Visual Journal 101
Create. Have fun. Lower your heart rate. Raise the happy hormone levels (dopamine). Lower cortisol levels (many benefits). Look Happier.
Use line, shape, color. Write, draw, collage, paint, embellish.
Find a way to get clear. Reduce Stress. Find Calm. Manage Pain. These are all genuine benefits that may be had by participating in visual journaling!
Try writing, creating, drawing each day for at least 15 minutes. Try to set aside the same time every day. Spend the first 5 minutes jotting words, ideas, brief thoughts. Then add to these words in any format that begins to fill the page. There are no wrong answers. You can use your favorite pens, crayons, paint for mark making. You can cut and past from magazines, junk mail, old photos. Add embellishments that you can attach with glue or stitching. If the blank page has you stuck simply draw one line: any kind of line anywhere across the page. Add to this line. Take it from there....
Here are some suggestions for journal topics if you need a focus to guide you.
dreams
food
finances
goals
solitude
love
design
beauty
ugly
coincidence
rooms
weather
pleasure
pain
connection
color
routines
nature
sounds
change
Keeping a visual journal can become a daily practice. It might be that you just use it to help you through a particular time, as a means of centering, grounding or creating calm or to explore a theme.
If your journal brings up emotions and you feel you might gain from additional support Connect Therapies is here to support you. Give us a call. We offer sliding scale for private pay and due to this time of distancing, quarantine, unemployment and g change we are offering a substantial discount.
If you are having suicidal thoughts call or go to the nearest Crisis Center or call the National Suicide Crisis Line 800-273-8255.