Writing for Wellbeing
I’m five weeks into a Writing for Wellbeing course that I’m facilitating for Brecon and District Mind, and I’m blown away by the group of women who are participating. Their willingness to have a go at writing; their courage and resilience have astounded me and I am reminded of the immense value of this form of writing.
Writing for ourselves is a radical act of self-care. There is growing evidence that writing for wellbeing has direct benefits on both physical and mental health. Here, I’m referring to free flow writing. A form of writing that is about the process rather than the finished product. You put the pen on the paper, begin writing without thinking about what you’re putting down.
Just letting the words flow freely. There is no judgement. The inner critic is banished during this style of writing. As Gillie Bolton says – you cannot write wrong. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
Here are some tips for free flow writing –
Write from the heart, for yourself
You have the right to write what you want.
Let the writing write itself.
Let the form find itself.
Keep the pen moving. Don’t stop.
If you get stuck repeat the last line or your first line, or ‘I remember’ Just keep going.
Punctuation, sentences, and grammar are not important – forget the rules learned at school
Let go of ‘doing it right or proper’
Do not crush your words with criticism
Writing is indeed a simple pleasure. All you need is some paper and a pen. No expensive trainers or equipment, to buy. Writing is also an activity that most people have experienced, and we can choose to write wherever we want – on a bus, train, waiting room, or like me in cafes with endless supply of coffee and external stimulation. I have never seen a sign saying, ‘Writing is forbidden here.’ Photography yes; Entry yes; Talking yes…. never writing.
Writing can foster resilience. We take a step back and become observers of ourselves. When we are able to regard our lives with a certain distance, we have the opportunity to reframe the problems we might be facing.
I know this from my own experience. When my mind is reeling with what appears to be an insurmountable problem, I often feel as if my head will burst. When I write my turmoil down on paper without thinking, I find a welcome release. My head clears. I can then reflect ‘How important is this really? How could this situation be different? What do I need to do now? I gain a perspective that allows me to calm down. A space appears and often a potential resolution drops quietly into that opening.
And who knows where this form of writing will take you. I condensed the writing material – a myriad of journals- I’ve produced over the years, into my published book, ‘Wearing Red, One Woman’s Journey to Sanity,’ fulfilling a long-standing ambition.
Writing for wellbeing is an important tool which enables us to explore our lives, our feelings, our family relationships and patterns – all the experiences that weave in and out of the worlds we inhabit. We learn more about ourselves and our situation through this process.
As my writing mentor, Barbara Bloomfield said to me: “The act of writing is a gift. A simple prompt can open up a space that lets words flow and reconnects us to our sense of self. In that space we may find the things that are most important to us.”
Writing can and does transform our lives.
Author of ‘Wearing Red, One Woman’s Journey to Sanity’
Available at www.amazon.co.uk and www.browndogbooks.uk