Predictable.
If you could expect a range of reasonably healthy behaviors from your parents, life was somewhat predictable.
Like if you watched your parent get frustrated and they ranged from coaching themself through deep breaths, maybe dropping a few curse words, and then moving on with the day, life was predictable.
Conversely, if you experienced a wide range of behaviors, often touching categories of unhealthy, life was not predictable.
Like if you watched your parent get frustrated and was unsure if you would watch a person become, verbally aggressive, or calm, or throw a dish, or be manipulative, or be ice silent for an unknown amount of time, life was not predictable.
Too much unknown, especially within unhealthy behaviors, lays footprints of insecurity for kids. Kids who struggle with insecurity can become adults who struggle with insecurity.
Journal Prompts:
I could expect…
The range of parent responses were…
As an adult, my relationships have a range of behaviors like…
Journaling is for processing, organizing, reflecting, and more. There are no right ways to journal. There are no wrong ways to journal. Journaling can be done with words, bullet points, pictures, lyrics, drawings, and more. What comes natural to you, is the right way to journal.
Mental Health & Journaling 