Writing My Way To Happiness

Dear Readers,
Blogging has been very enlightening to me. It has helped me clarify my thinking. By writing and re-writing my struggles as well as successes, I am feeling a shift in the way I view things.

Now, I know that writing is powerful. We are often told to journal our thoughts and feelings to help ourselves heal from mental or physical problems.
Today I found a great article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper that speaks to the power of writing.

"Now researchers are studying whether the power of writing — and then rewriting — your personal story can lead to behavioral changes and improve happiness.

The concept is based on the idea that we all have a personal narrative that shapes our view of the world and ourselves. But sometimes our inner voice doesn’t get it completely right. Some researchers believe that by writing and then editing our own stories, we can change our perceptions of ourselves and identify obstacles that stand in the way of better health."

(You can read the whole article here!)

The researchers found that, "Writing interventions can really nudge people from a self-defeating way of thinking into a more optimistic cycle that reinforces itself."

This is true for me. My writing has forced me to look at my negative self-talk, and see how it is stopping me from having a happier life. When I write down my thoughts, I have to ask myself, "Is this really what I want to believe or is there another way of looking at things?"