Science of expressive writing

What if one simple practice could help you process your emotions, hear God more clearly, and find peace in the middle of overwhelm?
In this episode of No Matter What, Hanna Seymour sits down with Lucas LeFevre, creator of Holy Work Journaling, to talk about the spiritual and scientific power of journaling. Lucas shares the deeply personal story of how journaling helped save his marriage, confront hidden struggles, and begin a life-changing journey toward healing and clarity.
If you’ve ever felt emotionally numb, mentally overwhelmed, spiritually stuck, or just unsure where to start with journaling, this conversation is for you. Even if you hate journaling (Hanna does too), this episode offers practical, grace-filled ways to begin.
You’ll hear:
-Why journaling can bring clarity when life feels confusing
-The connection between journaling, emotional healing, and spiritual growth
-How writing helps expose lies and identify what’s true
-Why journaling can support therapy, prayer, and discernment
-A simple way to start journaling in just 2 minutes a day
If you’ve been longing for more peace, purpose, and intentionality in your everyday life, this episode will give you a practical place to begin.
CHAPTERS
03:05 Lucas’s powerful story of discontentment and hidden struggle
07:49 The moment everything changed on a run
10:14 The letter that began healing his marriage
12:10 How journaling became a daily spiritual practice
15:25 Why external success doesn’t fix internal discontentment
16:30 Is journaling different from prayer?
18:52 Why we’re scared to write down what we’re really thinking
19:37 The science behind expressive writing
22:24 How journaling helps your brain make meaning
24:05 Journaling as both a spiritual and scientific practice
25:31 Your brain doesn’t sort beliefs into true and false
27:21 Lucas’s practical journaling rhythm
34:37 Why journaling can accelerate growth and healing
37:03 Why Lucas calls it “holy work”
41:39 A testimony of real life transformation through journaling
49:23 Can 2 minutes of journaling still help?
52:00 What to write when you don’t know where to start
54:31 How self-awareness deepens spiritual growth
56:57 Who this practice is really for
📚 Connect with Lucas
🌐 Join Holy Work with Lucas LeFevre: https://Holywork.com
📸 Instagram: @LukeLeFevre
📖 Opening up by Writing it Down by Dr. James W. Pennebaker: https://a.co/d/093ERVPY
💬 Connect with Hanna
🌐 https://hannaseymour.com/
📸 Instagram: @hannaeseymour
Leave a review for Everyday Spiritual Habits on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=154600937X
Get your copy of Everyday Spiritual Habits:
https://everydayspiritualhabits.com/
🎧 Listen to No Matter What wherever you get your podcasts
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