“The morning pages will teach you to stop judging and just let yourself be."
Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way
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How will I know if microdosing mushrooms is working?
A 5-Step Guide to Tracking Subtle Shifts
It's one of the most common and important questions for anyone starting a microdosing mushrooms journey:
"How will I actually know if this is working?"
This is an excellent question, and the answer, while deeply personal, is not as elusive as it might seem.
The effects of microdosing are rarely a lightning bolt of sudden change.
Instead, they manifest as subtle, cumulative shifts in:
- perception
- mood and
- behavior
The change is so gradual that, without a dedicated practice of self-reflection, you might miss the beautiful benefits early in your practice.
The key isn't just to wait for a feeling; it's to create a system for observing your own inner world.
This article will guide you through a powerful, time-tested method for tracking your progress, ensuring you can clearly answer that crucial question for yourself.
Step 1: Define Your "Why" - The Power of Intention
Before you can measure progress, you must first define what you're measuring against.
The first and most critical step is to clarify your intention.
Why did you decide to explore microdosing mushrooms in the first place?
Your intention is your North Star.
Believe it or not, it gives the mushrooms a compass.
It provides direction and a benchmark for your journey.
Take some time to sit with this question and write down your answer.
Be as specific as possible.
Are you seeking relief from:
- Persistent feelings of depression or a low-grade lack of joy?
- The constant hum of anxiety that disrupts your focus and peace?
- A creative block that's hindering your work or personal projects?
- Difficulty with focus and a desire for enhanced productivity?
- The lingering effects of past trauma or PTSD?
- A desire to feel more connected to yourself, others, and the natural world?
Perhaps, like many, you have a combination of goals.
For instance, you might want to:
- heal your brain,
- sharpen your cognitive function as you age, and
- cultivate a more positive outlook.
Whatever your reasons, articulating them clearly is the foundation upon which you'll build your awareness.
Step 2: The Tool - Master Stream-of-Consciousness Journaling
Across the psychedelic integration and therapeutic communities, one tool is consistently recommended for processing experiences and tracking change:
Journaling.
But not just any kind of journaling.
For this purpose, stream-of-consciousness writing is unparalleled.
What is it?
Stream-of-consciousness journaling is the practice of transcribing your thoughts onto paper in a continuous, unfiltered flow.
The goal is to write as quickly as you can, without pausing to correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, or even to form complete, logical sentences.
This might be challenging at first for the super type A control freaks...it certainly was for me!
Think of it as a "mind dump."
You are creating a direct channel from your mind to the page, bypassing the internal critic or editor that so often censors our thoughts.
A typical entry might look something like this:
"Okay, today I feel... a bit tired. I don't know what to write. The coffee is good. I need to remember to email Susan. Those curtains in the living room are so ugly, I can't believe I picked them. I'm still annoyed about how my husband chews his food, it makes my blood boil, why does it bother me so much..."
You just keep writing.
Set a manageable goal to start—perhaps 15-30 minutes or three full pages.
The key is to not lift the pen from the paper (or your fingers from the keyboard).
If you don't know what to write, you write, "I don't know what to write" until another thought appears.
With practice, you'll notice something remarkable.
About a page or two in, a "switch" often happens.
The frantic, surface-level thoughts subside, and a deeper, more coherent flow emerges.
It can feel as if the words are coming from a source beyond your conscious, analytical mind.
This is where the real insights are born.
Step 3: The Process - Finding the "Threads" in Your Writing
Your journal entries are raw data.
The next step is to become a compassionate detective of your own mind.
Once you have an established journaling practice, set aside time every week or two to review what you've written.
As you read, keep your "compassion pants on"—the goal is observation, not judgment.
It's common, especially at first, to possibly feel shame or embarrassment about the thoughts you've recorded.
This is a normal part of the process; simply acknowledge the feeling and continue.
With a highlighter in hand, begin to look for "threads."
Threads are the recurring:
- words
- themes
- emotions and
- patterns that appear in your writing
Highlight them as you go.
What might a thread look like?
Recurring Emotions
- Do words like "anxious," "frustrated," or "overwhelmed" appear frequently? Or perhaps "grateful" or "calm"?
Repetitive Thought Loops
- Are you constantly writing about a specific person, a past event, or a worry about the future?
Physical Sensations
- Do you often mention tightness in your chest, a knot in your stomach, or feelings of fatigue?
Belief Systems
- Do you notice patterns of negative self-talk, imposter syndrome, or a scarcity mindset?
When I first began this practice, a major thread was how personally I took the actions of others, even strangers. My journal was filled with me giving free rent in my head to people who had no idea I existed. Recognizing this thread was exhausting, but it was also the first step toward change. It revealed an unconscious pattern of avoiding my own issues by focusing on everyone else.
Erin
This awareness, in itself, begins to stimulate neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new neural pathways.
Step 4: Measuring the Shift - Connecting Threads to Your Microdosing Mushrooms Intention
This is where everything comes together.
By comparing your journal reviews over weeks and months, you create a tangible record of your internal evolution.
Go back to the intention(s) you set in Step 1.
How have the threads in your journal changed in relation to that goal?
If your intention was to ease depression
You might notice that the thread of negative self-talk has lessened. Your writing may shift from a tone of hopelessness to one of curiosity or even compassion.
If your intention was to boost creativity
You may see more entries about new ideas, unique connections between concepts, and fewer entries about feeling "stuck" or uninspired.
If your intention was to reduce anxiety
The threads of worry about future events might be replaced by more writing about the present moment, problem-solving, or feelings of being grounded.
What if my threads have nothing to do with my intentions?
Maybe it's time to go back and set new intentions.
Get curious about these threads, and formulate new intentions based on these threads if/when you have an "a-ha" moment about these threads.
This is the beauty of magic mushrooms! They give you what you need, not necessarily what you want. They dig deeper in the psyche than any other modality.
Erin
The changes are often in the texture and tone of your thoughts.
You may realize that your internal dialogue has become kinder.
You might notice you're more patient with yourself and, by extension, with others.
This is how you know it's working.
The shifts are subtle with microdosing mushrooms, but when documented, they become undeniable proof of your progress.
Step 5: Amplify Your Awareness with Mind-Body Practices
Journaling is your primary tool for tracking your microdosing mushrooms practice, but other practices can amplify your sensitivity to the subtle changes microdosing facilitates.
Consider incorporating one or more of the following:
Meditation
Develops the "observer self," allowing you to notice thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them.
Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong
These practices cultivate a stronger mind-body connection, helping you notice how emotions manifest as physical sensations.
Mindful Movement
Whether it's:
- swimming
- walking in nature, or
- Pilates
Paying close attention to your body's movement enhances present-moment awareness.
By integrating these practices with microdosing mushrooms, you sharpen your ability to perceive the very shifts you are looking for.
Your journaling will become richer, and your overall sense of well-being will deepen.
The journey of microdosing is a journey of self-discovery.
Be patient, stay consistent with your practice, and trust the process.
The answers you seek are waiting to be uncovered, one journal entry at a time.
Click here to grab the journal I love and have used for years.
Or, I created a prompted stream-of-consciousness journal specific for microdosing, shown here.
Get yours by clicking here now.
Stream-of-consciousness journalling is writing down everything that comes to mind, and I mean everything, not paying attention to spelling, grammar, or punctuation (I know, challenging for us perfectionist types).
Write without disruption for 3 pages, or 30 minutes, or whatever limit you wish.
Follow me and spread the spores!
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