--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were times, in the beginning, when…" description: "\"“There were times, in the beginning, when I used my journal as a wailing wall, but I learned not to immortalize the darkness. Rereading it was counterp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/phyllis-theroux-34343_darkness_there-were-times-in-the-beginning-when-i_37172.jpg" --- # There were times, in the beginning, when I used my journal… ![“There were times, in the beginning, when I used my journal as a wailing wall, but I learned not to immortalize the darkness. Rereading it was counterproductive. What I needed was a place in which to collect the light.” quote by Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/phyllis-theroux-34343_darkness_there-were-times-in-the-beginning-when-i_37172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/phyllis-theroux-34343_darkness_there-were-times-in-the-beginning-when-i_37172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/phyllis-theroux-34343_darkness_there-were-times-in-the-beginning-when-i_37172.jpg) > ““There were times, in the beginning, when I used my journal as a wailing wall, but I learned not to immortalize the darkness. Rereading it was counterproductive. What I needed was a place in which to collect the light.”” [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author realized that repeatedly revisiting painful memories can reinforce negativity; instead, she shifted to documenting positive experiences to foster growth. **In simple terms:** Avoid dwelling on past darkness; focus on collecting light. Key Takeaway Shift journaling from lament to gratitude. Themes self‑care mindfulness personal growth resilience emotional intelligence Mood hopeful reflective empowering Type advice personal insight motivational When to use this quote - recovering from trauma - daily reflection - creative writing - therapy sessions - goal setting Key Concepts journaling memory processing positive psychology Practical Applications - mental‑health journaling - coaching programs Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on positive moments change your mood? - What habits can replace rumination with gratitude? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Darkness Rereading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness-rereading-444774/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Immortalize Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortalize-darkness-444775/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Journal Wailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal-wailing-444776/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Rereading Counterproductive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rereading-counterproductive-444777/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wall Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-learned-444778/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/the-reason-we-have-not-gone-to-newspapers-is-because-its-a-slow/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [I never thought I'd be on the cover of the 'Atlanta Journal' unless I killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-cover-of-the-atlanta-journal-unless-i/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) > [With the broad and powerful swing of the hand which Zola in The Earth gave to his ploughman, L'Auto, journal of ideas and action,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-desgrange/with-the-broad-and-powerful-swing-of-the-hand-which-zola-in-the-earth/) [Henri Desgrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-desgrange/) ## More by Phyllis Theroux > [“I can feel my heart growing daily, which has its uncomfortable aspects, as if it could fall with the weight of love and break.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-theroux/i-can-feel-my-heart-growing-daily-which-has-its-uncomfortable-aspects/) [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) > [“His eyes were sharp but kind, and it seemed to amuse him to see children misbehave when he knew that deep down they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-theroux/his-eyes-were-sharp-but-kind-and-it-seemed-to-amuse-him-to-see/) [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) > [“Children are born with imaginations in mint condition, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. 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(3)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-theroux/every-house-has-its-own-private-cup-of-sorrow-3/) [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) > [“We were all so young that there were no lines on our faces to read between.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-theroux/we-were-all-so-young-that-there-were-no-lines-on-our-faces-to-read/) [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) > [“Writing is a deeply spiritual act that can have a profound effect upon the practitioner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-theroux/writing-is-a-deeply-spiritual-act-that-can-have-a-profound-effect/) [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) > [“During this week, Ragan has experience a bit of insecurity with me, the result of my being quieter than usual, which he interprets as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-theroux/during-this-week-ragan-has-experience-a-bit-of-insecurity-with-me-the/) [Phyllis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-theroux/) > [“Falling silent should be cultivated, the way the woods fall silent in the snow. 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Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) [Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/) [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There were times, in the beginning, when I used my journal as a wailing wall, but I learned not to immortalize the darkness. Rereading it was counterproductive. 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