Where I stop pretending and start getting real…

Journaling isn’t just about processing emotions.

It’s how I remember who I am beneath the noise.

The version of me that isn’t performing.

Or pleasing.

Or pretending to be fine.

It’s where I get to be honest.

Messy.

Whole.

If you’re craving a way back to yourself —

through pen, paper, and maybe a few spiral turns in a labyrinth —

🌀 you’re not alone.

I’ve got a new Journal to the Self course opening soon.

✨ Join my email list to be the first to hear.

#journals #jounraling #healingandsearching #soulfuljourney #clarity

2025/9/3 Edited to

... Read moreJournaling is far more than a simple act of writing down thoughts; it is a crucial practice that serves as an exhale, a mirror, and a magical space to untangle the chaos inside your mind. This process allows you to stop spiraling in moments of anxiety, such as waking up at 2 a.m., and regain control over your inner world. At its core, journaling helps you remember who you are before the distractions of daily life—before emails, chores, or societal pressures. It is a sanctuary where you don’t need to perform, be productive, or perfect yourself. Instead, it invites you to be messy, authentic, and whole. This raw honesty cultivates healing and self-awareness, helping to clarify thoughts and feelings that might otherwise remain tangled. Many people struggle with putting on a facade to please others or pretend to be fine, which adds layers of stress and disconnection from their true selves. Journaling provides a sacred outlet to release these burdens and reconnect with your soul’s journey. It is especially powerful for those searching for clarity and peace during times of emotional upheaval. Incorporating practices such as spiral journaling in a labyrinth format can deepen your self-exploration by engaging both the creative and reflective aspects of your mind. This technique fosters a meditative space for insight and personal growth. Whether you are new to journaling or looking to deepen your practice, joining a structured program like the "Journal to the Self" course can offer guidance, community support, and inspiration. It’s an invitation to develop a meaningful habit that nurtures your mental and emotional well-being. Overall, journaling isn’t just about processing emotions—it’s about reclaiming your identity beneath all the noise, reconnecting with your truth, and embracing the messy, beautiful process of being human.

8 comments

Leahdino89's images
Leahdino89

I always want to I just don’t but the times I do I’m like why am I not doing this

See more(1)
Denisse's images
Denisse

🙏🙌✨️🌟🦋

See more(1)

See more comments

Related posts

A hand holds a tortilla chip topped with fresh guacamole, scooped from a large metal bowl. The guacamole is chunky with visible avocado, red onion, tomato, and cilantro. The image is titled 'Easy Guacamole'.
Guacamole ingredients are arranged on a wooden cutting board, including fresh cilantro, two red tomatoes, a red onion, several lime halves, and four ripe avocados, labeled for clarity.
A metal bowl contains several peeled and halved avocados, ready for mashing. The text overlay indicates 'STEP 1: Prep the avocados', showing the initial stage of making guacamole.
Pretending it’s summer with this fresh guac 🥑✨
It might not be summer yet, but my cravings for something light and fresh say otherwise! Guac is something to be taken seriously and I am in no way a guac pro, but I just love how this recipe is the perfect balance of light, savory, and sweet. While it makes enough for a few people, I won’t lie
Shannon Grace

Shannon Grace

1084 likes

An open journal on a wooden surface, with a closed journal behind it, displaying the text: "POV: JOURNALING EDITION 1. Most people don't finish the journals they start." This image supports the idea that unfinished journals are normal.
An open journal on a wooden surface, with a closed journal behind it, displaying the text: "2. Half the time, doodles count as journaling." This image suggests that journaling is flexible and includes various forms of expression.
An open journal on a wooden surface, with a closed journal behind it, displaying the text: "3. Your journal doesn't care if you skip a week (or a month)." This image promotes a non-judgmental approach to consistent journaling.
Lets stop pretending journaling works all the time
Here’s the thing nobody admits — stacks of half-filled journals are normal. It doesn’t mean you “failed.” It means you started, you wrote what you needed in that season, and then you moved on. Sometimes a journal is just a chapter, not the whole story. And isn’t that the point? Life changes. We
Mira Sage Vibes

