
experiences. Sometimes the experiences we went through in the past were
disturbing, traumatic or upsetting. Don’t be afraid to explore these
experiences – but just remember not to wallow in self-pity. It’s OK to express
your feelings
loud and clear on paper; this is a terrific form of catharsis. But once you start
ruminating and obsessing over these past experiences, then it’s time to
switch to your left hemisphere brain and start thinking about how you can
overcome the pain inside of you practically.
10. Reflect on what you’ve written
After you’ve finished your journal entry, you might like to read back over what
you’ve written with the intention of gaining clarity. As I mentioned previously,
try not to nitpick your writing – spelling and all the rules of writing are
irrelevant here. What matters is that you gain a big picture perspective on
how you think and feel. If any thoughts, feelings or realisations stand out to
you, try highlighting them. You might like to create a table of contents at the
end of the notebook (if it is physical) and write down the page numbers that
correspond to your mental breakthroughs. If you’re using a digital diary, try to
tag your entry with something like “epiphanies” or “important realisations” so
that you can easily access these thoughts later.
Personally, reflection on what I wrote was one of the best ways to emotionally
and mentally metabolise the most difficult experiences in my life. Reflection is
what allows you to integrate your thoughts into knowledge, understanding,
and inner transformation.