Ep. 391 - Why Journaling Actually Works: Ritual, Healing, and Clarity with Tara Schuster
<p>Are you overthinking…or under-processing? What if reflection was the missing piece to becoming (and receiving) everything you’ve ever wanted?</p><p>Today, Tara Schuster returns to the Expanded Podcast to explore one of the most impactful healing modalities there is: journaling. Her latest book, This Journal F*cking Works, offers a science-backed and historical look at why journaling is so powerful, woven together with humor and Tara’s own journey of rewriting internal narratives to break free from toxic, repetitive thought loops. It’s an invitation to start “DMing with your soul” and to open up neural pathways of self-understanding, emotional processing, and healing.</p><p>Jessica and Tara unpack why ritual matters. Not everything is about maximizing habits, productivity, or “doing it right.” Real transformation often comes from giving your brain space to process lived experience: to be honest, imperfect, and fully human. With this outlook, journaling becomes a bridge between science and intuition, seamlessly supporting your own TBM and personal growth practice.</p><p>This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck in mental loops, wants a grounded and research-backed way to connect more deeply with intuition, and yearns to understand who they are at their core.</p><p>**Trigger warning: Discussion of self-harm and abusive family dynamics at 00:07:10 through 00:09:28**</p><p>Find the complete show notes here -> https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast</p><p> </p><p>Resources: </p><p><a href="https://tobemagnetic.com/the-return-to-magic?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">Return to Magic - 15 Day Manifestation Challenge</a></p><p>A 15-day guided journey to reparent your inner child, reconnect with your magic, and step into this new year as your most confident, regulated, and magnetic self yet. Join our membership to access! (It’s not too late to join in. Start any time!)</p><p> </p><p>The Pathway Membership gives you unlimited access to all of our manifestation workshops—including How to Manifest, Unblocking Your Inner Child, Shadow, Love, Money, Rock Bottoms, Ruts, and Energetic Updates —plus 70+ self-hypnosis tracks designed to unlock your full potential.</p><p><a href="https://tobemagnetic.com/the-pathway-membership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">LEARN MORE HERE</a></p><p> </p><p>Get the latest from TBM</p><ul><li><a href="https://tobemagnetic.com/the-pathway-membership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">Join the Pathway now </a>- Return to Magic Challenge available now!</li></ul><p> </p><p>New to TBM? Free Offerings to Get You Started</p><ul><li>Learn the Process! <a href="https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast/2021/227?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">Expanded Podcast - How to Manifest Anything You Desire </a></li><li>Get Expanded! <a href="https://tobemagnetic.com/motivation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">The Motivation - Testimonial Library</a></li><li>Ready to find out what’s holding you back? <a href="https://login.tobemagnetic.com/offers/Q62CPzHA/checkout?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">Try our Free Clarity Exercise</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>Be an EXPANDER! Share Your Manifestation Story</p><ul><li><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTksp0yB91v1Yauz5fdQmp4NwFgPccVNdjUvlT_ENuwGDpIQ/viewform?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">Submit to Be a Process Guest</a></li><li>What did you manifest during the Money Challenge? <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/TheExpandedPodcast?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=EP391">Share a voice note of your question, block, or Process to be featured in an episode!</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>This Episode Is Brought to You By: </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.masachips.com/">MASA Chips </a>- Get 25% off your first order with code MAGNETIC<ul><li><a href="https://www.masachips.com/products/masa-chips?variant=43472068149318&selling_plan=2171076678">MASA Original</a></li><li><a href="https://www.masachips.com/products/masa-lime?variant=43472067461190&selling_plan=2171076678">MASA Lime</a></li><li><a href="https://www.masachips.com/products/churro?variant=43472060809286&selling_plan=2171076678">MASA Churro</a></li></ul></li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>In this episode we talk about:</strong></p><ul><li>Tara’s personal journey and initial skepticism with the effectiveness of journaling</li><li>Why “thinking harder” doesn’t always lead to clarity, and how writing helps the mind complete emotional cycles</li><li>The difference between habits that automate and rituals that animate</li><li>How rituals create meaning, presence, and emotional range</li><li>Why writing by hand deepens comprehension and self-awareness</li><li>The power of naming emotions without storytelling and how journaling builds self-trust over time</li><l
