Want More Peace This Year? Try This

It's more important than ever to express feelings that we struggle to say out loud.

These days, you may find yourself feeling frustrated, sad, and overwhelmed - and maybe you're keeping your feelings inside to keep level and to save the people around you from becoming burdened.

Writing is a fantastic way to sort through your feelings and is a great outlet for your emotions.

Writing also helps us express feelings we struggle to say out loud. If you haven’t already, grab a pen and paper and give writing a try. Not only is writing our thoughts down therapeutic, but the physical act of putting pen to paper is soothing, relaxing, and relieves stress. Keep reading for some prompts that can get you started. Feel free to write as much or as little as you want. The goal is to just start. Point form, paragraphs, it’s up to you. You may find that once you get into it, you’ll want to start or end your day with some tea, a pen, and your journal.

Prompts:

Name 3 things you're grateful for. Explain why you’re thankful for them.

Example: I am thankful for my cat. I am thankful for her because she sits with me and calms me down when I’m upset. She’s always around and I can always count on her to brighten my day. I am also thankful for my parents. They are healthy and happy, and I love that I get to spend quality time with them. I am grateful for my faith. It is my backbone, and one constant in my life that I can always turn to when I need it.

Look out your window. Explain what you see, and how it makes you feel.

Example: When I look out the window, I see that the sun is shining. I’m a little sad that we're getting less sunny days, but I’m happy because I see a couple leaves turning orange on the tree on my front lawn. I love fall, and I want to remember that when the cool weather comes. There is one little flower left growing in my garden. This flower reminds me of my strength.

Visualize the rest of the year. What do you want it to look like? How can you achieve that?

Example: I want to end the year feeling happy and calm. I can achieve this by watching the news less, spending more time reading, and doing deep breathing exercises daily. I can’t control what going on around me, but I can control my response.

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