Empty Your Head by Journaling Daily

  

   You learned how heavy our mind’s workload is; thousands of thoughts run through our heads every hour. In our journey to build a happier brain, we must consciously generate more optimistic thoughts. But our minds are still in a primitive age and inclined to think of negative reviews more than positive ones. So, what do we do about it? The solution is to create another brain out of our brain: a brain that does the ‘storage’ work on paper, where you can dump out whatever is going on in your head and make your head empty once again. This process is called journaling. Having a separate paper brain outside will empty your head and allow you to control your thinking process by directing your thoughts in the way you want. In fact, journaling is considered the most beneficial kind of writing. “Expressive writing”, often connected with journaling, is incredibly therapeutic. The study found that participants who wrote about traumatic, stressful, or emotional events were significantly less likely to get sick and were ultimately less seriously affected by trauma than their non-journaling counterparts. You can distance yourself from your thoughts and emotions if you consistently start seeing them on paper. Precisely, your conscious memory and RAM (just like a computer) should not be used to store the running thoughts; instead, they should be used to create new ideas.

Writing empties the conscious space so that much better work can be

undertaken by the mind, such as generating fresh ideas and thoughts.

Moreover, you can now see what’s going on more objectively. You can

distinguish if something is just a fearful, negative thought or if it is really

worth paying attention to.

Journaling also makes you more grateful and happier because you can see all the good things happening in your life now.

What should you write in your journal?

What one should cover in one’s journal is as follows:

What are you grateful for regarding your previous day?

What are your specific accomplishments?

What are your particular desired areas of improvement?

What are the top five things that you must do today to take your life

to the next level?

Journaling is a technique to bring happiness. Here is how it works:

Sit in a quiet place, and take twenty to thirty minutes to think about what you expect your life to be one, five, or ten years from now. Visualize a future for yourself in which everything has turned out the way that you’ve wanted. You have tried your best, worked hard, and achieved all your goals. Now, write down what you imagine. In a sense, this writing exercise puts your optimistic ‘muscles’ into practice. Even if thinking about the brightest future for yourself doesn’t come naturally at first, it may get there with time and training. Amazing things can come about as a result of writing. Also, researchers recommend a 20-minute replay exercise. He says writing for 20 minutes about a positive experience is a GREAT way to boost your happiness. I’ve told you many approaches to journaling, as I didn’t want you to limit what has worked for me only. Everyone is different, so you may prefer a different technique to express your thoughts and emotions. This journaling exercise aims to empty your head and help you see your thoughts and feelings from afar. Again, ten minutes of daily journaling will start to enhance the level of your clarity and bring a smile to your face. You become more focused and action-oriented since you can see clearly on paper and identify what matters and is worth ignoring. 

Inked Imagination

Inked Imagination: Exploring Mental Health through Photography and Walk and Talk Therapy

As humans, we all have our struggles and hardships that we go through in life. Some of us may have experienced traumatic events or have ongoing mental health issues that we are dealing with. While there are various ways to cope with these challenges, one avenue that has been particularly helpful for me is photography.

I began my photography journey a few years ago as a hobby, but it quickly became much more than that. Through my camera lens, I captured moments of beauty and inspiration in my surroundings that I may have otherwise overlooked. It gave me a sense of purpose and helped me to find joy in even the most minor things.

But it wasn't just about the act of taking pictures. The process of editing and manipulating the images also became a form of therapy for me. It allowed me to express my creativity and emotions in a way I couldn't do with words alone. Through editing, I could take a photo and turn it into something entirely new, transforming it into a representation of my Imagination and emotions.

As my photography skills improved, I began to use my camera as a tool for therapy in another way - through the walk and talk therapy. This approach involves going for a walk with a therapist and using walking to release stress and engage in conversation.

For me, combining photography with this approach has been incredibly beneficial. During these walks, I bring my camera and take photos of anything that catches my eye. It helps shift my focus from my thoughts and worries to the beauty around me.

As I take pictures, my therapist and I converse about my thoughts and feelings, which helps me to process and work through them. Then, we use the images I've captured to visually represent and explore these emotions, allowing me to better understand my thoughts and feelings.

Through this combination of photography and walk-and-talk therapy, I have found a new sense of purpose and meaning in my life. It has allowed me to connect with my surroundings in a way I never thought possible and has given me the tools to manage my mental health healthily and productively.

Inked Imagination has become more than just a photography project for me - it's a journey of self-discovery and healing. I have found a way to express myself and work through my emotions by capturing and manipulating images. And through walk-and-talk therapy, I have found a way to connect with my surroundings and find peace in my mind.

I encourage anyone struggling with mental health issues or looking for a new way to express themselves to consider taking a camera and exploring the world around them. Who knows, it might just lead to self-discovery and healing like mine.

Label: "Mental Health," "Photography," "Therapy," "Self-Discovery"