I’ll be teaching a journaling workshop in Baltimore on May 19 through Inner Harbor Wellness. Click here to check out their course offerings in “nurturing personal and community well-being” and sign up today!
Health
Journaling Workshops
Journal to the Self
Between preparing for the holidays and end-of-year work assignments, this time of year can get really hectic. But don’t forget to think about yourself! Register at the link below for the “Journal to the Self” series of workshops I’ll be offering at the Rehoboth Art League in January. The start of the new year is the perfect time to begin a new practice or learn new techniques that can deepen your self-understanding and creativity!
Click here to learn more about journaling
and to register!
More About Writing (and changing) our Life Narratives
An article in today’s Washington Post explains how writing down our “life narratives” can be the first step in changing the parts of those narratives we wish were different. For example, if you’re always telling yourself that you can’t see a project to completion, try creating a story about yourself where that isn’t the outcome. Quoting from ‘Redirect: Changing the Stories We Live By,’ written by University of Virginia psychology professor Timothy D. Wilson, the article’s author writes:
In the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, “small edits can lead to lasting change.”
There are some interesting exercises at the end of the article to help get you started. Check it out!
Journaling: Good for your health!
The benefits of journaling seem to be in the news more and more these days. Recently, I saw this piece describing some of the physical health benefits to getting those thoughts out of your head and down on paper (or computer screen):
According to Dr. James Pennebaker, a psychologist and leading expert in the field of journaling, research studies have shown that journaling strengthens immune cells called T-lymphocytes and is associated with drops in depression, anxiety, and increases in positive mood, social engagement, and quality of close relationships. The article quotes him as follows:
“We know from multiple studies that there are enhancements in immune function, drops in blood pressure, improvements in sleep, and drops in other markers of stress … Other studies find faster wound healing, greater mobility among people with arthritis, and the list goes on.”
If you’re interested in learning journaling techniques that could help you feel better physically as well as emotionally, sign up for my next Journal to the Self workshop the weekend of March 13-15 at the beautiful Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs, WV.
See https://annehbarney.com/journaling-workshops/ to register for the next session!
Woman of Letters 