An Interview With Jake Frankel
Safe Emotional Processing: Journaling provides a secure and private space to process and explore your feelings and emotions. It allows you to express yourself freely without judgment, helping you gain clarity and understanding of your inner world.
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 Erica Wiederlight.
Erica Wiederlight, known as the confidence coach, specializes in guiding individuals through dating, love, sexual empowerment, and self-love journeys. Alongside her coaching, she’s a renowned professional speaker and the host of the highly acclaimed podcast, “Welcome To The Wiederlife.” Her expertise has made waves, with appearances on over 100 podcasts and features at notable events like NYFW and the UN, as well as in publications including Epoch Times, Galore, and Cosmopolitan magazine.
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?
My journey into holistic health and coaching began somewhat accidentally during a challenging year in my life. I faced a series of hardships, including a family member’s cancer diagnosis, the loss of friends, and body image struggles. In response, I immersed myself in holistic health and coaching, initially offering workshops and one-on-one support for free. Through this experience, I witnessed the transformative impact it had on both myself and others. It was during this time that I decided to turn my passion into an official career, recognizing the profound difference it could make in people’s lives.
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.
As for my journaling journey, it evolved over time. I began journaling more consistently when I embarked on my spiritual journey and discovered how profoundly transformative it could be. Nowadays, my journaling practice takes on various forms. Some days, I engage in free writing, while other times, I rely on prompts. In my work with clients, I often provide tailored prompts to align with their specific themes, such as cultivating body love.
One aspect that holds particular significance for me is mindset journaling. It’s a constant presence in my practice, but its approach can vary depending on my daily needs and preferences. My journaling journey didn’t start due to a single challenging situation; rather, it evolved organically as I recognized its value and adaptability in my life.
How did journaling help you heal, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
Journaling has played a pivotal role in my healing journey, benefiting me on multiple levels — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It has provided me with a profound connection to myself, serving as an invaluable outlet for my thoughts and emotions. While it may sound somewhat cliché, journaling has allowed me to establish a deep connection with my inner self, almost like a conversation with my soul.
Moreover, it has consistently offered me a space to remain rooted in my spiritual practice, akin to a familiar friend that keeps me grounded. Journaling serves as a gentle outlet that facilitates reflection and introspection. What sets it apart is its non-aggressive nature; it creates a safe haven where I can delicately explore and process my feelings and thoughts.
Putting my thoughts on paper allows me to see, often quite starkly, what I’m dealing with, and this confrontation with my inner self is an essential part of the healing process. In essence, journaling has been instrumental in helping me release and heal from things that were no longer serving me, ultimately contributing to my overall well-being.
Did journaling help you find more self-compassion and gratitude? Can you share a story about that?
Journaling, particularly mindset journaling, has played a pivotal role in my journey towards self compassion and gratitude. Whenever I set a goal, whether in business or personal life, I journal about my limiting beliefs. Seeing these beliefs on paper forces me to confront my self-doubts and inner struggles. It’s a wake-up call that urges me to be kinder and more compassionate to myself as I work to overcome these barriers. In essence, journaling has helped me acknowledge the importance of self-compassion and gratitude by exposing the thoughts that held me back and fostering a deeper appreciation for my journey.
What kind of content goes into your journal? For example, do you free-write, write poems, doodle?
My journal contains a variety of content. I engage in free writing, use prompts, and focus on mindset journaling. I also incorporate a unique practice with my clients called ‘Espresso Martini Saturdays’ or ‘Super Soul Sundays.’ During these sessions, clients create a ritual, set the scene, and follow prompts I provide.
Additionally, I use my journal for intention setting and weekly planning, helping me process and set goals for the upcoming week. It’s a versatile tool that serves both as a means of reflection and intentionality.
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?
By engaging in my “Espresso Martini Saturdays” ritual on a regular basis, whether weekly or quarterly, and especially on special occasions like birthdays or significant milestones, I’ve discovered a profound shift in my perspective on life and my emotions. This practice has enabled me to cultivate a deep sense of self-love. Through the act of celebrating every week, I’ve come to recognize the wealth of accomplishments and experiences I’ve accumulated. This perspective has allowed me to reframe my mindset, emphasizing self-celebration over self-critique, not just in terms of setting and pursuing goals, but in appreciating my journey and achievements.
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?
Regarding my journal content, I don’t have specific plans per se. My primary intention is to integrate journaling as a cornerstone tool in my work with clients. I’ve transformed it into a central resource for my clients, making it one of their key tools for personal growth and self reflection.
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”?
- Safe Emotional Processing: Journaling provides a secure and private space to process and explore your feelings and emotions. It allows you to express yourself freely without judgment, helping you gain clarity and understanding of your inner world.
- Enhanced Creativity: Journaling offers a versatile platform for creativity. Whether through mindset-shifting prompts or freeform writing, putting pen to paper can unleash your creativity. This stream of consciousness writing is akin to a moving meditation, fostering a calm and focused mind.
- Emotional Balance: Journaling can help you identify and celebrate positive moments and sources of gratitude even in emotionally charged situations. It serves as a soft landing place for intense emotions, allowing you to find a more balanced perspective.
- Accessible Zen Activity: Journaling is a low-barrier practice that can be done virtually anywhere. Its simplicity makes it an approachable tool for achieving a sense of calm and mindfulness in your daily life.
- Mindfulness and Present-Moment Awareness: Engaging in journaling cultivates mindfulness by encouraging you to be fully present in the moment. It fosters an awareness of the “power of now” as you explore your thoughts and experiences on paper, helping you stay grounded and resilient in the face of life’s challenges.
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?
If I could spark a movement to bring maximum peace to a vast number of people, it would undoubtedly be the “Self-Love Revolution.” I firmly believe that self-love is the cornerstone of personal well-being, and many challenges individuals face are intricately linked to a lack of self-love. It serves as the root issue underlying numerous other problems. Self-love is universally essential; it transcends boundaries and is relevant to everyone’s journey. In my experience, individuals often seek assistance for specific issues, yet we frequently need to return to the foundational aspect of self-love, as it’s a fundamental and common aspiration for all. By fostering a culture of self-love, we can pave the way for greater peace and fulfillment in countless lives.
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. 🙂
While there isn’t one specific person in mind, I’m genuinely intrigued by thought leaders who have made significant impacts in their fields. I have a deep curiosity about how these individuals navigate their daily lives, balancing their commitments and personal well-being. Anyone who is actively engaged in meaningful work, whether it’s in their profession, personal development, or pursuing their passions, would be someone I’d love to share a meal with. I’m particularly interested in understanding how they structure their day and prioritize various aspects like work, self-care, and enjoyment. Gathering insights on their approach to life would be a valuable and enriching experience.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
To stay updated and follow my work online, you can connect with me through the following platforms:
• Instagram: @wethelight_llc
• Website: www.wethelight.org
• Podcast: You can listen to my podcast, “Welcome to the Wiederlife,” on Spotify at this link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1iF2aeppOWjsEkXDKmlGCr
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued fulfilment and success with your writing!
Erica Wiederlight Of zant 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.