How Creating A Journaling Circle Has Enhanced My Journaling Practice

Journaling has always been a private practice for me. My journal has been my sacred space to express whatever was in my head and in my heart. I never in a million years would have thought I would share the contents of my journal. I thought that sharing my innermost feelings and thoughts would leave me vulnerable, open to the criticism and judgment I was constantly trying to avoid. Despite these misgivings, I had a deep desire to share the joy of journaling with others, so in 2022 I started my own journaling circle, Mindful Tea on the Insight Timer app, and it changed my life in ways I wasn’t expecting.

WHAT IS A JOURNALING CIRCLE?

The authors of Writing Alone Together describe their journaling circle, Writing Alone Together as “a practice of gathering with other women to write, read and create a sense of community through the transformational power of journal writing. This communal practice creates shifts in consciousness, in our lives and in the world. Each time we meet, we bring the intention of being fully present, listening to ourselves and to one another and sharing our words, thoughts, views, visions, dreams and intuition.”

For me, a journaling circle is a community of journal writers who are seeking authentic connection, inspiration, and insight through writing. They come together to write, witness, discover, and share their stories and experiences. They come together to look within themselves and each other, and to celebrate and explore their common humanity.

COMPONENTS OF A JOURNALING CIRCLE

Cutler, Monk, and Shira write that their journaling circle, Writing Alone Together, is composed of 4 parts:  

1. Writing Freely
2. Reading Aloud
3. Listening Deeply
4. Bearing Witness

While my journaling circle, Mindful Tea, has these 4 components, I also include a short meditation at the beginning of each session to help participants get grounded and connect with their breath, body, and mind. Let’s take a closer look at each of the other components of a journaling circle.

Writing Freely

One of the most important parts of a journaling circle is writing freely. In Mindful Tea, I provide members with a variety of journal prompts, such as a word, phrase, quote, sentence stem, or question based on our session topic. 
The circle is encouraged to write any thoughts, feelings, emotions, ideas, or memories that come up. Even though we are all using the same prompts, our writing will often take us in multiple directions. This is part of the beauty of writing together, you never know where it will lead.  

Reading Aloud

During an in-person circle, where members have the opportunity to read a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or all of their journal entry aloud. Having a choice of whether or not they share, as well as how much they share, creates a safe atmosphere. Since my journaling circle is virtual, members type the parts of their entries that they would like to share, and I read them aloud to the group. 

Listening Deeply

Being a respectful and compassionate listener is crucial for everyone in a journal circle. Listening deeply to one another demonstrates respect and honors the speaker and the words being shared. Listening deeply is about more than just hearing or reading someone else’s words, but also being open to what is being shared, without judgment, criticism, or critique.

Bearing Witness

Margaret Wheatley, a writer, teacher, and speaker, describes  her experience bearing witness, “When I bear witness, I turn toward another and am willing to let their experience enter my heart. I step into the picture, by being willing to be open to their experience, to not turn away my gaze.”

Bearing witness in a journaling circle fosters a safe, loving, and supporting environment in which all members feel safe to share what is on their mind and in their heart. It is a compassionate act that supports circle members in bringing their full selves to the circle and into their writing.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING A JOURNALING CIRCLE?

1. Self-Compassion

Journaling in community can lead to deeper self-compassion. When you offer yourself compassion, you are treating yourself the way you would treat a loved one who is struggling. In their book, The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer describe self-compassion as being made up of three parts: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Let’s look at how being part of a journaling circle has helped me to experience each part of self-compassion.

Self-kindness

Writing, reading, and listening to my stories, truths, experiences, successes, and challenges helps you to offer yourself kindness, compassion, patience and grace. This in turn allows me to offer kindness to other members of the journaling circle, creating a safe, loving, and supportive space for all members.

Common Humanity

Journaling in community has also helped me to feel connected to others by reminding me that every person has flaws, struggles, and issues they are working on. When I am going through a difficult time, it can be easy to feel alone in my suffering. Listening and bearing witness to the struggles of others helps me remember I am not alone. 

Mindfulness

Writing in a journaling circle also helps me to offer myself compassion by encouraging mindfulness, or being aware of my present thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Journaling gives me space to embrace and honor everything I am experiencing, without judgment, criticism, or shame.

2. Affirmation

Participating in a journaling circle provides me with the opportunity to be affirmed by other members. As I share my innermost thoughts, feelings, worries, and challenges, circle members practice listening deeply and bearing witness by sharing their thoughts, feelings, noticings, wonderings, connections, and supportive comments. Receiving this loving affirmation from the circle allows me to feel seen, heard, understood, validated, and valued for exactly who I am and what I am going through. For me, this is one of the most powerful aspects of journaling together.

3. Authenticity

As I write, read aloud, listen deeply, and bear witness in my journaling circle, I become more confident sharing different parts of myself with the circle, often the parts of me that I would usually shy away from. In my journaling circle I am learning how beautiful and freeing it is to be my full, authentic self. As I do this, my connection with myself and  with other members deepens. Experiencing other people open up and show their true selves is also powerful and inspiring. 

4. Collective Wisdom 

During one session of Mindful Tea, our topic was courage. One of our journal prompts was, “What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?” After circle members shared their many acts of courage, strength, and perseverance, we were all amazed at the level of courage within our group. We had this collective moment of wisdom, in which we were able to see and understand just how brave we each are individually, but also as a circle.  It was one of my favorite moments journaling together. I felt so empowered, and grateful to be amongst such strong, beautiful souls.

5. Insight

Writing together has also led me to have many personal insights. As I mentioned above, I realized the courage I have within me, to share my soul, to facilitate this circle, even though I was terrified to do so when I began. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable, to share my struggles and hopes, and dreams. I’ve learned I’m capable of so much more than I ever believe myself to be. I’ve experienced the power of the collective, of many people coming together to write, listen, share, and witness. I’ve learned the power of connection, compassion, and empathy.

6. Encouragement

One of my favorite things about my journaling circle is that during each session, members constantly encourage each other to stay strong, to never give up, and to keep engaging in the practices and activities that help them to release, heal, grow, evolve, and transform into the best version of themselves. We remind each other this work takes dedication and persistence, but that we each have it within us to give ourselves the love, compassion, patience, and grace we deserve.

7. Connection

To me, one of the biggest benefits of joining a journaling circle is the connections that I have formed with other members. Even though we meet online through the Insight Timer app from around the world, the connections, trust, and safety we have cultivated makes it feel like we are all in the same space. We bond through a variety of emotions, from sadness and grief, frustration and confusion, to happiness and pure joy. We’ve shared tears, laughter, and inside jokes. We have experienced the full range of humanity together. 

8. Inspiration

Finally, being a part of a journaling circle has been incredibly inspiring. Being in the company of so many like-minded individuals, who consistently show up for themselves through various practices like journaling, meditation, yoga, reading, researching, creating, and connecting with nature has helped me to be more consistent in my own wellness practices.  Journaling has now become a daily practice for me thanks to my circle members, who I affectionately call the Mindful Tea Crew.

ARE YOU READY TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF JOURNALING IN COMMUNITY?

Journaling does not have to be a solo practice. While there are many benefits to journaling alone, journaling within a journaling circle can lead to compassion for yourself and others, affirmation, authenticity, collective wisdom, insight, encouragement, connection, and inspiration.

Want to journal in community and connect with people from around the world? Come join my free journaling circle, Mindful Tea,  each Saturday at 10 AM CST.