The Journaling Room

So often, without realizing it, we pick up emotions that don’t belong to us. We absorb our child’s frustration, our spouse’s stress, or our parent’s disappointment—and before long, we’re weighed down by storms that aren’t actually ours to carry.This practice is about emotional separation. It’s not about detachment or coldness. It’s about clarity. It’s learning to sort what’s truly mine, what belongs to someone else, and how to release what isn’t mine to hold.We’ll walk through this with three relational lenses: parenting younger kids, marriage, and navigating relationships with adult children or our own parents. Because let’s be honest—that’s where emotional lines blur the most.Let’s practice this together right now.Think of a current situation that’s weighing on you.Write down every emotion you’re feeling in it.For each one, ask: Mine or theirs?Example: “Fear (mine). Anger (theirs). Guilt (mine, but misplaced).”Circle what’s truly yours to work on. Release the rest.Release doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you stop over-owning. You can still pray, support, or listen. But you no longer confuse their emotional responsibility with your own.“Even if the storm continues, I can hold onto…”Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Life storms show up in all kinds of ways. Sometimes they’re sudden—like a diagnosis, a financial loss, or conflict in a relationship. Other times they drag on—ongoing stress, caregiving, waiting for answers that never seem to come.And here’s the truth: storms aren’t just circumstances. They are made up of our thoughts, feelings, and the stories we attach to what’s happening. My certification training taught me that circumstances are neutral—it’s the thoughts we think about them that create our experience. That means the same storm can sink one person but strengthen another.This is why naming the storm and writing the anchor is so powerful. It helps us do two things:Become aware of the thought-feeling storm that’s raging.2. Choose the anchor—an intentional belief—that steadies us and aligns us with truth.👉 Journaling prompts to Name the Storm:“The storm I’m in right now is…”“The swirl of thoughts sounds like…”“If I pull apart the circumstance from the thought, I see…”“Naming this storm shows me my false self is saying…”👉 Journaling prompts to Write the Anchor:“The anchor thought I choose is…”“When I believe this, I feel…”“This anchor helps me show up as my true self by…”“Even if the storm continues, I can hold onto…”Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

That’s right—you don’t need a pen and paper for this practice. This is a reset you can do with your heart and your mind, anytime, anywhere. If you do have your journal, wonderful—use it. But if you don’t, this reset still works. You can take five minutes and experience calm, clarity, and God’s peace.The 5 Minute Reset PracticeHere’s how it works. Three simple steps: Breathe, Write, Pray.Step One: Breathe (1–2 minutes)The very first thing is to pause and take three slow breaths. This isn’t fluff—it’s science. Deep breathing signals your nervous system that you’re safe.As you breathe, imagine inhaling God’s presence and exhaling your tension. You might even say silently, “Breathing in peace. Breathing out worry.”👉 Cue if you’re journaling: Write one word for what you want to breathe in and one word for what you want to breathe out. 👉 Cue if you don’t have paper: Just choose those two words in your mind and repeat them with each breath.Scripture anchor: “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4, NIV)Step Two: Write Here’s the part I call Write. And yes, when you have your journal, writing on paper is powerful—it slows your thoughts and makes them concrete.But here’s the hope: you don’t have to have your journal for this to work. You can do this step in your mind. Silently answer a prompt, or mentally repeat a phrase to yourself.👉 Reset Prompts (on paper or in your thoughts):“Right now, I notice…”“One word for how I feel is…”“What I need in this moment is…”“The swirl in my mind is saying…”Think it, whisper it, or write it down—either way, you are pressing pause and making space for clarity.Scripture anchor: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)Step Three: Pray Finally, turn what you’ve written—or thought—into a prayer. It can be as simple as one or two sentences.Examples:“Lord, my heart feels overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2, NIV)“God, I need courage right now. Remind me You are with me wherever I go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)“Father, thank You that You see me. Quiet my thoughts and fill me with Your peace.”This is where your reset shifts from self-help to God-help.Scripture anchor: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, NIV)Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

In this engaging discussion, the host tackles the all-too-familiar experience of spiraling thoughts and how they can lead to anxiety and shame. Listeners discover journaling as a powerful tool to regain clarity amidst chaos. A three-step approach—Dump, Sort, Redirect—offers practical prompts for untangling thoughts and emotions. Real-life examples highlight the effectiveness of this method. Ultimately, the conversation empowers individuals to anchor themselves in truth and reclaim their peace through self-reflection.

This session dives into the complexities of feelings when you're unsure of what you really feel. It introduces a unique journaling technique to help you unpack emotions. Through a three-layer exercise, you first check in with your physical sensations, then name your emotional state, and finally explore the deeper meaning behind those feelings. Real-life examples illustrate how this practice can clarify emotions in parenting, work, and spirituality, highlighting the importance of slowing down to reconnect with your true self.

Discover the transformative power of naming emotions in your journal. Learn how this simple practice can lead to clarity, healing, and self-trust. Explore prompts that encourage deeper emotional exploration and awareness. Uncover the connection between emotional labeling and spiritual growth. Plus, find out how building an emotion word bank can enhance your understanding of feelings. This approach not only nurtures personal growth but also promotes emotional well-being.

Discover how to navigate conflict and emotional turbulence with the unique 'pen and pause' technique. Learn to identify bodily sensations and the stories we tell ourselves in moments of stress. Reflect on what you truly want from difficult conversations and how to respond from a place of love rather than fear. This approach promotes emotional ownership and strengthens relationships, all while journaling serves as a powerful tool for clarity and healing. It's all about taking a step back before acting!

Discover how one profound journal prompt transformed the host's understanding of unconditional love in a challenging relationship. The discussion emphasizes self-reflection, boundary-setting, and the delicate balance of loving while protecting one's heart. Explore insightful questions that encourage listeners to examine their emotional needs and expectations. The podcast beautifully blends personal anecdotes with practical journaling techniques, inviting you to rethink love and embrace vulnerability.

In this powerful joint episode of The Christian Life Coach Podcast with Shanna Pyzer and The Journaling Room Podcast with Kendall Snyder, special guest Kim Boylan shares her inspiring story of faith, marriage, parenting, and perseverance through life’s hardest challenges.Kim opens up about:Celebrating 46 years of marriage and the lessons learned about building a godly foundation.Navigating a later-in-life faith journey and walking through cancer diagnoses for both herself and her husband.The surprising way Christian life coaching equipped her to face trials with resilience and hope.Shifting from “Mama Bear” parenting to spiritually supporting adult children.Her unique morning routine that starts with prayer before her feet hit the floor.This episode is filled with wisdom for Christian women in midlife who are balancing faith, family, and personal growth. Whether you’re seeking encouragement for your marriage, tools for parenting adult children, or a reminder that God is faithful in every season, Kim’s story will inspire and uplift you.Connect with Kim:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimboylan/Breath of Heaven Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/978894212300994Connect with Kendall:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallsnydercoaching/https://www.instagram.com/journalingroompodcast/Connect with Shanna:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachshannap/Website: shannapyzer.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachshannapResources Mentioned:Edie Wadsworth: https://www.instagram.com/ediewadsworth/Legacy of Prayer: https://amzn.to/4ooLAJg

Dive into the nuances of emotional numbness and discover how it serves as a protective mechanism. Learn refreshing journaling prompts designed to gently reconnect you with your feelings. Explore practices that engage your body and breath, offering a pathway back to sensation. Reflect on what you miss in your emotional landscape and invite self-compassion into your journey. This conversation serves as a gentle reminder that experiencing numbness does not mean you're broken, but rather, beautifully human.