Whether you have journaled before or are trying it for the first time, expressing your thoughts and feelings in writing can be used as a creative practice to ignite your imagination, boost your mood, and deepen your intuition.

Shannon Alford began journaling about stories and conversations through her work with hospitalized children and their families as a Child Life Specialist. Reflecting on experiences and writing about them increased her clinical skills and personal sense of fulfillment.

Patients and parents also found journaling activities beneficial during their hospitalization. Children enjoyed the creative expression and parents often found journaling as a way to help them cope with their child's illness.

The best way to see if journaling is beneficial for you is to just try it. There are different ways to journal but the best way is to just begin the creative journey and see what happens!