An Invitation for You
There are some feelings too big to name.
And some stories too long-held to tell out loud.
But when we offer them a quiet page…
They begin to soften. To shift. To leave.
This post is a gentle invitation to begin a new kind of journaling practice — not for productivity or gratitude, but for connecting to our very being.
A practice for those living with chronic illness that lets your buried truth be spoken — safely, privately, compassionately — in a way your mindbody system can begin to process.
It begins with preparing a space. A ritual. A return.
Begin With Preparation
Before a single word is written, take a moment to set the tone.
This is sacred work. And it deserves sacred space.
- Buy or choose a notebook that feels inviting — something spiral-bound, easy to write in, maybe with a soft cover or beautiful design. You don’t need anything fancy, but it should feel like yours.
- Treat yourself to a pen (or pens) you enjoy using. Smooth ink, soft colour, or even glitter if you like — choose something that makes the act of writing feel nurturing.
- Then make a small ritual around it: clear a space, light a candle if that feels right, and set an intention that this is your private container — just for you, and no one else.
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about saying to your nervous system and your mind:
“You’re safe here. You’re allowed to speak.”
This style of journaling isn’t about keeping a diary or documenting your day. It’s based on a powerful expressive writing practice used in many mindbody recovery approaches — a way of giving voice to hidden or unspoken thoughts and emotions so they can be acknowledged and felt. This is nervous system medicine.
A Place to Begin
You don’t need to know exactly what to write. Just begin by choosing one thing from each of these three areas — something real, something that stirs a little feeling.
One thing from your past
Something that hurt, shaped you, or still echoes quietly inside — even if it feels small.One thing from your present
A situation or stress that feels heavy, frustrating, or draining right now.One thing about how you relate to yourself
A pattern like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or fear of failure — something that feels exhausting to carry.
Don’t overthink it. Just write one thing for each — enough to open a door.
This isn’t about going deep all at once. It’s about gently beginning to give your truth a voice.
Let the Words Come
Begin with the one thing that feels most present — from your past, your present, or how you relate to yourself.
Open your notebook — the one you’ve chosen with care — and begin writing. Slowly, honestly. There’s no need to rush. You don’t need to “feel” anything big. This isn’t about forcing anything. It’s about allowing yourself to be seen.
Let the words flow however they come. They don’t need to make sense. You don’t need full sentences. Just let something rise. A phrase, a memory, a whisper of truth that hasn’t had space until now.
If you feel nothing, that’s okay. This practice works beneath the surface.
If you feel a little stirred, stay with it — just enough to name it kindly.
Over time, this becomes a sacred rhythm: writing to meet what’s inside, and gently tending to whatever begins to move.
You’re not writing for anyone else. This is for you — a space where honesty is safe, and where your truth gets to live on the page, just as it is.
Integrating this Practice
Journaling — especially when you’re living with chronic illness — can stir up more than we expect. Even if you don’t feel much at first, your mindbody system is still moving energy underneath the surface. That’s why I always recommend following this kind of journaling with a soothing meditation for rewiring or a healing somatic practice — something gentle, something grounding, something that reminds your body: it’s safe to trust and release now.
If this resonated with you, here are some ways to continue:
👉 Surrender Meditation — A soft meditation to soothe your nervous system and rewire your neural pathways, created especially for those with chronic conditions on this healing path.
👉 Explore Somatic Healing Tools — Practices to help your body and mind release what your words uncover.
👉 Book a Mind-Body-Spirit Coaching Session — If you’d like gentle support in reconnecting with your truth, I am here.
Let your feelings speak. Let your energy move.
Let your healing unfold — one page at a time.
With care and belief in your inner voice,
Amari 💗
