Does it ever feel like there's so much on your mind and you're not sure how to get it out? Journaling seems to be a topic that a lot of people talk about. What they don't talk about, is sitting down, staring at those blank lines and getting more overwhelmed than before you started. I heard a quote recently that said,
"Feeling the need to be busy all the time is a trauma response and fear-based distraction from what you'd be forced to acknowledge and feel if you slowed down."
Reading that felt like being punched in the gut. It also made me realize that sitting down to journal also feels like confronting all those thoughts and feelings I've been trying to avoid.
Quiet time should be relaxing. It shouldn't always have to be about 'dealing' with crap. I believe it's possible to sit down in the quiet and be refueled by it. There will always be messy parts of our life. I'm learning that life isn't always about fixing the messy parts, it's about learning to enjoy all the little moments amongst the mess. There's another quote I love that says,
"Everyone's life is a mess, some people are just better at hiding it than others."
This one always makes me smile. If I'm being honest, if I scroll for too long I find myself wondering why I'm not doing as good as other people. It's easy to forget that social media is just a highlight reel. We share what we want people to see, how we want people to see us, it doesn't always depict our true reality. I could rant for a while about that, but I'll spare you the rant and get back to the point. ;)
Mental Benefits of Sketching
Journaling has been a great way to find clarity through life's messes, but when I can't find the words I journal through sketches. In April of this year I was recovering from getting my wisdom teeth out. The meds put my head in a space I'd never been before. Slowly but surely I pulled out of that head space and started spending more time painting. The 3 journal sketches I'm going to share really give you an idea of where my head was. If you've never journaled through sketches before, I highly suggest it. It's okay if they're not pretty.
Art Therapy Through Sketching
Actually, I want to encourage you to sketch something REAL. This isn't about creating something beautiful, it's about being honest. Don't sketch with the mindset that you have to show it to anyone, just focus on sketching to get it out of your head. There is no judgement here. It's just you, the paper, and the pen. (Plus, you can always shred, burn, or throw it away afterwards.) This exercise isn't about creating art, it's about pulling the crap out of your head that's holding you back.
The following sketches were created over the course of a month or so. Over time, I started to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Counseling has helped A LOT too.
