Writing is meaning making.
Writing with paper and pen encourages engagement between multiple regions of the brain in a way that adds meaning, supports reflection, builds emotional resilience and cognitive flexibility.
Try out these writing tasks:
Brain Dump
Set a timer for twenty minutes (start with ten if this feels too much). Turn off all distractions, take a few deep breaths and write. Write as you feel. Create a mind-map, write lists, free text. If you're struggling to start use the following prompts:
What do I need to complete? (what's on your to-do list?)
What can I remember from the day?
What positive things have happened today?
What have I learn?
Gratitude
Make a list of all the things, people, animals, moments you feel grateful for. List everything that comes up. Big or Small. Choose what resonates with you most deeply. Once you're able to make lists explore what makes those things precious to you. We get more of what we look for and our brains are trained towards the negative. A practice of daily gratitude helps us to build optimism - and that is the foundation of both happiness and success.
Dream life
Beyond goals, beyond the practicalities of daily life what is that life you envision for yourself? If anything was possible what would possible look like?
Imagine you had only one year. One year to fulfil your goals, make meaning from your life, connect with those people you want to leave an imprint on. How would you fill your days? What would you stop doing? What would you do straight away? Who would you connect with and how?
What parts of this dream can you make a reality today? What would actionable goals look like if you made this your life?
When we commit to paper we commit to the possibility of change.
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