Having a good relationship to yourself and being honest about your true feelings is immensely helpful when dealing with chronic illness. These journaling techniques have helped me through it all.
Hi there. I've been receiving your emails for quite a while but never wrote to tell you how much I enjoy them. I think you're my favorite newsletter on chronic illness and that says a lot b/c I've been doing this for 13 years. The permission slips idea really resonates with me as I've been exploring the idea of injecting flexibility and adaptation into my lifestyle on a more regular basis. Thanks again for such great content <3
Madelleine, as a life-long journaler, I appreciate your prompts. The last one reminds me very much (though not the same) of a practice I do called SoulCollage (r), which is image based first, followed by narrative. Using your own inspiration and intuition you pick an image that calls to you, find a background for it and make a card. You give the card a name. With the card's given name it speaks to you saying, let's say, your Protector. The card will then say to you, as you journal it's response, "I am your Protector. I am the one who......" There is much more to SC as it has 4 suits and various different ways of working. If your energy calls you to such a practice, I would be happy to talk to you.
I am very impressed with the journaling techniques that are described here. I haven't done anything like this. I worry that one of my sub-personalities would be a critical voice, chastising me for spending too long on my phone or not resting enough, or all the other things that I might have done differently!
A million years ago I integrated regular journaling practice by following a prompt from a holistic healing book. Everyday for a month (mostly!) write a letter to yourself as if you are your own best friend who has accompanied you through life for the previous 24 hours — what would a best friend want to reflect back to you about you, your choices, feelings, experience etc (whether challenging, encouraging, hilarious … all of it)? At the end of the month, review for common themes, important realizations etc.
It really taught me to perceive myself with kindness and commitment—and to talk to myself in a supportive way.
I absolutely still journal regularly—and yes I pull in various techniques when needed. After so many decades, it tends to flow between the practical and the playful. What is needed just emerges somewhere between the pen and paper. I really appreciated the opportunity to reflect on techniques in a mindful way as I just take it as it comes these days.
Years ago, I read The Artis Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. Since then, I have written three pages, long hand, stream of consciousness every morning. My stack of journals is nearly three feet high! I some-times address my sub-personalities there. This morning I had a dialogue between the mini-me I call Listie and Free Spirit. Listie makes lists and schedules. Free Spirit treats them with blatant disregard. This morning we considered balance.
I relate to all these practices very much. Becoming my own support, my own best friend, my own cheerleader has been utterly essential. Especially when, like you say, we are chronically unwell
In an ableist and non-understanding society.
Inner child work was mainly through sporadic inner child meditation. I was nothing but consistent with it being sporadic😆 eventually, I fully integrated the energy of my inner child this way.
Admittedly, I was surprised this didn’t/led to believe this would fully heal me - it didn’t. It did, however, coincide with the breaking of the severe pain cycle. I welcome this significance.
Like yourself, I went on to incorporate parts work. The part of me that wanted to get well, the part of me that didn’t. The part of me that was addicted to pain, the part of me that needed unconditional love. Writing poetry in the myriad of other practices helped.
I ignored the call to do the emotional work daily for a long time - until I could no longer bare to ignore it (dark night of the soul, dark depression, Covid on Xmas day alongside extra attacks was what it took to instigate this one). This looked like 4 part journalling every single day (not just weekly/fortnightly as I had been doing). Nowadays i do it through meditation most days. & i often ask others the question “how can you support how you are feeling?” - a question that acts as some kind of gateway.
It feels like there has been a huge shift in your healing. That it’s taking you ever deeper. Do you feel it too?
Thank you so much for sharing, Amber! I generally feel like I’m healing the trauma caused by chronic illness and all the underlying ‘stuff’ that has come with it. My focus right now is on visibility… phew there’s a lot to uncover there.
Getting to the root of the cause (trauma being a massive part of root cause)…it is this that will take us the furthest. (I believe)
I’ve discovered that integrating ALL of it is what we are here for and where we are being guided. This includes medical, holistic, root cause, healing trauma (thus lifetime, past and ancestral) and all parts of ourselves.
I haven’t found any short cuts but I have found a life I love and regrowth in and amongst all the ashes🌱💚
Hi there. I've been receiving your emails for quite a while but never wrote to tell you how much I enjoy them. I think you're my favorite newsletter on chronic illness and that says a lot b/c I've been doing this for 13 years. The permission slips idea really resonates with me as I've been exploring the idea of injecting flexibility and adaptation into my lifestyle on a more regular basis. Thanks again for such great content <3
Thank you so much, Caroline, that means a lot 🩷
Loved this and your music is so beautiful !!
