Aligning your journaling practice with your menstrual cycle
Journaling is a beautiful tool for self-care and reflection. If you wanna try it or just take your journaling practice to the next level, try scheduling time for it during your menstrual phase!
Photo: blog.freepeople.com
While it's often assumed that anyone who's menstruating isn't working at a top mental pitch, the truth is quite the opposite! In fact, hormone levels decline quickly to their lowest concentration during the menstrual phase. This creates the greatest communication between the two brain hemispheres (the analytical side and the feeling side). This means that we as women are best able to synthesize how we feel about situations at this phase in our cycle. This is why the menstrual phase is a perfect time for journaling. This is a time where we can really see the big picture, analyze situations and review the different areas of our lives.
I've never been much for journaling, but as I've tried to live more in tune with my cycle and use each phase for my benefit, I've decided to give it a try. It actually feels good to take the time and space for it. It has felt very beneficial to me to turn inward and to reflect on where I am right now and just appreciate that...
If you're giving journaling a try, be aware of the masculine energy (the go-go-go type of thinking) that is dominant in most of us women today. Don't make this a big planning/mind mapping session! It's not about where you want to go or how you want to improve yourself/your life/your career. There's a time and space for that too, but I would suggest using the follicular phase (the 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle) for that. This is a time where you look inward and reflect, see it as a date with yourself. A time to get to know yourself a little more...
Photo: www.myfirstapartment.com
Here's an easy way to start of your journaling session!
- Set the alarm for 1 hour, an hour just for you. You're giving yourself this hour of undivided attention. Turn off all notifications and other disturbances.
- Light some candles and turn on a nice playlist of relaxing music (preferably non verbal songs not to disturb your thoughts).
- Start by writing down something you are stressed about.
- Write down the words you would love to hear when you're sad.
- Using 10 words, describe yourself kindly. Don't judge yourself.
- Make a list of the people in your life who genuinely support you, and who you can genuinely trust.
- Make a list of everything that inspires you — from books to websites, from quotes to people, from places to paintings.
Finish these sentences:
- I couldn’t imagine living without…
- These are the ways I've grown over the past 5 years...
- The qualities I admire most in others are...
- When I’m in pain — physical or emotional — the kindest thing I can do for myself is…
- I really wish others knew this about me…
- If my body could talk right now, it would say…
- I feel most energized when…
Answer these questions:
- What does unconditional love look like to me?
- What would I do if I loved myself unconditionally?
- What did I most enjoy doing this past week?
- What has surprised me the most about my life or about the world in general?
- What could I learn from my biggest mistakes?
- How do I deal with anger?
- What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail?
Really take time here... Ask yourself these questions, and read the sentences out loud... Sometimes we need to read them several times before we receive the answers. Don't rush...