An Interview With Jake Frankel
Journaling provides a haven for inner thoughts, allowing individuals to give each thought space for consideration and examination, thereby quieting the mind and fostering clarity. This process, often termed a “brain dump,” enables individuals to organize their thoughts and gain insight into their inner workings.
Journaling is a powerful tool to gain clarity and insight especially during challenging times of loss and uncertainty. Writing can cultivate a deeper connection with yourself and provide an outlet for calmness, resilience and mindfulness. When my mom passed on, I found writing to be cathartic. When I read through my journal years later, there were thoughts that I developed into poems, and others that simply provided a deeper insight into myself. In this series I’m speaking with people who use journaling to become more mindful and resilient.
As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Djuan Short.
Djuan Short is an accomplished mental health practitioner, speaker, and published author with over 11 years of experience. She holds degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Pennsylvania. She is the Founder of Dahlia Rose Wellness Center, a mental health and wellness private practice providing a holistic approach to mental and emotional well-being for women leaders in PA and NJ. She is the creator of the “CEO Wellness Project” Brand which is the speaking and consulting services arm of Dahlia Rose Wellness Center, with an emphasis for women in leadership roles, offering guidance on work-life balance, self-care, and overcoming professional challenges. Djuan is a clinical expert who merges her knowledge, faith, and training to guide individuals toward balanced and purposeful lives. She is passionate about empowering women leaders by redefining and reshaping their environments to be healing.
With a holistic approach integrating faith, education, and practice, Djuan inspires individuals to redefine their societal roles, align with their spiritual beliefs, and challenge societal norms. Drawing inspiration from the strength of resilient Black women, she instills confidence and encourages individuals to take charge of their lives. Prestigious outlets, including NIKE, Thrive Global, and Healthline, have featured Djuan.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! We really appreciate the courage it takes to publicly share your story of healing. Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your childhood backstory?
Thank you for welcoming me to this interview series, and I appreciate the opportunity to share my story of healing. My childhood was shaped by the dual influences of my grandparents, offering me unique perspectives and lessons that have profoundly impacted my journey. Immersed in a world of storytelling, I found solace in escaping through hobbies, books, and fantasies, a coping mechanism I later came to understand as a response to anxiety.
Growing up admiring my grandmothers, born in the late 1930s in Alabama and North Carolina, I learned valuable lessons from their seemingly ordinary lives. One grandmother embodied the nurturing spirit of homemaking, while the other, a primary breadwinner, instilled in me the values of responsibility and resilience. These contrasting experiences ignited my passion for supporting women in leadership roles and challenging societal norms.
My educational background provided a theoretical foundation, but my healing journey shaped my understanding of self-support and empowerment. Confronting buried childhood memories, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery, embracing vulnerability and releasing pent-up emotions through writing and introspection.
As I navigated this emotional terrain, I realized the importance of accepting and loving oneself, a lesson I am committed to sharing with other women on their paths to healing. My journey has transformed from living wrapped up in accomplishments to embracing authenticity and vulnerability. Empowering others to embrace their authentic selves and find healing from within is a commitment near and dear to my core values and purpose.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about journaling. Have you been writing in your journal for a long time or was there a challenging situation that prompted you to start journal writing? If you feel comfortable sharing the situation with us, it could help other readers.
Building on a budding relationship with journaling since 2016, I began earnestly pouring my thoughts onto paper, seeking solace in its therapeutic embrace. Journaling became a beacon of self-reflection, guiding me through my past and present complexities.
However, during my healing journey, journaling emerged as a lifeline amidst emotional turbulence. It wasn’t until around 2017/2018, when I was engrossed in reading “The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain” by Louis Cozolino, that a series of revelations unfolded, triggering my deeper exploration into journaling as a healing practice.
Cozolino’s insights into childhood memory and anxiety struck a chord, unraveling suppressed emotions and memories from my past. This experience ignited a profound realization of the need to confront and process my inner turmoil.
It provided a safe space to untangle the knots of my emotions and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Journaling became my steadfast companion, empowering me to navigate the depths of my psyche and emerge stronger from the shadows of my past.
For those seeking further insight into my journey and the transformative power of journaling, I invite them to explore my book, “Healing on Purpose: A Journey to Emotional and Relational Wellness,” where I delve deeper into the exercises and reflections that facilitated my healing process.
How did journaling help you heal, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
Journaling became my compass on the winding road of self-discovery and transformation. It served as a sanctuary where I could unravel the complexities of my emotions and confront the shadows of my past. Pouring my thoughts onto paper provided a therapeutic release, allowing me to navigate the depths of my inner world and make sense of my experiences. Through introspection and reflection, I found the courage to embrace vulnerability and explore new possibilities for growth.
As I delved deeper into journaling, I discovered its profound capacity to unearth dormant emotions and heal long-buried wounds. Each stroke of the pen became a step towards healing, offering clarity and insight into the intricacies of my mental, emotional, and spiritual landscape. Through this practice of self-reflection, I learned to embrace my vulnerabilities and confront the challenges that once seemed impossible.
