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Christine Bergsma
- Apr 26, 2019
- 2 min
Suicide Aftermath
Suicide : the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally. This statement doesn’t make known the mental state of the mind at the time of suicide, but one can carefully assume that despair and irrational thoughts were present. Over the years, the view on suicide has changed a lot in some respects and not at all in others. In a secular society, the phrase death by/due to suicide has replaced the term committed suicide in order to steer away from th
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Christine Bergsma
- Feb 2, 2019
- 4 min
How to overcome the unfairness of death
In Journaling Through Loss and Grief we explore all aspects of the grieving process. Somehow we think that if a person lived a full life, died from natural causes at a very old age, death doesn’t seem so unfair. However if they died from a terminal illness as a child, a soldier in the military or as a victim of an accident or crime, there is a sense of unfairness to their death to those who are left behind. Allow yourself to ponder your own definition of unfairness of death f
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Christine Bergsma
- Nov 6, 2018
- 3 min
5 Steps to Healing with Guided Journaling
You may not be able to change the outcome, but you can still make a difference. Let’s talk about life-altering events: infertility, cancer, loss, grief, divorce or anything else that flips your world upside down. Although we may not be “cured” from these life happenings, we can heal through guided journaling. Along with a guided journal on the specific topic that you are working through, take an empty journal and make a plan to become a holistically healed human with the
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Christine Bergsma
- Oct 27, 2018
- 7 min
PTSD, Journaling & Therapy
When I first started Journaling Through I thought to myself, I have so much academic and in-field experience to create these specially guided journals that I didn’t think much of sharing my own story. The journals can, and still could stand on their own just fine. However after some messages from the universe through people, conferences and businesses I realized that my story is worth sharing. If you asked me in person I wouldn’t think twice about sharing my experiences. So
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Christine Bergsma
- Sep 30, 2018
- 7 min
Practical ways to support parents who have a child diagnosed with cancer
“I believe the children are our are future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be…” Whitney Houston We see our future in children, our own kids, the neighbourhood road-hockey team and in the passing school bus. Children’s cancer is a heart-wrenching topic and one that isn’t much talked about. Perhaps because we feel intensely tha
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Christine Bergsma
- Sep 21, 2018
- 3 min
Passion is Purpose
The 12th Annual Inspiring Women Event held in Kitchener on September 20, 2018 was incredibly successful and we are so thankful to have played a part in uplifting women in the workplace. Here are a few of our favourite takeaways: Energy fuels our passion Christine, owner of Journaling Through spoke about how our energy fuels our passion. Topping up our energy is like filling up the tank in a car, our destination is our purpose and our passion is like a compass that guides us a
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Christine Bergsma
- Sep 5, 2018
- 4 min
Transformation Default
The scientific definition of transformation is (1) The act, state or process of changing, such as in form or structure; the conversion from one form to another. (2) (biology) Any change in an organism that alters its general character and mode of life; post-natal biological transformation or metamorphosis. In this human experience we are ever-learning, healing and transforming. There is a concept that says life will keep bringing us the same lesson until we fully learned it.
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Christine Bergsma
- Aug 7, 2018
- 3 min
Why Gratitude Journaling Doesn't Always Work
I attended a choir camp in high school and one of the leaders mentioned that he could make any statement into a positive. Naturally I challenged him with a few phrases and he would convert the sentence into a subtle but it could be worse response. The reason this strategy, similar to finding something to be grateful for in a difficult situation alone didn’t resonate with me is that the energy of the problem is shifted to something else. If I’m having lunch at work and my appl
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Christine Bergsma
- May 21, 2018
- 6 min
What if you forget what I look like?
