Putting Emotions into Words

Does writing truly exist only for communication between two or more people? Or merely for one person to convey something to others?

Sometimes thinking, or even voicing those thoughts aloud, is not enough to reach our inner depths. However, pouring them onto paper opens horizons we could never have imagined. While this might not have been the purpose of the very first written word, its function in self-discovery is too significant to ignore.

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Writing as a Therapeutic Technique

Writing letters to oneself or others to discover one's identity, realize problems, and overcome them is a widely used technique in therapy.

• Grief Work: Writing letters addressed to a lost loved one helps in processing complex emotions.(Lichtenthal, Cruess, 2010),(Neimeyer ed. 2012)
• Self-Reflection: Writing to your past or future self serves as a vital resource for gaining self-awareness.(Pennebaker, Smyth, M. 2016)

Insight: Perhaps writing, born from our effort to reach others, eventually showed us that it also exists to help us reach ourselves. In this journey, writing becomes an element we cannot—and do not want to—distort.

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The Drive Behind Creation: Explaining Oneself to Oneself

Why did poetry, books, or songs come into existence? Although they seem intended for an audience, could they be driven by the urge of "explaining oneself to oneself"?

It is much like standing in front of a mirror. However, this time, there is a need to materialize the abstract:

• Authenticity: While a person might be tempted to be misleading with words used for others, they rarely do so in their internal journey.(Pennebaker, 1997)
• Reflection: The ultimate goal is to reflect one's true inner state.

In conclusion, writing is not just about reaching out; it is about reaching in and reflecting the soul without distortion.

References

• Lichtenthal, W. G., & Cruess, D. G. (2010). Effects of directed written disclosure on grief and distress symptoms among bereaved individuals. Death Studies. [DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2010.483332]
• Neimeyer, R. A. (Ed.). (2012). Techniques of grief therapy: Creative practices for counseling the bereaved. [Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.]
• Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Soothes Emotional Pain. [Guilford Publications.]
• Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychological Science