Ultimately, journaling became a cornerstone of my healing journey, offering solace, clarity, and empowerment as I navigated the complexities of my past and present. It guided me towards a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me, empowering me to rewrite my narrative and shape my reality according to my most profound truths.
Did journaling help you find more self-compassion and gratitude? Can you share a story about that?
Yes, journaling played a significant role in cultivating self-compassion and gratitude within me. A particular moment in my journaling journey stands out vividly in my memory, illustrating the transformative power of this practice. During deep reflection, I grappled with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. As I poured my thoughts onto my journal pages, I stumbled upon an exercise that encouraged me to write down three things I was grateful for each day. At first, this task seemed daunting, overshadowed by the weight of my negative emotions. However, I decided to embrace the challenge, viewing it as an opportunity to shift my perspective.
Day by day, I diligently recorded moments of gratitude, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Initially, it was a struggle to identify positive aspects of my life amidst the darkness. Yet, as I persisted, something remarkable began to happen. I started to notice beauty in the ordinary, finding joy in simple pleasures and moments of connection with others.
Through this practice, I gradually learned to extend compassion towards myself, acknowledging my strengths and embracing my vulnerabilities. Each entry in my journal became a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for growth and transformation.
Over time, the practice of gratitude became woven into the fabric of my daily life, serving as a beacon of light during challenging times. Through journaling, I discovered that cultivating self-compassion and gratitude is not merely a destination but an ongoing journey that continues to enrich my life in profound and unexpected ways.
What kind of content goes into your journal? For example, do you free-write, write poems, doodle?
I include content reflecting my inner thoughts and creative expressions in my journal. I often engage in free-writing sessions, allowing my thoughts to flow freely onto the pages without censorship. Sometimes, I find solace in writing poems, using words to capture my emotions and experiences in a more artistic form. Additionally, I occasionally doodle or sketch in my journal, using visual art as a means of expression alongside writing.
Beyond these creative endeavors, my journal also serves as a space for reflection and introspection. I jot down gratitude notes to cultivate appreciation for the blessings in my life and affirmations to nurture self-compassion and positivity. Moreover, I pose self-inquiry questions to delve deeper into my inner workings and explore my fears, desires, and aspirations. As a business owner, I use my journal to brainstorm ideas, map out plans for the future, and set goals for personal and professional growth.
Overall, my journal is a versatile tool that accommodates various forms of expression, from writing and drawing to reflective processing and goal-setting.
How did you gain a different perspective on life and your emotions while writing in your journal? Can you please share a story about what you mean?
In my journey as both a mental health practitioner specializing in trauma and anxiety and a dedicated journalist, I’ve experienced a profound shift in perspective on life and emotions through journaling. Let me share a story that illustrates this transformation:
As a therapist, I often encountered clients struggling with unresolved trauma and overwhelming anxiety. While I provided evidence-based interventions in my clinical practice, I realized the importance of integrating personal experience into my therapeutic approach. Journaling became a crucial tool in this process.
One day, as I sat down to write in my journal, I grappled with a deep sense of uncertainty and doubt about my ability to help my clients effectively. The weight of their stories and the complexity of their emotions weighed heavily on me. However, something remarkable happened as I poured my thoughts onto the pages.
Through writing, I began to untangle my emotions and gain clarity on my role as a healer. I reflected on my experiences, acknowledging my limitations and strengths with honesty and compassion. I discovered a newfound sense of empathy and connection with my clients in that moment of vulnerability.
As I continued to journal, I noticed a gradual shift in my perspective on life and my ability to navigate challenging emotions. The practice of writing provided a space for introspection and self-discovery, allowing me to explore the depths of my psyche with curiosity and openness. I learned to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity for personal and professional growth and transformation.
Through journaling, I cultivated a deeper understanding of myself and my clients, fostering empathy, compassion, and resilience in adversity. My practice became intertwined with my clinical work, enriching my therapeutic approach and empowering me to support others on their journey toward healing.
In essence, journaling has been instrumental in shaping my perspective on life and emotions, allowing me to navigate the complexities of my inner world with clarity and insight.
In my own journal writing, I ended up creating poems from some of the ideas and one of them won an award. Do you have plans with your journal content?
My goals for my journal entries are multifaceted:
- I aim to repurpose them into content supporting individuals navigating challenging experiences, offering guidance on moving forward and healing intentionally.
2. I plan to compile these entries into a book or journal format, providing a tangible resource for others on their healing journeys.
3. My journal is a way to provide my future children with a blueprint for confronting obstacles while empowering them with tools for authentic healing.
4. I aspire to integrate the themes and teachings from my journals into my clinical practice.
By making my writing easily digestible, I aim to offer a wider audience practical tips, resources, and strategies for healing.
