In life, we experience numerous major life changes. This can be anything from birth to death, marriage, divorce, success, school, recognition, failure, trauma, moving, betrayal, being rejected, rejecting another, friendship, celebration, humiliation… the list is long and varied, celebratory and sometimes tragic.

“Our lives are a series of unfolding, linked events that make sense. In other words, in the past I related to the present, and from that trajectory, we can glimpse our future”

(Ibarra & Lineback)

Writing for Healing

Most of us have been through a lot in our lives. Some great things, some sad things, some life-changing experiences that have taught us, celebrated us, scared us. Writing for Healing is a writing exploration that dives deep into a past experience to explore it and remember it as a way to make sense of this past.

There has been some proof that exploring past trauma through writing a series of short ‘writes’ over the space of several days can have a lasting impact upon the writer.

The same can be said for almost all life experiences. Once a person takes the time to write about an experience, we can often see it in a new way, gain insights about our own experience and maybe even change our thoughts about the past.

Write for the Emotions and the Senses

This brings the words to a place of being felt – by both the writer and the listener. When the words move us in an emotional and sensorial way, the story being shared becomes amplified for both the writer and the listener. When you are writing invite yourself to drop into the senses with a deep description of what you are writing about, describe in specific detail, aspects of your story.

Writing Tips

  • We may begin to write about something and find our writing moves to places where we need to write.
  • Let your writing move where it wants to go
  • It’s a great idea to go with your first impulse and try not to overthink what you are writing about.
  • Often our writing is a part of a larger story.
  • Let your writing be a creative burst, uncensored and unstopped
  • Don’t edit yourself as you write. There is always time for editing later
  • Don’t judge yourself
  • Follow your imagination
  • Be very descriptive
  • Involved the senses
  • Not everything is for sharing
  • You can write about the same thing as many times as you like

Action

  1. Make a list of major life transitions. They can be small or large, but you remember the impact they had on your life and left in your memory.
  2. Review your list and circle five transitions that speak to you most clearly. Go back and pick the one that speaks most to you.
  3. Write for 10 minutes about that transition. Be descriptive, personal and with feelings about that transition.
  4. In the breakout room, share your “write”.

Home Play

Write 4 “10-minute Writes” over the next week. Of the five major life transitions that your circled, pick one of those to write about for ten minutes. Or you can pick another life transition that you remember and didn’t take note of.