Journaling as Therapy - Leigh's Path from Pain to Peace

In this powerful episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, we explore the healing power of journaling with our incredible guest, Leigh Shulman — writer, mentor, and founder of The Inspired Writer Community. Leigh shares her deeply personal journey through mental health challenges and how putting pen to paper became her anchor through grief, uncertainty, and transformation. Whether you're new to journaling or a seasoned writer, this episode offers raw truth, helpful techniques, and inspiration for healing through words.

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"Writing is not about being perfect—it's about being present with your truth." – Leigh Shulman

 

Mental Health Keywords for SEO:
Journaling therapy, writing as healing, expressive writing, mental health podcast, therapeutic journaling, impostor syndrome, perfectionism, trauma recovery, writing for wellness, self-reflection, women’s mental health, emotional processing, self-care habits, storytelling therapy, mindfulness writing

 

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Meet Our Guest: Leigh Shulman

Leigh Shulman is a writer, international speaker, and mentor who’s helped thousands of aspiring authors take control of their stories. With over 20 years of experience, she created The Inspired Writer Community and wrote the bestselling book The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way to Your Ideal Writing Life. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Longreads, Guernica, and other notable publications. Leigh lives in Argentina with her family, and proudly does not like dulce de leche.

• Website: https://leighshulman.com
• X/Twitter: http://twitter.com/theleighshulman
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/theleighshulman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighshulman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighshulman/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/theleighshulman.bsky.social

 

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Key Takeaways

1. Writing is Therapy – Journaling can be as healing as talk therapy. It’s a safe space to express, reflect, and release.
2. Small Moments Matter – Often, it’s not the significant events but the quiet realizations that lead to growth.
3. There Are No Rules – Your journal doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.

 

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Actionable Items

1. Start journaling with no rules—write for 10 minutes without editing or overthinking.
2. Create a digital or photo “joy album” to capture what makes you happy daily visually.
3. If you're stuck, voice-record your thoughts and use transcription tools to reflect later.

 

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Chapters & Timestamps

• [00:01:39] Leigh’s mental health journey through storytelling and writing
• [00:03:36] The tomato moment — how small shifts in perspective lead to big change
• [00:06:43] Why gratitude journaling and capturing joy visually heals
• [00:10:37] Writing without rules — and why you don’t need to reread it
• [00:24:34] Facing imposter syndrome and perfectionism as a writer
• [00:33:28] Why sharing your story is a revolutionary act
• [00:41:23] Leigh’s self-care routine for mental wellness
• [00:46:32] Lightning round: Anxiety's theme song, self-love rituals, and advice for her younger self

 

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References

• The Writer’s Roadmap by Leigh Shulman
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
• Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages”
• TED Talk