Thank you so much 🩷
Madelleine, as a life-long journaler, I appreciate your prompts. The last one reminds me very much (though not the same) of a practice I do called SoulCollage (r), which is image based first, followed by narrative. Using your own inspiration and intuition you pick an image that calls to you, find a background for it and make a card. You give the card a name. With the card's given name it speaks to you saying, let's say, your Protector. The card will then say to you, as you journal it's response, "I am your Protector. I am the one who......" There is much more to SC as it has 4 suits and various different ways of working. If your energy calls you to such a practice, I would be happy to talk to you.
Gentle Hugs, Bethann, EDS Patient
That sounds like a lovely practice! 🌟❤️
I am very impressed with the journaling techniques that are described here. I haven't done anything like this. I worry that one of my sub-personalities would be a critical voice, chastising me for spending too long on my phone or not resting enough, or all the other things that I might have done differently!
It can be rough opening up to these sub-personalities, but sometimes, with a bit of love and compassion they turn into friends instead of critics.
A million years ago I integrated regular journaling practice by following a prompt from a holistic healing book. Everyday for a month (mostly!) write a letter to yourself as if you are your own best friend who has accompanied you through life for the previous 24 hours — what would a best friend want to reflect back to you about you, your choices, feelings, experience etc (whether challenging, encouraging, hilarious … all of it)? At the end of the month, review for common themes, important realizations etc.
It really taught me to perceive myself with kindness and commitment—and to talk to myself in a supportive way.
Love these techniques! I use many of them 💗
Ooh I LOVE this! Do you still use these techniques?
I absolutely still journal regularly—and yes I pull in various techniques when needed. After so many decades, it tends to flow between the practical and the playful. What is needed just emerges somewhere between the pen and paper. I really appreciated the opportunity to reflect on techniques in a mindful way as I just take it as it comes these days.
Love it 🩷💙
Years ago, I read The Artis Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. Since then, I have written three pages, long hand, stream of consciousness every morning. My stack of journals is nearly three feet high! I some-times address my sub-personalities there. This morning I had a dialogue between the mini-me I call Listie and Free Spirit. Listie makes lists and schedules. Free Spirit treats them with blatant disregard. This morning we considered balance.
I absolutely LOVE this!
love these practices ! the one with the circles intrigues me.
It’s my favourite technique 🩷💙
I relate to all these practices very much. Becoming my own support, my own best friend, my own cheerleader has been utterly essential. Especially when, like you say, we are chronically unwell
In an ableist and non-understanding society.
Inner child work was mainly through sporadic inner child meditation. I was nothing but consistent with it being sporadic😆 eventually, I fully integrated the energy of my inner child this way.
Admittedly, I was surprised this didn’t/led to believe this would fully heal me - it didn’t. It did, however, coincide with the breaking of the severe pain cycle. I welcome this significance.
Like yourself, I went on to incorporate parts work. The part of me that wanted to get well, the part of me that didn’t. The part of me that was addicted to pain, the part of me that needed unconditional love. Writing poetry in the myriad of other practices helped.
I ignored the call to do the emotional work daily for a long time - until I could no longer bare to ignore it (dark night of the soul, dark depression, Covid on Xmas day alongside extra attacks was what it took to instigate this one). This looked like 4 part journalling every single day (not just weekly/fortnightly as I had been doing). Nowadays i do it through meditation most days. & i often ask others the question “how can you support how you are feeling?” - a question that acts as some kind of gateway.
It feels like there has been a huge shift in your healing. That it’s taking you ever deeper. Do you feel it too?
Thank you so much for sharing, Amber! I generally feel like I’m healing the trauma caused by chronic illness and all the underlying ‘stuff’ that has come with it. My focus right now is on visibility… phew there’s a lot to uncover there.
Getting to the root of the cause (trauma being a massive part of root cause)…it is this that will take us the furthest. (I believe)
I’ve discovered that integrating ALL of it is what we are here for and where we are being guided. This includes medical, holistic, root cause, healing trauma (thus lifetime, past and ancestral) and all parts of ourselves.
I haven’t found any short cuts but I have found a life I love and regrowth in and amongst all the ashes🌱💚
Love this 🩷💙