🎙️ Podcast Episode: Journaling to Get to Know Yourself
Hey there, and welcome back to Running to Myself.
I’m Trisha Stanton—and today, we’re talking about something that’s become a cornerstone in my own emotional and mental wellness: Journaling—not just as a productivity tool, but as a way of truly getting to know yourself.
This isn’t about fancy notebooks or perfect handwriting.
It’s about discovering what’s happening beneath the surface—and learning how to lead your thoughts, instead of letting them lead you.
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In Episode 27, I talked about journaling as a way to intentionally direct your thinking.
It’s something I still do daily.
Because here’s the truth:
The ability to direct your thoughts with purpose can be the difference between staying stuck in a problem and seeing a path through it.
For me, journaling is one of the most powerful tools I’ve found to keep my mind clear, focused, and well-managed.
But today, I want to talk about another side of journaling—one that’s been just as transformative:
Journaling to discover your thoughts.
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Did you know that the National Science Foundation estimates the average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day?
Even if you're on the low end of that range, there’s no way you’re aware of all of them.
Which means...
there are thoughts impacting how you feel, how you show up, and how you relate to others—without you even realizing it.
That’s where Thought Downloads come in.
A thought download is simply the practice of writing out everything that’s on your mind—uncensored, unfiltered, and without judgment.
Some people do it for a set time, like 20 minutes.
Others aim for a certain number of pages.
Personally, I write until I run out of thoughts—or out of time.
And what I’ve found is this:
The surface thoughts—the easy ones—often lead me to the ones hiding underneath.
And that’s where the magic happens.
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Each sentence you write can peel back a layer of thought you didn’t even know you had.
You get to see yourself—not how others see you, not how you think you “should” be—but how you really are in that moment.
When I feel stuck, I use prompts like:
* Why?
* What else?
* What does that mean?
And I’ve had to develop the discipline to not censor myself in the process.
For years, I’d stuff down emotions or deny what I was really thinking.
Journaling helped me break that habit—because you can’t release what you refuse to acknowledge.
It doesn’t mean every thought you write is true.
It means you’re brave enough to face it, name it, and let it go.
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Writers say, “You have to write the bad stuff to get to the good stuff.”
And I’ve found that to be true in journaling, too.
I’ve started entries thinking, “I don’t have anything to say,”
only to fill four pages and uncover a thought that had been weighing me down.
And once it’s on the page, it’s like my brain can finally rest.
The problem has a home. It’s not bouncing around in my mind anymore.
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Here’s what I’ve noticed, consistently:
When I finish a thought download—especially when I’ve written through something hard—I feel lighter.
More energized.
More hopeful.
More clear.
Sometimes I uncover dreams I didn’t even know I had.
Other times I process pain that had been silently eating at me.
But no matter what, I always feel better after doing one. Always.
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You don’t need anything fancy.
Just a notebook, a pen, and a few quiet minutes.
Don’t worry about grammar or structure.
Don’t worry about what it sounds like.
And no—you never have to read it again.
You don’t need to turn it into anything.
The gift is in the writing.
Years later, when I’ve stumbled across an old thought download, I’m often amazed at what I was carrying—and how I’ve grown since then.
Or I’ll read something that planted a seed for what has now become an important part of my life.
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There’s a saying I love:
“You get to know the world through reading. You get to know yourself through writing.”
I’ve found it to be true.
If you’re feeling stuck, unclear, or overwhelmed—try a thought download.
Let your thoughts out of your head and onto the page.
Give your brain a break.
Give your heart some space.
And get to know yourself, one sentence at a time.
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Thanks for spending this time with me today.
If this episode sparked something for you—or if you want to learn how journaling and mindset work can support the next season of your life—I’d love to talk with you.
You can book a free coaching consult with me right here:
👉 trishastanton.com/signup
And if you’re enjoying the Running to Myself podcast, would you do me a favor?
Leave a review on Apple or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this space—and reminds them they’re not alone.
Until next time,
Keep showing up for your thoughts.
Keep showing up for yourself.
đź’™ Mindset matters.
