To keep journals

[pussinboots61]

Just wondering what views are on this subject. I've always been a journal writer. For years I offloaded into loads of journals, I kept them and reread them but then got to a stage where tthey were weighing me down and bringing back past hurts and frustrations so I destroyed them. I did regret this at a later date.

Now I still keep a journal but I am wary of putting anything negative in it and try to keep it light hearted and just rant on paper I can throw away but somehow it doesn't seem the same.

I also keep a day to day small appointment diary where I write down appointments and events and also what's happened during day but there isn't a lot of space so the journal expands on that.

Is it better to just keep the small diary where I am limiited in what I can write so that I won't go on?

I have recently had therapty where the counselling advised to only engage in positive journalling.

What are you worried is unreasonable? Just do what works for you.

I would imagine that venting onto paper you can throw away is probably better for your mental health than keeping a library of every hurt/frustration.

But ultimately do whatever you want, it's your own private business.

I have recently had therapty where the counselling advised to only engage in positive journalling.

Why?? Do you tend to fixate on things? Otherwise I can't see the harm in it. Maybe just don't reread them at a later date if doing so has caused distress in the past.

Nothing wrong with negative journaling. It’s helped me a lot in angrier times. Rather than get angry at a person, you get it out on paper. You need to be really careful who gets their eyes on it though. A bit of paper you burn afterwards is ideal.

Be careful of toxic positivity. To deal with the negative you have to acknowledge it.

You journal however you want, that's the beauty of it, but from the way you say you've changed to being more light-hearted, it doesn't sound like it's going to be of much benefit if you're conscience of your own sugarcoating. And limiting yourself to a small event diary when you seem to want something deeper is exactly that: limiting.

Honesty is the best policy. It will help you understand yourself much better than inauthentic positivity. How about writing your genuine emotions, no matter how ugly, and then adding a small section of gratitude? Why be wary of your own words?

What you do with the journal after writing is up to you, but it's not a binary choice of burn them or reread. I journal and never return to the entries.

Do you keep your journals but never reread them?

Yes. I journal digitally, though, so they're not physical journals to flick through. I write an entry, and that's it - a snapshot in time.

I never reread, and these days I generally erase. I sometimes draw instead of write. I often end with gratitudes from the day and intentions for the next day. The point is to leave the day on the page, not in my head.
It sounds like maybe the journalling, for you, can play into a ruminative thinking style, so you might benefit more from something that gives you a release - depends on what you like and have access to, but talking to a friend, joining a support group, thinking about your day while out for a walk, expressing yourself creatively, a sport like strength training or boxing, pounding the streets on a run. Or maybe even creative journalling - making it more arty or imaginative - or scrapbooking - making it expressive or sentimental. Or make it a nice ritual by making yourself a comfy nook to do it in, making yourself a nice drink in your favourite mug, lighting a candle and playing some gentle music, soothing the hurts of the day and taking care of yourself.

I think you should
Write everything in your journal to make it worth doing and get a lock on it

Consider archiving old negative journals. Either in the fire / shredder or stored somewhere you cannot read them.

Venting can be therapeutic. But it can go too far.

not done them for a few, years but when i did it was more factual than emotional eg 10am at work till 5pm, then went to town till 6pm etc
bits like that then divided up day by day