Here is our main question. In my journaling program, I have found that journaling can help people to become more calm, mindful and resilient. Based on your experience and research, can you please share with our readers “five ways that journaling can help you to be more calm, mindful and resilient”?
- Journaling provides a haven for inner thoughts, allowing individuals to give each thought space for consideration and examination, thereby quieting the mind and fostering clarity. This process, often termed a “brain dump,” enables individuals to organize their thoughts and gain insight into their inner workings.
- Through probing questions and explorative writing, journaling helps individuals uncover their needs and desires, promoting openness and self-understanding.
- Slowing down and attentively observing the present moment during journaling cultivates mindfulness, anchoring decisions in reality rather than speculation or desire.
- Moreover, the practice encourages self-reliance and validation of one’s experiences and judgment, fostering trust in oneself.
- Lastly, journaling serves as a reminder that change is attainable, urging individuals to align their actions with overarching goals and aspirations
As a mental health practitioner, I incorporate journaling into therapy sessions to facilitate personal and professional growth among clients. By leveraging journaling’s reflective process, I guide clients in navigating their thoughts and feelings, offering tailored prompts and strategies to establish consistent journaling practices. Whether through daily reflections, gratitude exercises, or weekly reviews of positive experiences, I encourage clients to embrace journaling as a means of self-discovery and emotional release. Individuals develop resilience and mindfulness through this process, enhancing their overall well-being.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of peace to the greatest amount of people, what would that be?
As a mental health and wellness practitioner who focuses on supporting women in leadership roles, I aspire to inspire a movement centered around promoting holistic well-being and empowerment. My vision is to create a paradigm shift in how women approach leadership, ensuring they can thrive mentally, emotionally, and professionally.
Through my work, I aim to provide comprehensive support and resources to help women navigate the complexities of leadership while prioritizing their mental and emotional health. By addressing systemic issues and societal norms perpetuating gender disparities in the workplace, we can create environments where women feel empowered to lead authentically and confidently.
One key aspect of this movement is promoting trauma-informed practices in executive settings. Many women in leadership positions carry childhood traumas that impact their ability to manage stress and relationships effectively. By offering trauma-informed consulting, training, and resources, we empower women executives to understand their needs, enhance self-awareness, and navigate workplace dynamics with resilience and confidence.
Additionally, our movement emphasizes the importance of self-care and work-life balance for women in leadership. By fostering a culture that values well-being and supports personal growth, we can create environments where women can thrive professionally without sacrificing their mental and emotional health.
Ultimately, I aim to create a world where women in leadership feel empowered, supported, and valued, contributing to a more peaceful and equitable society.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
I would love a private breakfast or lunch with Rhianna, Oprah Winfrey, Caroline Wanga (Editor-in-Chief at Essence Magazine), and Peter Levine. Each individual embodies qualities and values that align with my work and focus on mental health and wellness, particularly in supporting women’s empowerment and leadership.
With her groundbreaking contributions to music, fashion, and philanthropy, Rhianna has demonstrated a commitment to using her platform for social change and advocacy. Her resilience, authenticity, and dedication to empowering women make her an inspiring figure with whom I would love to connect to discuss strategies for promoting holistic well-being and empowerment.
Oprah Winfrey’s influence as a media mogul, philanthropist, and advocate for personal growth and self-discovery is unparalleled. Her ability to engage with diverse audiences and facilitate meaningful conversations about mental health, spirituality, and social justice aligns closely with my mission to empower women to lead authentically and prioritize their mental and emotional health.
Caroline Wanga, as the Editor-in-Chief at Essence Magazine, plays a pivotal role in shaping narratives around women’s experiences, empowerment, and cultural identity. Her insights into the intersectionality of race, gender, and mental health could provide valuable perspectives and opportunities for collaboration in advancing our shared goals of promoting well-being and representation.
Peter Levine’s work in trauma healing and somatic experiencing offers innovative approaches to supporting individuals in processing and healing from past traumas. His expertise in mind-body healing aligns with my holistic approach to mental health and wellness. A conversation with him could yield valuable insights and strategies for deepening my somatic practices in my work.
Meeting with these individuals would provide an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore collaborative opportunities for advancing mental health and wellness initiatives, particularly those focused on empowering women and promoting holistic well-being.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can keep up with my work and connect with me through various online platforms:
Instagram: @DjuanShort or @DahliaRoseWellness
Facebook: Djuan Short or Dahlia Rose Wellness Center
LinkedIn: Djuan D Short LCSW or Dahlia Rose Wellness Center
Websites: djuanshort.com or dahliarosewellness.com
Book: You can also check out my book, “Healing on Purpose: A Journey to Emotional and Relational Wellness,” available at http://bit.ly/ahealingjourney
Feel free to reach out and connect!
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued fulfillment and success with your writing!
Author Djuan D Short On How Journaling Can Help You To Be More Calm, Mindful And Resilient was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.