Mental exercises

I write—a lot. I’m cranking out content for this site, Same Page, and a couple of clients. Different projects, platforms, audiences, styles, and tones—yet it's still me at the core of it all. But I write another thing you’ll never see: I journal. And it’s made a world of difference in how I approach my work.

When I journal, I write quickly. I don’t overthink. I’m free, and it’s just so fun and easy. The words flow, and I'm done in no time at all. I love it! And the best part? You’ll never read it. But trust me, it’s good stuff. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s just for me. That’s the beauty of it. It’s where I get to practice, process emotions, and, frankly, get out of my own head.

The challenge? Bringing that same freedom to my work writing. Because I'll be honest: the stakes feel higher when I know it’s going out to the world. There’s the anxiety of someone reading every word and critiquing it; the nagging impostor syndrome makes me question whether I’m as good as I think.

Sure, I’ve got experience. I know what I’m talking about. But it’s easy to get caught up in the noise—the “4,000 people are writing the same boring ass shit as you” of it all. If I could shake that off, I’d probably post every move I make on LinkedIn, just like every other consultant out there. Okay, probably not. But still, journaling is helping me push through all the mental exercises required to make me better at what I do. I love this "life meets work" concept, where I learn something about myself and intentionally apply it to my work. I never saw this one coming in many ways.

If there's one thing I can confidently say, it's that life is complex and full of surprises. One thing affects another, whether as simple as a new practice, habit, or way of thinking. At the center of it all is you. Who you are impacts everything you do—relationships, communications, productivity, creativity, confidence, and more—personally and professionally.

I found this article, Why Self-Advocacy Can Help You Become An Invaluable Collaborator and shared it on The High Five podcast this week because it resonated for the exact reason I'm sharing my experience with journaling helping my work. It's self-advocacy: exploring and expressing your needs, wants, thoughts, and feelings. Through this exercise, I'm exploring my voice and feeling more free with my words while journaling. I'm seeing the positive effects on my professional writing and interactions with others. It feels good. It's making me more confident.

I think that means it's working.

And that is exactly why I wrote this! So, whether you want to work through your emotions, document ideas and dreams, or write your very own private burn book, give it a shot. You might be surprised at what comes out when you let go and write.