Surrounded by the lush greenery of Concordia’s Greenhouse, students gathered on Jan. 16 for a cozy journaling workshop led by Ridge Shukrun from the Multi-Faith and Spirituality Centre and Yael Tobón, a peer wellness ambassador with CU Wellness.
The warm and inviting space provided the perfect atmosphere for reflection and introspection to the diverse group of 7 participants, including undergraduates, master’s students, and even an alum.
The workshop’s focus on goal-setting and reflection naturally aligned with the start of the new year. While ambitious resolutions often lose momentum, simple and accessible habits like journaling offer a more sustainable way to support personal wellness. According to the New York Times, journaling allows individuals to explore their thoughts, set intentions and reflect on personal growth, making it an ideal practice for those seeing mindfulness and balance at the start of the year.
Shukrun and Tobón started the session with introductions, encouraging attendees to share their relationship with journaling. Responses ranged from complete beginners eager to learn the craft to seasoned writers like Tobón.
“Journaling lets me write for myself without the pressure of performative expectations,” Tobón said.
For Ghazal Ghalamghash, a master’s student newly arrived in Canada, the workshop was an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and overcome her hesitation about journaling.
“I’ve bought a lot of journals but have never written in them. I guess you could say I was intimidated,” she admitted. “Hearing others share similar feelings made me feel more seen, confident, and motivated.”
The workshop centered on breaking down the perceived barriers to journaling, with Shukrun assuring the group that “there’s no one way to journal — no rules, no time limits. It’s personal, and that’s what makes it special.”
The session’s structure reflected this philosophy, offering three simple yet impactful prompts. Participants began by listing their goals and aspirations for the year, followed by an exploration of the motivations behind those goals. To close, they reflected on three things they were grateful for and why, an exercise that felt both grounding and uplifting.
For half an hour, the group quietly wrote, immersed in their thoughts as pens moved across the pages. Afterward, Shukrun and Tobón encouraged participants to share their experiences — not necessarily their writing, but how the process felt. Many participants described feelings connected to their emotions.
When discussing how to make journaling a regular habit, Shukrun and Tobón suggested different approaches. Tobón shared that they prefer to journal when emotions are overflowing, allowing their thoughts to naturally spill onto the page. In contrast, Shukrun is learning to “befriend the practice” by setting aside dedicated time in the morning to write.
Their contrasting methods echoed a shared message: journaling is deeply personal, and it’s all about finding what feels right for you. This perspective reassured attendees that there’s no perfect formula, just what works best for each individual.
The workshop wrapped up with participants expressing gratitude for the warm and supportive environment. The Greenhouse’s peaceful setting, paired with thoughtful prompts, created the perfect atmosphere for a fresh start to the new year.
Attendees left feeling more confident, inspired to embrace journaling as a wellness practice, and with a new notebook in hand, ready to turn blank pages into meaningful reflections.
“Now that I’ve started writing in this journal, I would like to continue. Maybe I’ll come back to journal some more in the upcoming workshops,” said Ghalamghash.
For those who missed this session, two more journaling workshops will be held on Jan. 23 and Jan. 30, each focusing on different techniques to help attendees explore and embrace the practice.
