Sometimes you gotta write it out!

After my “let’s embrace winter column” last week, I realized that we all can’t be perky and happy about winter 100 percent of the time – including myself. Throw in all the bad things currently happening in our world and even the cheeriest of us can feel down.

I’ve had a lot of family members and friends experiencing sadness and hardships lately. Sometimes I feel so helpless.

However, I’ve been turning to something I’ve been doing such I was a child to help – my writing. Specifically, a wonderful prayer journal that a certain fellow columnist with the initials “JHL” gave me last month.

Journals can often overwhelm and scare people. One friend admitted to me that she has several notebooks where she started to journal, then never continued. I think we all feel this pressure that if we have a journal, we have to write in it every single day. Or that it must be something spectacular, expensive, and pretty. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You can write in your journal, whether it’s a plain notebook or something fancy, on an “as needed” basis. The Journal Police will not come and get you if you don’t write in something expensive and gorgeous every day.

Writing in a journal like this one can offer many benefits. (Photo provided by Amy Shankland)

I’ve been writing in my prayer journal about once a week for the past couple of months. It feels tremendous to just pour out my worries and heartaches to give them to God. I know He can work miracles and do wonders.

I realize not everyone believes in God. It’s also good to just grab your pen (or logon and type in your online journal if that’s your thing) and simply pour everything out to the Universe.

I also use my journal to remember all my blessings. Sometimes we get caught up in our little pity parties and forget all the good in our lives. After seeing my blessings listed in front of me, I always feel a bit lighter.

“But Amy,” some of you may be saying, “I’m not a writer. I can’t really do this.”

Once again … there’s no Journal Police. What you write is for your eyes only. It doesn’t have to have perfect phrases, grammar, spelling, etc. You can write a couple of sentences, some paragraphs, or even multiple pages.

I always feel better after writing in my journal. Just seeing the words on the page gives me comfort, and they often relax my mind to help me see a solution … even when that solution may be just remembering to trust in the Lord.

It’s also amazing to go back and read my musings to see how God has answered my prayers. I often gasp in wonder and joy! He usually has better answers than I could ever foresee.

If you’re struggling with your mental health this winter, I encourage you to try writing in a journal (but please, if you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact a professional.) “Writing It Out” may be one of the best therapies we can use in life – and we can do it any time for free.

Amy Shankland is a writer and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John, two sons, two dogs, and a cat. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.