Day 25 – Journal Your Feelings: A Lifeline Through Grief and Growth

Tammy Landsiedel
May 24
3 min read

So, confession time—today was supposed to be “Indulge Your Inner Child”, but I swapped it out and did Day 26: Journal Your Feelings instead. Why? Because honestly, I wasn’t quite sure what indulging my inner child was supposed to look like yet. I’m still working on that one. But journaling—that I know, and I needed it today.

Let’s get into it.

The Power of Journaling for Mental Health

Journaling is more than just writing down thoughts—it’s a form of therapy. Science backs this up: 🧠 Studies from the American Psychological Association and University of Texas show that expressive writing reduces anxiety, depression, and stress.🫀 It helps your brain process emotions, lowers stress hormones, and even boosts your immune system.💭 Regular journaling builds emotional resilience, improves mood, and promotes self-awareness. 📅 Consistency matters—just like a muscle, your emotional well-being strengthens the more you practice.

It’s not just science—it’s my story too.

My Journaling Journey

I journal every single day. Before bed, I write down whatever I’m feeling. After that, I write one thing I’m grateful for—even if it’s hard to find. I do it in that order so I can end my day with a little light instead of a dark cloud.

I started journaling almost immediately after Dakota passed away. For at least the first year, it felt like I was writing to him—letters filled with my love, my pain, my anger, my questions. I wrote in notebooks, I wrote on Facebook, I wrote in Messenger, even though I knew he wasn’t reading them. Writing gave me an outlet for my grief. It didn’t erase the pain, but it made the unbearable slightly more bearable.

I’d pour out my anger so it wouldn’t turn into hate. I’d cry on paper when I couldn’t cry out loud. I’d write the words I couldn’t say to anyone else. It helped me get out of my own head, even just a little.

This month has been hard—Mother’s Day, my birthday—the days where the absence of my mom, dad, and son feels like a gaping hole. I’ve missed Dakota’s jokes and teasing, my mom’s strawberry shortcake, my dad’s BBQs. It’s been heavy, and I’ve felt myself bottling it up, trying not to make others uncomfortable.

But last night, I really journaled—not just a few lines like usual, but pages. I let it out: the grief, the frustration, the longing, the missing. I gave myself permission to feel it all, without judgment. And when I was done, I felt… lighter. The ache in my heart, the pressure in my head, the weight in my soul—it eased.

What I Learned

Journaling isn’t a magic fix, but it helps. It gives your emotions a place to land so they don’t take up permanent residence inside you. It reminds you that you can survive the hard days.

If you’re not sure where to start, just write. Be messy, be honest, be real. Your journal doesn’t care about grammar or spelling—it’s there for you.