Mira Sage Vibes

58 likes

Positivity and Pretending Things Aren’t Hard 🤨
If 2024 tried to take you out, I get it. You probably felt like nobody understood what you were going through. Like nobody on Beyoncé’s internet could relate. Like no matter how hard you tried, things just kept sinking deeper and deeper. I know, because I was there too. And if you’re still in that
Jamie KP 📚

Jamie KP 📚

124 likes

Me Pretending I’m Fine During Core Day
The gym is my therapy.” Also me at therapy: breathing aggressively questioning my life choices and counting down the seconds.
Rebyrthfitness

Rebyrthfitness

290 likes

Stop pretending —
📖: The Pain of Healing 💓 #healingquotes #poetry #lemon8books #poetrybooks #poem
Samantha Camargo

Samantha Camargo

10 likes

Stop pretending everything
#motivation #inspiration #quotes #lifelessons #motivational
Snoop Inspirations

Snoop Inspirations

774 likes

STOP PRETENDING YOU’RE “FINE.”
Depression hides behind busyness and burnout. ChatGPT can't replace therapy, but it can help you reflect, track, and take control of your mental health again. #mentalhealth #depression #mindset #selfcare #healing
Promptly Daily ✪

Promptly Daily ✪

3 likes

Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock 💝 YA Romance
kennieLock

kennieLock

29 likes

Pretending Normal, YA romance by Kennie Lock
#booktok
Kennie

Kennie

399 likes

10 Signs he's only pretending to love you.
1.) He is loving only when it’s convenient. When he wants something, he’s attentive. When you need him, he’s unavailable. Truth: Real love isn’t seasonal. 2.) He avoids real commitment. He enjoys the benefits of the relationship. But avoids clear plans about the future. Promises stay vague.
MsKrisTalking

MsKrisTalking

186 likes

Pretending to be healthy for 24 hours
Alicia Sicz

Alicia Sicz

26.2K likes

Dandy's World: Dad and I Pretending To Be Twins!
#dandysworld #torianddad #roblox
Tori&DadTV

Tori&DadTV

70 likes

Pretending Normal, by Kennie Lock 🌸
Colt and Dylinn are such a cute couple. Like I mean it. I love them!!! 😍 #booktokfyp #yaromance #cleanyaromance
kennieLock

kennieLock

20 likes

Stop pretending your Target mug has personality 🛑
Ooh I'm an individual with a mug that 20,000 people also own Ugh I'm bored Feat. a cameo from my friend's puppy #pottery #ceramics #handmadepottery #artprocess #artist
SheWolf Studios | Casey

SheWolf Studios | Casey

12 likes

Where I stopped pretending to be fine
I didn’t start writing because I had time — I started because I was breaking. The words came out quiet at first. Tired. Honest. Real. Some days, I only wrote one sentence. Other days, I cried through the whole page. But little by little, journaling became the one place I could stop pretend
Beautifully Blended

Beautifully Blended

3 likes

A depiction of Jesus kneeling in prayer in a dark, forested setting, with hands clasped and head bowed. A beam of light illuminates him as he leans on a rock, embodying a surrendered heart and honest relationship with God, as discussed in the article.
✨Living Right vs. Pretending Right✨
The Bible doesn’t just warn us about sin—it warns us about pretending we’re not living in it. There’s a real danger in looking righteous on the outside while our hearts tell a different story. Jesus spoke strongly about this kind of life: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for
Christy Lynn

Christy Lynn

128 likes

Let’s stop pretending and start surrendering
Not everyone sitting in church is following Jesus. It’s time to stop performing and start surrendering. #faithforthefedup #boldfaith #jesusoverreligion #christianlemon8
Trish Talks

