Author is showing other women the positive benefits journaling can bring

Many women are getting in touch with their emotions by writing down their thoughts. Janice Lundy, a Grand Traverse County author, is telling other women about her own journey with journaling, in an effort to help others cope.

"I heard that journaling was good for you, but I heard about it at a time when I was very stressed and overwhelmed and to think about journaling was just one more thing on my to do list," Explained Lundy.

It didn't take long for Lundy to realize, however, the notes she was jotting down while she was on the go were exactly that. "I realized that connection, that if I could stop, sit down, and put these feelings on paper I actually felt better," Lundy said. "And I had some health crisis going on at that time and it helped alleviate the stress and pressure I felt dealing with the issues and my health improved as well when I started writing."

Lundy is encouraging other women to do the same, in hopes of spreading the healing powers journaling has brought her.

"It is a commitment but I don't think its something we need to pressure ourselves about. There are seasons to writing, maybe there's a time in your life where there's a crisis, a job change, a health crisis, or leaving a marriage even, or something going on with one of your children. so we find we may write in seasons when things are brewing in us and it's a good release, but I tell people to start very simply." Simply, without the pressure of those beautifully bound journal books you see on store shelves. "Write when you feel like it, write when you need to. Do it on a legal pad or one of those inexpensive spiral bound notebooks where you can still rip the pages out if you want and move up gradually," Lundy Said. "I think its indicative of our own self acceptance when we can sort of graduate to valuing our thoughts and feelings enough to put them in a beautiful book. It works and we grow as people so it's a very profound process."

To help you get started on journaling, Lundy gave these tips.

• Write an unsent letter to your boss, your husband, your parent, or even yourself.
• You can also find writing prompts in journaling books or through online sources.

For more information on Janice Lundy, log onto the link provided below:

www.awakenedliving.com/