The Joy of Journals – 5 Things You Didn’t Know about Journals

Journals and journaling have somehow gotten a bad reputation over the last few decades. Seen as the intellectual  haven of poets, writers and other creative types, few people think of writing in journals anymore as an everyday activity.

The Joy of Journaling

But did you know that studies by University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker shows that regular journaling can strengthens your immune system and relieve tension and stress?

Hand writing, especially in a journal, allows your busy, rational side of the brain to rest (since it it occupied forming words) while it releases and frees up your creative and intuitive side to better understand the things around you.

Daily journaling can according this article at http://psychcentral.com:

“Clarify your thoughts and feelings. Taking a few minutes to jot down your thoughts and emotions will clear your troubled thoughts.

Know yourself better. By writing routinely you will get to know what makes you feel happy and confident.

Reduce stress. Writing about anger, sadness and other painful emotions helps to release the intensity of these feelings.

Solve problems more effectively. Typically we problem solve from a left-brained, analytical perspective. But sometimes the answer can only be found by engaging right-brained creativity and intuition.

Resolve disagreements with others. Writing about misunderstandings rather than stewing over them will help you to understand another’s point of view.”

Unique Journals & Notebooks by Kate Stockman

Kate Stockman is a gifted mixed media artist. One of her most popular items here at Mountain Made, has always been her handcrafted journals.

Kate’s one-of-a-kind hand-made journals and notebooks are created from a variety of natural materials. Ever since playing in her grandmother’s button box as a child, she has delighted in colors, shapes, and textures.

These early creative pastimes expand into her current work, combining her love of jewelry, photos, fabric, and nature.