By Tim Mavergeorge – mavergeorge@christiancounselinghouston.com
When you write, you tap into a part of the brain that processes differently than when you just talk. In essence, you will have a greater ability to tap into your core self and underlying emotions bringing you greater awareness, growth, and eventually healing and recovery.
Writing will give you a connection to the healthy part of yourself. There is also a cathartic effect as you will be expressing emotions on paper that may be hidden from you on a more subconscious level.
Writing will also allow you to clarify your thoughts especially when it comes to your addictive process. You will not feel helpless but instead gain traction and knowledge as to why you did what you did. Clients may feel this is extra work and I will agree it is more work because strong feelings may come up. Feelings of despair, grief, hurt not only from the present but from your past could come to surface. Rather than running away from them, the writing process will give you an opportunity to acknowledge and hopefully one day embrace them.
- How do I feel today?
- Anger: fury, outrage, wrath, irritability, hostility, resentment and violence.
- Sadness: grief, sorrow, gloom, melancholy, despair, loneliness, and depression.
- Fear: anxiety, apprehension, nervousness, dread, fright, and panic.
- Joy: enjoyment, happiness, relief, bliss, delight, pride, thrill, and ecstasy.
- Interest: acceptance, friendliness, trust, kindness, affection, love, and devotion.
- Surprise: shock, astonishment, amazement, astound, and wonder.
- Disgust: contempt, disdain, scorn, aversion, distaste, and revulsion.
- Shame: guilt, embarrassment, chagrin, remorse, regret, and contrition.
- Why?
- The one thing which was most meaningful to me today was……….
- The one thing that I was most thankful for today was……
- What do I need to surrender to God and trust him with?
- What have I changed, or am willing to change about my life?
- What have I learned about myself today?
- The one thing which bugged me or bothered me the most today was…….
- What did I do good for myself today?
PRAYER: Dear God, What are you trying to teach me here? What issues in my heart are you trying to raise through this? What is it you want me to see? What are you asking me to let go of? What do you want me to remember?