It sounds easy but it took time and practice to write openly about the things I didn’t want to feel or acknowledge within myself. Anger, fear, or resentful thoughts felt like they needed to be ignored until they disappeared. I didn’t want to identify as someone who was unkind or angry. But that’s not how it works—what we resist persists.
As I learned to be more honest in my daily morning journaling sessions, I found that “yelling on paper,” as I call it, relieved me of the pain that came from holding those feelings in my body. It gave the words and emotions somewhere else to exist, other than inside me. Sometimes, writing down those thoughts or feelings made them disappear. It was as if confronting them directly allowed me to release them as the passing thoughts they really are.
Journaling helps me organize my thoughts this way. Often, feelings seem so real and permanent until they’re unleashed. I could unleash them on a person I’m angry with, say all the things that don’t need to be said, regret my behavior, and create unnecessary conflict. Or, I can try them out on the page first—deciding which thoughts are worth holding on to and which ones just need to pass.
Every time I choose journaling over yelling, life moves a little smoother. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Sometimes, I feel fully justified in why I want to yell at someone, and it feels satisfying to throw that energy in their direction. But inevitably, the result is regret. No one gets what they want, and I’m left feeling empty.
In the end, journaling has become my safe space—a place where I can spill all the messiness without fear of judgment or consequence. It reminds me that my thoughts and feelings don’t define me; they’re just passing waves in a much bigger ocean. When I get them out on paper, I make room for clarity, peace, and a better understanding of myself. Journaling won’t solve everything, but it helps me navigate life with a little more ease. And for that, I’m grateful.
ACTION: The next time you feel overwhelmed or angry, grab your journal first. Let the page take in the emotions that don’t need to be spoken out loud. Give yourself time before responding to anyone outside of the journal—see how it changes the outcome.