Trish Talks

2 likes

A top-down view shows two people's legs in jeans and boots on a dark floor, with text about a girl saying she's okay but a guy training her on a family farm knowing otherwise. This image promotes the romance novel 'Pretending Normal'.
Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock
Kindle Unlimited Romance
kennieLock

kennieLock

33 likes

A top-down view of two people's feet on a dark floor, one in dark boots and the other in light brown boots and blue jeans, with the text 'he brings her pancakes' overlaid.
Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock
so basically her dad is abusive and when Colt goes to help her escape... her dad is MAD #yaromance #booktoread #romancebookrecommendations #booktok
kennieLock

kennieLock

60 likes

The Day I Stopped Pretending
There’s a version of me I wore like armor. She was always polished. Always agreeable. Always on cue. But she wasn’t me. Somewhere along the line, I started performing—maybe for love, maybe for approval, maybe just for survival. I wore the right mask in the right rooms. Smiled at the right ti
candace.lane.official

candace.lane.official

129 likes

Stop pretending you’re making money
Listen, seven out of 10 digital marketers are not making the income they claim. If you’re one of them you can either keep up the act & hope for sales or book a coaching call to actually start getting sales. Sales is psychology and if you don’t know how to talk to your audience you won’t get sal
Nakia Denise

Nakia Denise

1 like

Pretending to watch 🌽hub prank on My Asian Mom 😂
She got so curious 😂 Follow for more @McPlayGT #mcplaygt #lemon8challenge #lemon8partner #Lemon8Diary #prank
McPlayGT

McPlayGT

7804 likes

A young person with styled dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt and a watch, takes a mirror selfie in a tiled room. The overlay text reads: "he wants to know why she's so jumpy, so apologetic when she makes a mistake."
Colt + Dylinn: Pretending Normal (by Kennie Lock)
On Kindle Unlimited! #yaromancebooks
Kennie

Kennie

11 likes

A top-down view of two people's feet on a dark, textured floor. One person wears dark boots and jeans, the other wears light jeans and light brown boots. Overlay text describes a scene where a guy brings food to a girl at work.
A top-down view of two people's feet on a dark, textured floor, one in dark boots and jeans, the other in light jeans and light brown boots. Overlay text describes the girl's reaction to the food and her self-consciousness about her hands.
A top-down view of two people's feet on a dark, textured floor, one in dark boots and jeans, the other in light jeans and light brown boots. Overlay text details the girl eating pancakes and a conversation with the guy.
awww so cute! (Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock)
💗 on KU 👢escaping abuse 🥞found family #booktok
kennieLock

kennieLock

13 likes

Stop pretending body care is shallow 💅🔥
Hot take: body care is part of the workout look 💅 Not because you need to be perfect, but because effort shows everywhere. You cannot obsess over glute growth and then act like smooth skin, clean fits, and post-sweat skincare do not matter 🍑 The whole look is the whole look. This is why I a
Four

Four

0 likes

Saving money got easier when I stopped pretending
For the longest time, I thought budgeting had to look perfect to actually work. I would restart over and over again because I felt behind, overwhelmed, or like I wasn’t “doing enough.” But honestly? Saving started getting easier when I stopped trying to make everything look perfect. I stopped
FortierFamilyBudgets, LLC

FortierFamilyBudgets, LLC

6 likes

ME IGNORING EVERYONE & PRETENDING IT’S AUTUMN 🍁
soaking up the summer days but also can’t wait for the chilly fall weather and cozy fall days!! 🤎🍂 45 days till fall 🍁 im so ready! # #fallweather #autumnal #cozyweather #fallisintheair #falliscoming🍂🍁 #autumnvibes #darkcottagecore #fallmood #falltime #cozyathome
Larissa De Souza

Larissa De Souza

593 likes

attention is currency, stop pretending 👀💸
attention is currency now 👀 and people hate admitting appearance affects how much of it you get. 💸 a polished routine can change how people read you ✨ not because you are better, but because society is shallow in very organized ways. that is not fair 😬 but fairness does not erase reality
Limersnce

