When was the last time you felt emotionally dull, down in the dumps, stuck in a rut, or just stressed out?

We all fall or trip over time. And getting back to our equilibrium is the single most challenging thing to do. The worst part is that no one ever taught us how to do it!

For some, getting up feels like seeing a therapist. For others it could be trying something new, changing the surroundings, or switching to a new job. And for some creative folks, getting back on track can feel like trying a new art form.

There are so many ways in which you can include art in personal and mental growth and spiritual healing. You can try sketching, interpretive dancing, singing, playing an instrument, and so on. But there are also creative ways that don’t require any kind of expertise, years of practice, or some hidden talent.

One such way is writing, and to get started with it, all you need is a pen, paper, and the will to write.

Writing is a way to escape the madness and melancholia of the human emotional spectrum. In the words of Graham Greene,“I wonder how all those who do not write, escape the dire reality of existence”.

In the following sections, you’re going to learn some of the most therapeutic ways of writing. These will help you to manage your emotions and communicate them in a healthy manner.

So, let’s dive in!

1. Free Writing

As the name itself suggests, this means writing down everything and anything that is on your mind. The only thing you need to remember is that do not censor your thoughts. You can write:

“The day was pretty good and kind of mellow until I accidentally slipped into a gutter. And that’s it! It smelled so awful that as I walked back home everyone pointed toward me…”

Or it can simply be:

“I hate everyone. I swear! I wanna end this world without even getting out of bed! Everything is crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap!!!!”

All in all, write with no filter!

2. Heal With A Poem

Writing, reading, and listening to poetry is nothing but therapy in itself. So why not write your own poem? It doesn’t have to rhyme or make sense or be all poetic. It can be as simple as:

I am a crab

Who walks the shore

And pinches toes all day.

Here’s an exercise to write your own first poetry:

• Pick all the positive memories from your childhood.

• Recall the sensation you experienced back then. The smell, the sound and the taste.

• Then, write down these feelings using images as pink as the palm leaves or as vast as the sky.

• Finally, arrange all the haphazard lines in a format and there you’ve it!
  

3. Write a letter and feel the change

Writing a letter means ensuring that you ink out each and every bit of your feeling. Mad at someone? Write in wrath. Madly in love with someone? Write with all the flowery words. Annoyed at someone? Tell them a thousand reasons. Missing someone? Write the reasons they’re the best.

Once you’re done with it, fold it meticulously (as if being sent to the Queen), place it in an envelope, and finally burn it. Or if you think you can, send it!

This simple technique helps in fostering a better and more meaningful connection with yourself and others around you. Besides, it also gives you more clarity on how you feel about a situation or certain someone. 4. Describe Each and Every Feeling

Of course, writing is all about describing your feelings. But ever described what those feelings look/sound/smell/taste like?

Next time you write, try to express your intangible emotions as something tangible.

If this emotion was a colour, what would it look like?

If this emotion was a landscape, what would it look like?

If this feeling was a person, what would it look like?

This will give you an even better grasp of your emotions.

5. Change your Perspective, What do you see?

Do you often find it hard to distract or distance yourself from how you feel? Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and write down what you would do then.

Think about your sibling, how would they react to a situation/moment/feeling? Or your best friend? How would your 25-year-old self react to it? Or how your 16-year-old would?

This will help you to understand that your feelings are nothing but a possible reaction to a situation and it may not always be the ‘right’ one.

In addition, you feel differently about a moment at different stages of your life. This implies that what you feel now is not permanent.

6. Set the timer: Ready? Get set go!

You often write only what you feel. But let’s take it to the next level and dive a bit deeper.

Next time when you sit to write, set a timer for 15 minutes. This means you need to keep writing for the next 15 minutes even if you run out of the present day’s event.

Try diving into your past (don’t be harsh though) and write about it. Or explore why you’re thinking about a certain moment in a particular way.

7. Try Word Association

Does writing sentences seem like a task to you?

No worries. Try association.

This is how it works:

• Firstly, on a sheet of paper write down your current state of mind (let’s say stressed).

• Now, write all the words that come to your mind when you think about stress (like tension, anger, irritation).

• Finally, write down what the other new words bring to your mind.

This will help you to have a better insight into how you relate to a certain feeling and how it manifests in your life.

Bringing It All Together

You don’t have to wait for a number of days in order to feel good or get results. If you diligently practice any of the listed techniques, you’re bound to feel good within minutes.

Remember, writing is the easiest and also the most powerful form of art. So, why not use it as a channel toward a better version of yourself?

And make a note of what J.K Rowling said in Harry Potter,

“Words are, in my most not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”

Happy Writing!

Written By - Parth Sharma

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