Mental Health Journaling – From grey days to a rainbow palette: Rediscovering my artistic spark
Ever feel like your emotions are on a rollercoaster that won’t stop? I’ve been there.
One minute I’m feeling everything at once, the next I’m numb as a rock.
Recently, I stumbled upon a solution that transformed my emotional landscape: mental health journaling and art therapy. Here’s how rediscovering my creative side helped me navigate life’s ups and downs, and why it might work for you too.
My Emotional Journey
So, I’ve been going through some tough stuff lately, and honestly, I’ve been struggling to get a handle on my feelings. I’ve always known I’m not the best at processing emotions – sometimes I’m all over the place, and other times I’m like a robot on autopilot.
You know, I’ve been wrestling with this nagging thought lately – did I sign up for the right gig when I dove into the corporate pool? Don’t get me wrong, the steady paycheck keeps my landlord happy and funds my occasional escapes from the cubicle farm.
But what if – and hear me out – I could actually do something I love AND keep the lights on? I know, I know, it sounds like a mythical unicorn job, right? Too good to be true! But hey, a person can dream.
Discovering Mental Health Journaling
It all started because I stumbled upon this awesome friend named who’s been rocking these daily mental health journals like a bossbabe.
So picture this: There I was, scrolling through my feed, probably procrastinating on some actual work (don’t judge, we’ve all been there), when BAM! Urmila‘s posts hit me like a glitter bomb of feelings. Feel free to visit her page, it is pure magic
This girl was out here pouring her heart onto paper, and apparently, it was doing wonders for her mood. She was all “journaling this” and “unwinding that,” and
I was sitting here thinking,
“Wait, you mean I can doodle my way to happiness? Sign me up!”
Now, I’ll be real with you – at first, I was skeptical. I mean, come on, can painting or journaling in a notebook make one feel better?
But then I remembered my long-lost love affair with painting. Yeah, you heard that right. Once upon a time, before adulting sucked the creativity out of me, I was quite the Picasso (okay, maybe more like a kindergartener with a paint set, but still).
Man, painting used to be my happy place, you know? It was like, my way of letting all the creative juices flow.
Just me, a brush, and boom – feelings on canvas. Good times
I’d think, “Man, I should pick Painting up again.” You know, just to feel comfortable in my skin and be myself.
Well, folks, there was only one way to find out.
Did you know that 45% of adults report improved mood after engaging in creative activities? I became part of that statistic, and here’s how it happened…
So, I decided to give this mental health journaling thing a shot, and let me tell you, it’s been eye-opening! I’ve started each day by scribbling down my thoughts and doodling my feelings in these silly, colourful ways.
Some of my journal entries:
Some days, when I’m feeling down, the colours reflect that gloom.
But here’s the weird part – by the time I finish sketching or painting, I feel… different. Calmer. Like I can finally take a deep breath.
The Impact of Creative Expression
So, here I am, knee-deep in paint and journal entries, and you know what? I’m kind of digging it.
This whole journey has been like finding a piece of myself I forgot existed.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows – some days, my journal looks like a toddler went wild with crayons. But that’s okay. It’s all part of the process, right?
I’m not saying I’m ready to quit my day job and become the next Picasso or anything.
But this little experiment has shown me that there’s more to life than spreadsheets and endless meetings. It’s about finding that balance, you know? Between paying the bills and feeding your soul.
Who knows where this crazy train is headed? Maybe I’ll end up with a side hustle selling my art, or maybe I’ll just keep painting for the fun of it. Either way, I’m excited to see what happens next.
And hey, if you’re feeling stuck or lost like I was, why not give it a shot?
Grab a pen, a paintbrush, or heck, even a crayon. You might surprise yourself with what comes out.
Remember, folks, life’s too short to be anything but yourself.
Hey, if you’ve made it this far, why not give mental health journaling a shot yourself? So go ahead, make a mess, scribble outside the lines, and see where it takes you. After all, isn’t that what this whole adulting thing is about?
Finding your own way, one wobbly step at a time. Catch you on the flip side!
If you do try it, drop a comment below and let me know how it goes. We’re all in this crazy journey together, so let’s share the good vibes!
Shwenaik 
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