A five minute phone call time travels me back to fifteen years ago. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder courtesy of hijacking and murder, is now my lifelong adversary. John said that they found mom in a park. She was going to the airport, but couldn’t remember which one. Thank the Lord she was unharmed. Overcome with anger I clearly spelled out my hate in John’s ear. The war-torn country compelled my husband and I to seek refugee status and secure a future for our family, a hemisp
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Christine Bergsma
- May 20, 2018
- 3 min
The Royal Wedding
While watching the Royal wedding we were all, in a sense reminded of the loss Harry experienced at a very young age. Over the year his grief must have been deepened by cruel speculations, conspiracies and often questioning his bloodline. How can a child live with the uncertainty whether his mother was killed by the same hands that put him to bed? Later in his life, Prince Harry was criticized about his lifestyle and choices, accused of taking after his late mother (a harsh co
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 3 min
The Power to Love Yourself
For the past few months we focused on love and the relationship that we all have with ourselves. I pose the following question: How can we give what we don’t have? Think about this for a moment. If we don’t have love for who we are, how will we attract love from others? Our goal here is not to allow our own happiness to be dependent on others, but rather to surround ourselves with people in a nurturing environment to cultivate our personal growth. In our February journaling c
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 2 min
Remember The Stories
If you could give a message to a past generation what would it be? What story did you want a future generation to tell about you and about your life? Journaling Through doesn’t just help with finding answers in difficult life situations, but it can also serve as a memoir of your own journey. According to an article from CTV, exposure to more personal stories from veterans are increasing the awareness and attendance of Remembrance Day celebrations across Canada. (Click here fo
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 3 min
How to Gain Back Control
With the colder weather and emerging vibrant colours of fall, change is tangible in the autumn winds. However much we would like to hold onto the sun beaming down on our flip-flops and building sandcastles on golden beaches, nature has a timetable of its own. We are on this earth and connected to the weather, whether we embrace it or not. When we are faced with a life-altering event like the death of a loved one, cancer or divorce, change is one of the biggest obstacles that
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 2 min
What is Guided Journaling?
Have you ever started a journal, much like a New Year’s resolution just to get tired and bored by February? Life gets in the way and we tend to find a whole lot of excuses not to continue. The result: feeling like a failure or worse, giving up before we reap the benefits of our resolution. Journaling Through was created as a series of guided self-help journals. Self-help books have dominated the market for decades and are very inspirational. They provide us with stories of ot
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 3 min
Postponing Grief
When a loss happens on a large scale, people tend to group themselves into different roles. A recent example is the massacre in Las Vegas where 58 innocent people were gunned down and 489 were wounded. Soon after the tragic incident videos of heros were posted, people who set aside their own loss and trauma to help others who have been in shock or needed to be escorted. The community lined up overnight to donate blood to treat the victims. Although loss in a family is within
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 2 min
When to Journal Through Loss & Grief
I attended a conference at Bereaved Families of Ontario Midwest Region specifically aimed towards how adults can help children with the grieving process. I met a lot of wonderful people and I also had the opportunity to hear the keynote speakers share their knowledge. The audience consisted of caregivers, parents, academics and volunteers. As we talked about the concept of guided journaling and how it could benefit those who suffered a loss, it was very interesting to note so
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Christine Bergsma
- May 8, 2018
- 3 min
The Lady on the Bus
“Why?” asks Nadine. “Last month it was $18.99 return.” “Don’t you watch television or read newspapers? It’s posted everywhere – bus fares gone up.” Nadine breaks out in coughs. “Sorry” to the next person in line. “It’s not contagious; I’ve taken way too many anti-histamine as it is today – the allergies you know?” People in the line-up recognize a smoker’s cough, but at least the non-contagious part comes as a relief. An impatient traveller calls from the back, "What's the ho
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The world is facing a pandemic and with emotions and uncertainty running high, we bring you a playlist from people all over the world from all walks of life. As we navigate this time in history together, we return to the basics - human connection, authenticity and reintroduction to ourselves. Change is happening really fast and the ebbs and flow of the loss we feel about our previous normal can become overwhelming. Through journaling and other inward practices, we empower ourselves. We've been given a second chance to create the world we want after self-isolation. Join us as we continue to learn, grow and love together - separately in our homes.