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Why Write? How Writing Heals
Copyright (c) 2009-2023 Rochelle Melander
You've no doubt heard the famous quote, "The pen is mightier than the sword." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton). What you may not know is that the pen also trumps medication and the therapist's couch. The practice of writing can heal you both physically and emotionally.
Writing Heals Your Body. In a study conducted with asthma patients at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, School of Medicine, study participants wrote about their most stressful experiences. The control group wrote about their daily activities. According to the book Asthma Free in 21 Days, 47 percent of the patients who wrote about their challenging life experiences showed improvement in lung function that could not be attributed to medication or other factors. 24 percent of the control group showed improvement as well. (See Shafer and Greenfield, Asthma Free in 21 Days, p. 139) Notice this: both groups improved their lung function through writing.
Writing Heals Your Heart. Research by psychologist James Pennebaker has shown that people who used writing to make sense of their traumatic life experiences had the long-lasting effect of feeling happier and less anxious. He asked his subjects to write for fifteen ...minutes a day on four consecutive days. Half of the group members wrote about a difficult or traumatic event in their lives. The other half of the group, the control group, was asked to write about their day or to ...describe their living environment. A year later, he examined the subject's medical records. The people who wrote about their difficult experiences were healthier than the others. What made the difference? According to Pennebaker, it was the meaning-making that mattered. The people who showed increased insight into their difficult situation during the four days stayed healthier than those who simply wrote about their feelings or the color of their carpet.
Writing Helps You Achieve Your Goals. In a study by psychologist Laura King, people who wrote about their best possible future selves showed an immediate increase in mood and, after five months, a decrease in illness. In addition, this writing work improved their ability to take control of behavior and make good changes! Writers were better able to set and achieve their goals.
How Do You Tap Into The Healing Power Of Writing? You write. All of the studies suggest that any kind of writing will improve your health and sense of wellbeing. I encourage all of my clients to do three pages of journaling a day. Maybe you're one of those people who have always wanted to journal but when you open a blank book your mind goes blank, too. Here are some ways to get started:
1. Fill in the blank. Choose one of the sentences below to complete. List your statements as rapidly as possible.
If I told the truth, I'd say ...
I deeply desire to ...
I need to ...
I want to let go of ...
I am thankful for ...
2. Write about five difficult things that happened in your life....
Why do you think they happened?...
What effects did these events have on your life?...
What do you know now that you didn't know before these events ...happened?...
What meaning might you derive from these events?......
3. Write about five good things that have happened in your life....
Why do you think they happened?...
What effects did these events have on your life?...
What do you know now that you didn't know before these events ...happened?...
What meaning might you derive from these events?
4. Gratitude Journal. In her book Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach encouraged her readers to use a gratitude journal. Find a beautiful journal and each night record five items for which you are thankful. As a twist, do this with your partner or children. Every few months, I take out a journal and write down five things I am grateful for about my husband. Then I slip it under his pillow or on his desk. A few days later, I get it back with a new list from him.
5. Vision Quest. Ghandi said, "Become the change you want to see in the world." I say, "Write the change you want to see in your life!" Each day, write a description of what your life looks like when it reflects your dreams.
Whatever you write, know that it will heal your body and heart. Don't ever worry about what you're going to write. Write fast and carelessly every day. Forget all the rules. Forget that you are not supposed to write about certain things. Forget what your English teacher told you about the right way to write. Just get down your observations, feelings, and ideas. Don't write about anything boring to you—that's a sign that you are telling lies, writing to please others and not yourself. When you get stuck, ask yourself Brenda Ueland's very helpful question: "What in thunder do you want to say?" Then say it.
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Right Now! Coach Rochelle Melander supports people in writing to transform their lives and businesses. If you're ready to establish credibility, make more money, and market your work by writing a book, blog, or Web site, get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.rightnowcoach.com
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