Writing is an effective way to express our deepest feelings and emotions. Writing could be considered a more cathartic and more effective way of expressing our thoughts than talking out loud. This is because there is less fear of judgement, fewer distractions, more space to let the words breathe, and more time to think between sentences. And of course, there is nobody interrupting or answering you back. It is like having an open conversation with yourself. And those words never have to be read by anyone else, unless you choose to share them of course.
If you’ve ever watched a movie after reading the original story in a book, you’ll have realised the amount of detail in a book compared to the movie. Writing gives us time. What a great concept... when we write, it’s like time is stretched. There are no boundaries or limits with writing. Is it becoming a forgotten pastime that is fading away due to the rapid advances in technology and ever-growing distractions? Are we no longer able to slow down enough to have the space and time to write? Do we need more prompts, inspiration and reminders to write?
'A plethora of studies have shown that expressive writing is a beneficial method to address traumas and emotional upheavals in a healing way.’ – Frontiers in Psychology
You don’t have to be ‘a writer’ to write. And you don’t have to put pen to paper either. A great thing about technological advances is that even those who cannot physically write, can write by using transcribing and dictating software.
Self-expression is something a lot of people struggle with and remain disconnected from throughout their lives, whether they openly recognise, or can help this or not. To be able to write in the first place can be a challenge for some as they can’t find the time or headspace to get into the flow of writing. Of course, not everyone is going to be drawn to expressive writing and it may not be suitable for some. But those that know intuitively that they do enjoy writing and have a desire to write, can certainly reap the benefits. Perhaps you have never been one to write, but you are now starting to consider it. After all, you don’t know if it’s your thing if you’ve never given it a chance.
There are many different opportunities and ways to write. This could be through journalling, keeping a diary, writing notelets or letters to yourself or other people, or creative writing such as storytelling or poetry. You could experiment with different ways of writing and see how each of them makes you feel. Writing can give you a great sense of achievement too, especially if it’s something you’ve been wanting to do for a while. It also brings about a sense of relief if you’ve opened a channel for emotional energy to move freely.
For inspiration, you could read more books and blogs. Find topics that you are interested in and immerse yourself in the words. For an online alternative, Substack is a great platform that is writer focused. It has many inspiring newsletters, blogs and words from various authors, poets and people writing as a hobby. Expect the majority of the community to be open-minded, cultured and emotionally mature. If you struggle writing about your own feelings and emotions, why not consider writing a story and build up fictional characters that express your feelings for you.
‘…writing is more effective for those who have difficulty identifying or expressing emotion.’ - National Library of Medicine
I hope to inspire you further to write, not only to enhance your overall health and wellbeing, but to empower you and help you to discover your authentic self. Why not check out the extra resources below, and don’t hesitate to get in touch. Love, Rebecca x
Paperback Book:
A Journey of Healing and Awakening Through Poetry and Meditation
Audio Short Course:
Available soon on the Insight Timer App
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