“7 Secrets of Letting Go” Comments, Page 1
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I really appreciate the steps you’ve outlined above. My problem is having a collision of thoughts bouncing around my brain – seemingly of their own accord without my being able to stop all the mind chatter. One thing that helps is writing it all down, more focused than a diary or journal, and with specific intentions.
I found this out recently after I purchased the book “Writing as a Way of Healing – How telling our stories transforms our lives”, by Louise DeSalvo, as sort of an adjunct to working my way through In Sheep’s Clothing and Character Disturbance. (It seems the universe/God does work in mysterious ways – I stumbled upon the Writing book purely by accident when looking at a blog about cats (!) at the same time as I was reading your books).
Writing, although not therapy, is therapeutic. DeSalvo emphasizes the process of how to go about writing one’s experiences so that it is not just rambling or getting stuck in a loop of resentment about the wrongs done to us.
She says: “[Writing] can help us heal. It can enable us to accomplish that shift in perspective marked by acceptance, authenticity, depth, serenity, and wisdom that is the hallmark of genuine healing.” Her experience as a writing teacher has been with people who were raped, tortured, assaulted, victimized by sexism, racism, incest, etc. etc.
“All have been profoundly changed by writing. Their work does not make their pain disappear, but they say they have a different relationship to it.”
She quotes what poet Audre Lord said: “You’ll always have the pain, so you may as well use it.”
For me personally, going through her writing exercises has helped me start getting a grip on redirecting my focus, as you put it, and focusing inward and changing what I can change. Facing the pain and working through it is much easier for me with these writing exercises. I hope others can be helped by it also. And again, thank you.
Thank you, Glenda, not only for your kind words about the article but also for sharing. I’ve heard the same about that book and its helpful suggestions with regard to writing from many others as well. In fact, some folks began with that, and then having discovered the benefits, made a commitment to regular journal writing. Thanks again.