When was the last time that you took a pen to write – either in your journal or perhaps a letter to someone? Living in a society that promotes paperlessness often means that we use our smart phones or tablets to write. Personally, I find this challenging, because I often get distracted by an email, text, notification of some sort. Ok. Ok! So, maybe am not so “focused”!

Anyway, recently, my hubby and I had to physically write letters to our son, who was away on a 23 day school hike. Our only method of communication was through letters. We chose to write our letters with pen rather than type them out – as it was, for us, a closer connection – especially seeing that he would also be writing back. We both found this experience so positive and fulfilling. It helped really get to the depths with what we were feeling and needing to say. Perhaps the letters eventually, were equally beneficial to us, as it was to our son?

The point that I am getting to, is that writing is healing.

• Articulating your thoughts and feelings helps “get them out”. So, rather than those very same thoughts causing chaos and confusion in your mind and the mental “tape” playing over and over again – you get it out! —>
• In doing this, you move thoughts and feelings from the subconscious to the conscious —>
• Creating an awareness about something that may have been hidden, or that you may have had a blindspot to.
• Once the feelings/thoughts/ideas are “out” on paper – you can “see” them —>
• From here, you now have a CHOICE
• Change perspective
• Play with an idea and generate other ideas
• Confront and emotion
• Look at options to shift, change or move something – even if its your own reaction.

In fact, research has found that patients who wrote about their feelings were clinically better off than patients that did not . These patients had medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure among others. After all the mind and the body are intimately connected! Getting in touch with thoughts an feelings CHANGES our chemistry by impacting on the various hormone (and other) systems of the body
So, give it a try. Journal for 3 days – yes, with pen and paper :).

Let me know how it goes.
Its good therapy for the soul!