PERMISSION TO BE MESSY
Do you have one?
That beautiful, pristine notebook you bought months ago. It sits on your shelf. Its blank pages stare at you. It waits for something… perfect.
I do actually I have a couple it is absolutely annoying.
We see the beautiful, artistic “journal spreads” on social media. We see perfect handwriting. We see washi tape. We see color-coded goals.
We feel that our own thoughts aren’t “good enough” for such a lovely page. Our thoughts are messy. They are tangled. They are chaotic. Sometimes they are even angry.
We are afraid of scribbles. We fear cross-outs. We worry about smeared ink. We are terrified of “messing it up.”
Can I tell you a secret?
That fear of imperfection is the single biggest barrier to the peace your journal can offer.
Sanctuary vs. Art Project
A journal is not an art project. Unless you want it to be.
It is not a performance. It is a sanctuary.
Sanctuaries are not built for our perfection. They are built to hold our honest, human hearts.
God is not waiting for your perfect, poetic prayers. He is waiting for YOU.
He is waiting for the raw version of you. He wants the “I don’t know what to do” moments. He wants the “I’m so tired” complaints.
A scribble is a prayer. A tear-stained page is a prayer. A page with a single, angry word is a prayer.
Your journal is a space for honesty. It is not a space for performance. Giving yourself permission to be messy is the first step toward finding freedom on the page.
yOUR pROMPTS
Prompts for the Imperfect Journaler
If you are stuck staring at a blank page, use these prompts to break the ice.
- Name the Fear: “What am I afraid of ‘getting wrong’ in this journal? Is it my messy handwriting? Is it having ‘wrong’ thoughts? Is it not being deep enough?”
- The Honest Thought: “What is the one thought or feeling I’ve been ‘polishing’ or hiding? I give myself permission to write it here. I will write it in its messiest, truest form.”
- A Scribble of Freedom: “In this moment, what I really feel is…” (Try writing this with your non-dominant hand. Or just write it and then scribble all over it as an act of release.)
- A New Definition: “This journal is not a performance. This journal is a…” (Finish the sentence. Is it a tool? A friend? A safe space? A holding container?)
yOUR ACTION POINT
Your Action Point: A “Permission Slip”
It is time to conquer the blank page.
- Turn to the very first page of that “perfect” notebook you’ve been saving.
- Take your favourite pen.
- Write this right in the middle:“This is a space for my honest, imperfect heart. There is no right or wrong way to be here. All of me is welcome.”
I’ve done it. I know you can too. It took a lot of guts. But it is done.
That’s it. You’ve broken the seal. You’ve given yourself permission.
Now your journal is truly, finally ready for you.
With care, Debbera
