The Healing Powers of Expressional Writing

Have you ever had one of those days when you just needed to get something off your chest, but there was no one there to listen who you genuinely trusted enough to open up to? Or what about the times when you really need to say something but you hesitate because you don't want it to come out wrong.

Everything felt deserves to be expressed. So much goes unexpressed because of our fear of offending or of being misunderstood. Did you know that what we emotionally surpress can have a tremendous affect on our health and well-being?

I once read a book called "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" by Karol Truman. It changed my way of thinking, and taught me that emotional expression is vital to our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health. There is nothing more freeing than letting go of a pent-up emotion that has weighed you down since the third grade, when Johnny Mullins told you your face looked like a train wreck.

Free yourself and write about it. The amazing thing about expressional writing is that you can say anything you want. It's not for Johnny, it's for you.

The first time I used this technique for therapeutic purposes I was in my late twenties and coming to grips with my need to begin the over-due grieving process of my mother, who died when I was twelve. For many years I was sad, but I did not understand all the stages of grief. When I learned that anger was actually a natural part of the greiving process I was relieved and glad to be given permission to be angry. This was a new concept for me.

I went to my room, found my journal and my favorite pen, and started writing about how angry I was about my mom's death. I wrote the letter to her. I let myself be mad at her. And...for the first time in my life I allowed myself to be with the anger. I did not judge myself or my feelings about my loss. I learned that there was no right or wrong way to feel or grieve. I had launched into a new world - a place where I could create whatever I wanted. A place where I could just "be". It was beautiful!

I want to encourage anyone who needs to heal a part of themselves they feel is blocking their success, happiness, and peace to try expression through writing. It's a lot cheaper than talk therapy...and you will find that you have the power within to heal yourself.

Enjoy the journey!

The Forgotten

Ode to the sleep-deprived
Ode to virtue
Ode to the Humanitarian

To the woman with a call
Nothing will keep her away
From the cause she knows will change the child.

From sea to shining sea journeys she
For no rest comes
For all is not done.

The work moves her on
In spite of herself.

Children deserve heroes of virtue.

And who will give it?
Those who love the little ones.

Who will hear her?
Those who ache for the loss of
The innocent.
Those exhausted with mediocrity,
Those who know that even one
Can change a life forever.

Who will see their faces?
Who will open their own eyes
And see the pain of an orphaned child?
Who will see the brilliance in their eyes
And the hope that will not die?

All will see in time
All in time.

Kelly Birch
September 2003