---
title: Journal Exercise for the Holidays 
description: Internationally acclaimed recovery site focused on eating disorders, moving from fragility to power, developing confidence at work and in relationships, and narcissistic abuse recovery. Created by Joanna Poppink, MFT
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[![lunapic journal 135537444653538 10](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/images/lunapic_journal_135537444653538_10.jpg)](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/images/lunapic_journal_135537444653538_10.jpg)

December is a month of holidays, rituals, school breaks with family anniversaries and birthdays often thrown in the mix just to make everything more hectic and fun or stressful, depending on your state of mind. If you feel pressure to perform according to exacting expectations coming from your own self talk or from other people, try this journal exercise.

I experimented with a draw on line program to give you the feel of what I'm saying here.

Your journal is yours.

1. Drop all expectations of doing it right.
2. Drop all concerns about doing it wrong.
3. Write in big letters across one whole page: This journal is mine!
4. Write your freedom song!
5. I can write upsidedown, and write that upsidedown.
6. I can misspell words and mizpl thm.
7. Leave out punctuation
8. Don't cross your t's or dot your eyes.
9. Write with different colors
10. Glue or tape pictures to your journal
11. Draw pictures or make designs on your pages
12. Say what you think
13. Dare to vent, dream, wish, challenge, create or destroy
14. Write letters and pictures that are sounds - not words
15. Get rid of margins
 
Make it your place to practice letting go of expectations, rules, and demands from yourself and others. Give yourself some breathing room and stretch out.

You'll refresh yourself and discover some daring you didn't know you had and might need now. Let me know what happens!

---

**Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.**

---

***Written by Joanna Poppink, MFT.** Joanna is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in eating disorder recovery, stress, PTSD, and adult development.*

*She is licensed in CA, AZ, OR and FL. Author of the Book: [Healing Your Hungry Heart: Recovering from Your Eating Disorder](https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Your-Hungry-Heart-Recovering/dp/1573244708/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344473529&sr=1-1&keywords=healing+your+hungry+heart)*

*Appointments are virtual.*

*For a free telephone consultation, e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.*

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