I’m sure we can all agree that the aesthetic girlies on Instagram and TikTok have done a great job in making journaling look cute and inviting.
And you maybe even wondered:
If journaling your emotions and thoughts is worth the investment,
Or are we doing it just for the vibes?
At Soulful Baddie, we doing the research so you don’t have to:
And Science says: YES !
Journaling can actually help in processing and understanding your emotions and subconscious beliefs that have been holding you back.
Let me break it down for you in two simple ways:
1. Journaling calms your emotional brain
When you write what you feel, your amygdala ((an area of the brain associated with emotional processing) finally relaxes.
That’s why you feel lighter after putting something “on paper”,cause you have just released stuck emotions.
Which makes your brain stop treating your emotions like a threat: as they finally have somewhere safe to go.
Psychological Science supports this as studies say:
“Putting feelings into words reduces responses in the amygdala”
Suggesting that labelling your emotions diminishes their intensity.
— Lieberman, M. D., et al. (2007),
2. Journaling turns your clarity back on + lowers stress
Writing activates your prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for:
- thinking clearly
- regulating emotions
- making decisions
- understanding yourself
Basically:
Journaling helps your mind feel less chaotic!
Which results to your breathing slowing down,
And your cortisol level(the hormone released by your body during stress) dropping ,
As Studies in psychological sciences state how:
“Expressive writing appears to produce coordinated changes in the prefrontal cortex , leading to improved emotional and physical health outcomes.” – Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016).
So… is journaling just a trend?
No, girl.
It’s emotional regulation.
It’s nervous system care.
It’s healing from the inside out.
And honestly?
If you’ve been overwhelmed, confused, or emotionally heavy…
This might be the one habit that actually helps.
And That’s why I created the Soulful baddie Journals for Healing: https://soulfulbaddie.co.za/product-category/journals/:
For the girls who need deeper prompts, safe reflection, and real emotional release.
Start with one page.
One sentence.
One honest moment.
Healing isn’t a trend – it’s something you deserve**.**
Articles referenced for further reading:
Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain. Guilford Press.
https://www.guilford.com/books/Opening-Up-by-Writing-It-Down/Pennebaker-Smyth/9781462524921
Lieberman, M. D., et al. (2007). “Putting Feelings into Words: Affect Labeling Disrupts Amygdala Activity in Response to Affective Stimuli.” Psychological Science, 18(5), 421-428.
https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=1998840