So, I suppose that means that the first rule of better journal writing is, "Don't be afraid to be emotinal!" 

We are all creatures of feeling, and must suppress ourselves at school and work, with the family, and even with friends in daily life. The journal is one place where one can let go of the "bounded emotional self." Naturally, any postings of such (especially if they pertain to another person!) can be controversial, but we can always post "privately" when this possibility arises (as I often do.) 

Week One Challenge: To write a blatently cathartic journal entry in the next week. Life's a bitch, so I'm guessing most of us can find SOMETHING to bitch about. What fun! Homework where you get to whine, moan, and generally indulge those less "pretty" feelings... on purpose. It feels so naughty! Some people on my Friend's list have already done this today, in fact-- and I was really impressed with the honesty and emotionality of these posts. 

Challege Factor: To write about our bad emotions even though it's embarrassing. I can't tell you how many times I read a wonderfully cathartic post by someone only to hear them apologize for it. (And I must confess, I have caught myself doing the same.) But LiveJournal is unique in it's ability to show how many of our Friends can RELATE to these sorts of things. Also, we must remember that emotional expression compells and draws us in with it's inherant DRAMA. We love to hear that our fellow human beings go a little crazy, just like we do, on occasion! And, consider too--  the reading of the crazed "rant" lends a little color to a journal often otherwise bland in it's repeated dry reportings.

We are taught that it's childish and selfish to allow negative feelings to come forward. Of course giving them free reign can cause all sorts of problems-- but this is why the writing of them can be so freeing, because it's ultimately so HARMLESS. (So long as you aren't bitching about someone who can read it, that is!)  And, really, until we know HOW we feel, how can we process an emotion to get over it? Think about this...

Another personal note here: Last year I took a psychological test (a real, professionally evaluated one) on emotional processing abilities, and I was really high in all 4 major categories but one-- the ability to accept my emotions without SHAME. This was an eye opener for me. It makes sense to feel guilt or shame for what we DO based upon bad feelings, but it really is silly to chastise ourselves for having bad feelings in the first place! Yet I have done this all my life-- and it has contributed significantly to depressive episodes and social anxiety disorders. Give yourself a break and say it's okay to feel bad sometimes. I'm trying to!

So, sometime this week, post a really emotional entry. Label it "Cathartic Journal Entry" or some such thing so I, or anyone else who is doing this, can see your effort to really let go all the way in the name of expanded writing skills.