Amidst the noise of internet aesthetics and fleeting micro-trends, one practice stands out for its ability to authentically transform our well-being. Spoiler alert: you’re going to want to grab a pen for this. That’s right, journaling has well and truly entered the chat.
While its popularity has surged in recent years, journaling isn’t merely about aesthetics – it’s a transformative tool proven to nurture mental health and foster personal growth. Sure, your journal flat lay looks great on the ‘gram, but the essence of journaling lies in its capacity to cultivate mindfulness and enhance mental well-being.
Don’t believe us? Just ask Dubai-based model and creator, Rhea Jacob who is the creator behind the Rhé of Light journal.
As a twenty-something trying to keep up with the pace of life, Rhea found herself lost in hustle and comparison. “I think the drive superseded the intention for me,” she recalled. So when COVID’s enforced slow-down forced Rhea, like many of us, to look deep into ourselves, something clicked that would change the trajectory of her life forever.
Now, Rhea Jacob finally knows who she is. Through journaling, she unearthed stored traumas and found emotional release in a way she didn’t believe was possible and as a result she launched her own wellness brand Rhé with her first product, the Rhé of Light journal.
In an exclusive interview with Cosmopolitan Middle East, Rhea Jacob helps us break down the barriers of journaling, sharing how to reap the benefits, and everything in between.
What are the benefits of journaling?
From setting goals for your future to recognising your privileges and what you’re grateful for, the art of unearthing what goes on in your mind is the key to well-being. For Rhea, the benefits fell far deeper than mental clarity, too.
Healing
“Everyone needs to heal”, says Rhea. “When we face inconveniences, it’s easy to just doomscroll, or call our friends to go out all night, or order in food or watch TV to satiate the feelings inside. It’s a distraction. We’re so used to brushing everything under the carpet”.
The transformative power of writing down your feelings “really helps you to be aware of a lot of things that you store”. It was indeed the turning point for Rhea, who was prompted to write about “What does your inner child need to hear to heal itself better?”. This quote later became the catalyst for creating Rhé Of Light the journal. “It’s such a simple question”, says Rhea, “but every insecurity we may have stems from certain experiences we had in our childhood. I started bawling and crying while writing this. I had stored trauma in my mind and I didn’t even realise, because life happened. That was when I realised that this works. I felt lighter”.
Journaling is also key to healing your inner child, “We’re conditioned to grow up and lose our inner child. But journaling is all about tapping back into yourself. You need to always hold on to that. And that’s what healing is”.
Emotionally intelligence
Rhea’s favourite quote, and the mantra behind Rhé of Light, is “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. Journaling has the power to help you grow mentally, become more balanced and show yourself love. “I grew up as a very insecure kid who didn’t like the way she looked”, says Rhea. “I’m brown…we’ve heard this story before. I was not really thinking very highly of myself. But now, I think journaling helped me to be kind to myself”.
In the same vein, getting to know yourself through journaling means you become more emotionally intelligent, which for Rhea is the key to success. “You see all the most successful ladies in the world, they are so confident about who they are. They don’t care if someone is more beautiful, more successful…they just say ‘That’s her path, not mine’. Why? Because of emotional intelligence. They believe in themselves, and that only happens when you work on yourself”.
How to start your journaling journey
So, how do you start?
“The first thing that people find incredibly hard with journaling is sticking to the habit”, says Rhea. “Create an environment where you start your day doing what you like. It helps you to build good habits. For me, I love matcha. So I get excited to wake up and make my matcha first thing in the morning. Then I take it to the garden and burn my favourite candle. So I create an environment where I’m already happy, and then I journal. Don’t pressure yourself, especially when you start. Take it slow. It takes time to build a habit”
Breaking barriers
Perhaps most people would agree that journaling can be intimidating. Getting vulnerable with yourself on paper is unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable. But that, it seems, is just part of the wider process.
“One of the hardest things to realise is that you lack in certain areas of your life. There’s ego that comes into play. But nobody has full mental strength. You’re allowed to be weak and vulnerable. Therapy is now widely accepted, but in a lot of cultures, it’s still taboo. You still find a lot of fear. But this is just you and a page. The page is not going to judge you. It’s just you letting it out”.
This message is baked into the essence of the Rhé Of Light journal. “There is no Rhé girl. The Rhé girl is everyone. There is no benchmark. If I ask you how you are doing – this is not an interview. This is just you”.
For Rhea, starting your journaling journey is as simple as just starting. “You might even just write one word, or write ‘I am ok’ or ‘I will be ok’, and that’s enough”, she says. “Everyone has different levels of emotional intelligence and emotional acceptance. The more you journal, the more you become aware of your emotionality and where you stand”.
The Rhé of Light Journal is available for Dhs98 at Rhé.ae.