Hi, I’m Gemma and this website is my creation.

I wanted to give you the tools to help you make a better life for yourself and to help you understand how this site works a bit better.

Here is your how to guide to journaling.

It’s been scientifically proven that journaling can be used as a therapeutic tool.

I wanted to keep this guide short so I won’t go into detail here but if you are interested in learning more try searching for people such as James Pennebaker, Sandra Beall and Joshua Smyth.

The guided journaling questions on this website have been written and arranged with purpose.

Your task is to write your answers to these questions consistently enough so that you can read back through what you have written and analyse, let’s call it, ‘your data’.

Through this process, not only will you be able to process challenging or troubling events in your life but, you’ll be able to see them from a new perspective, understand them better and get to know yourself, your needs, your wants, desires and wishes for the future.

If you commit to writing regularly you’ll be able to pick up on little things here and there that you may not have known were there in the first place.

You’ll be able to plan for the future, even design a future that better suits you and your family and friends because, once you’re aware of what you want, you can take positive action steps to get you there.

How do you get started?

Write every day, or as near to as you can. For this process to work you will need zero distractions. You know what that means for you so make it happen before you start. If in transit, listen to music and turn off all notifications on your device. If you’re at work, lock yourself in the stationary cupboard, do whatever works for you.

The basic questions should only take a few minutes to complete, the idea is that you write the first thing that comes to mind and move on in quick succession. We’re trying to access your subconscious mind here and you can always go back if you think of something else to write before you click on the complete button for the day.

The final question is there to give you the opportunity - if you have the time and inclination - to go deeper into what’s called expressive writing.

Ideally, you should write continuously for a minimum of 15 minutes about one thing that’s on your mind. This could be something that’s troubling you or is currently a challenge. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something bad, but something you feel you need time and space to think about and figure out.

Write continuously and go into as much detail as you possibly can. If you run out of things to write about then start again. The more you tell the story the more you will learn about the event and yourself and the more chance you will have to be able to move on from it in a positive way.

It will feel strange to start with but please persevere, it gets easier!

If you don’t have time or don’t want to try expressive writing when you get to the last question make sure you still answer the question as all your answers will be collated in the data pool.

I hope this guide has been useful and I hope you enjoy your guided journaling journey.

Take care,

Gemma.x