Meet Jessica Boarman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Boarman.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve experienced several big losses in my life, but none have impacted me like the loss of my baby brother, who died by suicide. As a seemingly well-adjusted Senior in high school – one who was athletic, kind, and a model student with a good work ethic, his sudden and tragic passing was a shock among his family and small community.

In addition to the loss of my brother, I lost my mom and dad within less than a year of each to cancer before my 35th birthday. Struck again with grief, I was just going through the motions until I hit a breaking point and decided I must feel the feelings I’d been suppressing. Feeling lost with nowhere to turn, I recalled a time in my earlier years when I would work out my feelings on paper with nothing but a Paper Mate blue pen and a black and white speckled composition notebook. I’d turned to writing after the loss of my brother and knew I must turn to writing again to find a new normal in life.

After reconnecting with my journaling habit, I expanded my writing by starting a blog titled “The Journals.” The Journals blog quickly became a place for others to turn to when they were struggling with what life was throwing their way and it gave me a way to connect with them. I was often asked how to deal with grief and most times when journaling was mentioned as a tool, it immediately instilled panic. I knew I had to find a way to make journaling less intimidating and find ways to meet people where they were on their journey.

I then decided to connect with my journals community on social media platforms to offer them tips and creative ways to begin journaling – this was the start of The Journals by Jess! I wanted to take things a step further and create analog journaling tools to give the newbies a place to start putting pen to paper when they were stuck or didn’t feel inspired.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life has definitely dealt me a hand I wasn’t prepared for but my naturally resilient nature allowed me to find ways to make lemonade out of lemons.

I am here for one reason: to help others navigate the ups and downs of life. Through the encouragement of journaling as a tool, I am able to help others discover a very accessible emotional outlet.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Being known for creating analog journaling tools and inspiring others to write is a fulfilling and rewarding experience. As a creator, you have the opportunity to bring joy and creativity into people’s lives through the tools and resources you develop.

Seeing others use your tools to record their thoughts, feelings, and ideas can be really exciting, knowing you have played a small part in encouraging them to explore their inner selves. Inspiring others to write is an act of service that promotes mental health and self-awareness, helping others to develop a stronger sense of self and to better understand their emotions and experiences.

The first analog journaling tool I developed was “The Growth Deck”, which is a 52-card deck of journal prompts. The Growth Deck has a quote on each card for you to reflect on with a corresponding series of questions or prompts. This deck is written from a growth mindset and focuses on self-reflection and aims to help you uncover hidden personal dreams or a goal you have.

Since launching The Growth Deck, I’ve created two more decks with a similar format but different theme; The Bloom Deck and The Confidence Deck.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
Although taking risks can lead to great rewards and opportunities, I am very calculated and thoughtful when faced with uncertain endeavors.

I like to weigh the potential benefits against the potential consequences, rather than impulsively diving into unknown territory. Research, careful planning, and a realistic assessment of your capabilities are what I believe to be the best approach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessicaboarman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejournals_byjess/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejournalsbyjess/ 

Image Credits
Olive & Fig Productions