#140
5 years ago I’d never spoken about my mental health, ever before.
I’d had moments of pain, suffering, connection - the usual stuff - teenage heartbreak, death of a grandparent, arguments with parents.
Other than that though, I was out of touch with my emotional self, I’d just never gone there, I’d never known how.
I literally had no idea what mental health was and I didn’t know I had “it” or that I had… feelings.
5 years ago when I was feeling deeply anxious and at a crossroads, out of nowhere, I started journalling.
Here’s a snippet of my first ever journal entry.
This entry was the beginning, from here I started writing in the Journal regularly, reflecting on what was going on and sharing how I felt in a safe space - with myself.
I was saying things I had never ever said before, I was admitting things to myself, I was letting myself feel things I’d never felt before.
Over time, the journaling gave me the confidence to have real human conversations with the people around me about how I was feeling and actually culminated in me writing the blog post which kick started the Sanctus movement.
In the last 5 years I’ve done group coaching, therapy and 1:1 coaching and changed loads as I’ve really taken my mental health seriously.
Journalling has been a constant throughout that and I have a stack of journals under my bed from the last 4 years.
I can really see the power and potential in Journaling, as a gateway to make expressing how you feel really accessible and easy.
And I can see how it can lead to the real thing - genuine human connection.
If you’re here and reading this one, maybe because you love journaling or because you’re curious, I’m creating something in Journaling and if you’re interested drop me an email and I’ll invite you
Reply to this if you want to get involved ;) 👇🏽
Either way, I’d hugely recommend journalling for wherever you are on your mental health journey. Right at the start it’s awesome to begin articulating feelings and during it’s a great way to “track” your journey.
James x