Emotional weight isn’t something that happens suddenly. It often builds slowly. It can be layered, developing through fatigue, sacrifice, busy days, and small frustrations.

It’s the feeling of being “on” all the time. It can lead to moments when something feels off, but you can’t quite figure out what it is. It just sits, quietly bubbling beneath the surface.

Often, it can be difficult to find the right words to express emotional heaviness. Emotions don’t always come with instructions on how to understand what we feel. There isn’t always a perfect label to describe what we may be experiencing.

What if that’s ok?

No, really…what if it is, ok?

Ok not to have all the answers.
Ok to acknowledge that you don’t feel like being “on” today.
Maybe it is ok to not have to figure everything out right away.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. There is no shame in reaching out — whether to a clergy member, a doctor, a therapist, or a friend.

I remember days when I felt off. I was working long hours, I had lost my grandmother, I was dealing with my own health issues, and honestly…I was just really tired.

After reaching out for help, someone suggested journaling.

As I’ve shared before, I’m not a daily journal girl, but I do believe that journaling at the right time can help. Writing gives you somewhere to begin exploring and expressing feelings that you might not always have the right words for.

It gives you a place to work them out. Just you and your pen.

It may not be perfect.
So what?

Your journal is your private space. It’s where you don’t have to impress anyone. You don’t have to share anything before you’re ready. You simply get to be you and work through the things that may weigh you down.

Start with simple questions:

• What feels heavy right now?
• What has been sitting with me lately?
• What am I afraid of?
• What am I avoiding thinking about?

And remember, journaling can also be light. It can be fun or creative. It can be a place to celebrate the good things, too.

Maybe you’ll write every day.
Maybe you’re like me…I write when I need to.

That works too.

Just start.

— J. Lashelle

If you’ve ever needed a quiet place to hold what you’re carrying, writing can help. Writing became one of the ways I began to process what I was feeling.

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If this post resonated with you, you may also want to read:

Journaling Doesn’t Have to Be Daily to Help

When Celebration and Grief Share the Same Day

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