Limersnce

0 likes

A silhouette of a person, likely a girl, stands against a window with blinds, conveying a sense of hidden struggle. Overlaid text reads: "she's the girl who says 'it's okay.' And it's not. It's awful. Her mind is exploding, her body is bruised."
Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock (Free on KU!)
#booktok #yaromancebooks
kennieLock

kennieLock

10 likes

I think it’s time I stop pretending I’m only one thing. 🖤
Plot twist: I don’t actually have a personality. I have approximately 17 personalities. Some days I’m filming body contouring courses. Some days I’m lifting weights. Some days I’m reorganizing my business for six hours because one font looked weird or out of place. Some days I’m w
Christina | Entrepreneur 🩷

Christina | Entrepreneur 🩷

2 likes

pretending normal released on KU yesterday! 🤩
Pretending Normal, Kennie Lock #bookrecs #newbook #newbookreleases #yaromance
kennieLock

kennieLock

47 likes

A mirror selfie showing a person's arm and hand holding a smartphone, wearing a white t-shirt and a silver digital watch. The image is accompanied by text describing a male character as a softie who trains the female lead at her new job, relating to the YA romance novel 'Pretending Normal'.
ya romance: Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock
#romancebooks #yabook
kennieLock

kennieLock

8 likes

me pretending I belong in the Mandalorian universe
Watching The Mandalorian for the first time and now I understand the obsession 😭✨ #TheMandalorian #StarWars #Grogu #DisneyPlus #FYP #ThisIsTheWay
@arkansasdiaries

@arkansasdiaries

12 likes

Pretending to be heartless gets you more attention
Pretending to be heartless gets you more attention than showing love. . #fypage #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #relatable
amaa.rei

amaa.rei

116 likes

STOP PRETENDING
You can only pretend for so long. The fresh start you've been looking for is here. Comment HOW to see what's possible. #POV #Burnout #FreshStart #SideHustle #Onlinelncome burnout solutions, side hustle for beginners, online income ideas, passive income from home, residual incom
Aligned Income With Amy 🩵🩷

Aligned Income With Amy 🩵🩷

3 likes

4 signs that a man is pretending to love you…
#love #Fypシ #usa #loveyou #usa
scudericallam

scudericallam

93 likes

4 signs that a man is pretending to love you…
#love #Fypシ #usa #loveyou
scudericallam

scudericallam

48 likes

Me pretending I’m on vacation
#foryoupage #coloring
PagesofColor

PagesofColor

3 likes

Pretending not to like it.
Thought I was getting treats… instead I got stuffed in a backpack like emotional support luggage. #dogsoflemon8 #fyp #funnyanimals #cutedogs #dogpov
Zeppydoo and Axlotl

Zeppydoo and Axlotl

15 likes

Two pairs of feet, one in dark boots and jeans, the other in light brown boots and blue jeans, stand on a dark ground. The text overlay reads 'he's cute but I'm scared'.
Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock
#booktok #kindleunlimitedrecommendations
kennieLock

kennieLock

14 likes

God restores men who stop pretending they’re fine.
God can’t heal what a man keeps hiding. Strength isn’t pretending nothing hurts — it’s having the courage to admit when it does. The moment a man stops wearing the mask, stops numbing the pain, and stops telling himself he’s fine… God steps in with restoration. Brokenness doesn’t disqual
Bible.Ai98

Bible.Ai98

19 likes

Pretending Normal by Kennie Lock: new Romance!
#booktok #romancebookrecommendations #cleanromance
Kennie

Kennie

34 likes

I mastered pretending
unes

unes

6 likes

When I stopped showing up, they stop pretending.
#trustyourself #chooseyourself #growthmindsetquotes #narcissist
Tami💕👑

Tami💕👑

0 likes

Stop pretending 😩
Victor Maraga Maboi

Victor Maraga Maboi

59 likes

I'm tired of pretending everything is normal
Speak up, stay aware, defend democracy. #wakeup #defender #democracy #truth #speakup #cleaning #cleanwithme
davialaverne

davialaverne

567 likes

soft life is expensive, stop pretending 💅💸
soft life content is cute 💅 but let's be serious — softness has a price tag. a calm morning costs time. better food costs money. gym clothes cost money. skincare costs money. even rest costs privilege. 💸 that does not mean the habits are fake 👀 it means we should stop acting like everyon
See you

See you

0 likes

See more