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What’s The Connection between Journaling and Happiness?

Is it possible to write your way to happiness? Well, according to research, it is. PositivePsychology.com states that journaling leads to reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. Another study published in Advances in Psychiatric Treatment showed how writing for 15 minutes for 3 to 5 times a day helped people deal with emotional and traumatic events.

Science is slowly dissolving the myth that writing in a journal or diary is only beneficial for high-school girls or the socially awkward. In this blog, I’ll explore the connection between journaling and happiness.

Journaling Leads to Self-Discovery

Writing about your thoughts and emotions is one of the ways to self-discovery. It reveals thought patterns and makes it easier to understand the underlying reason behind certain emotions. Bad experiences can trigger an automatic defense system that makes us act the way we do without even realizing it.

For example, someone who has experienced betrayal by a close friend may find it difficult to develop personal bonds and end up distancing themselves from anyone who tries to come close. Writing becomes an introspective process through which we become aware of our emotions and learn to overcome undesirable traits.

Journaling Promotes a Healing Process

The very act of writing down thoughts onto a piece of paper yields massive benefits for mental health. That’s because journaling is a form of self-therapy—it enables the writer to confess about worries without fear of judgment. The therapeutic benefits that follow include reduced stress and increased happiness.

Journaling is a powerful tool that should be used to process events, understand them for what they’re worth, and move forward in the right direction.

Journaling helps get you through Tough Times

Writing is a well-known coping mechanism that helps people get through tough times in life. To further illustrate this point, a study published in the Academy of Management Journal involved 63 engineers who lost their jobs. A segment of this group was asked to pen down their emotions surrounding the job loss. Not only did this segment experience less anger about the ordeal, but they also found new jobs faster than the ones that didn’t partake in daily writing.

During difficult times, writing about one’s feelings and emotions helps to better process the situation.

Journaling is a healthy habit that should be encouraged for people of all ages.

Ashley Yeo

Find Your F*cking Happy: A Journal to Help Pave the Way for Positive Sh*t Ahead