Writing As a Therapeutic Remedy
During decluttering my diaries using the Marie Kondo technique, I read questions I wrote in 2016 but I still haven’t answered them in 2020. It was a warning signal that I have to take an action as time doesn’t wait for me. All what I needed was me, time out, paper and pencil or an e-diary. But first, I had to face perfectionism. I thought I had to choose the perfect notebook and care about the quality of my handwriting. I understood that I was just building barriers as I wasn’t brave enough to face myself. I decided not to care about the quality of my handwriting, or grammar, or word choice. I needed to enjoy expressing myself and escape from my prison of perfectionism.
Writing as a Mental Remedy:
Writing gives me clarity of thought. Writing the points that make me go for or against a certain thought is vital as in the world of popularity it’s easy to get manipulated and convinced that I believe in this idea cause such-and-such believes in it. Also, written thoughts are more easily judged than spoken words. Furthermore, writing thoughts which came upon reflection or those marvellous ideas that flash in my minds is strategically vital, as Imam Al-Shiafia’a said:
Knowledge is a hunt, and writing is a robe, so tie your hunt down with a sure robe.
As it is naïve to capture a deer and then let it wander freely between people.
Writing as an Emotional Remedy:
Talking to myself was not as relieving as writing. But if I want to talk, chatting with an honest friend is a far more relieving as I describe myself in written and spoken words at the same time. If I feel overwhelmed and alone, I write messages to Allah asking him for help and support. It is touching when I re-read them after some time and remember how those moments were challenging but yet beautiful as I felt Allah’s presence. Furthermore, there is a notebook contains questions covering every aspect of my life. It’s a way to help me face my emotions. It took me time to start it as I thought I had to write in a normal notebook. But now I believe that I needn’t judge my emotions rather than writing them down, so using an e-diary is more helpful in relieving my emotions than writing them in a paper-packed notebook.
Writing as a Productive Remedy:
Writing my goals and timing them makes me precise my time and reduce procrastination. It makes me realistic as I have a limited amount of time to achieve my goals. It isn’t enough to know what I want to do in my mind as I usually forget and think I have plenty of time left. Bullet journal is the best personalized, productive, time and money saving method I ever used.
What’s Next?!
Do not think my goal is writing! Writing is a powerful mean not a goal in itself. The aim is the action I will take. It needs bravery to work according to what I have wrote. After getting my thoughts and emotions written on paper, my vision of myself and the word is clearer. I just need to declutter and write down a plan of what I want to achieve. For instance, If I write about an emotional abuse I got from a toxic relationship, I’ve to face the person who have caused me this trauma. I tried, and I found it helpful and relieving! There are three requisite responses that I may get:
1. I may find that I have misunderstood this person and both of us have to be openly discuss it.
2. This person may be rude and try to convince me that I was the reason for this abuse. I don’t mind as I have relived myself and evacuated my heart from this ill feeling. Moreover, my goal is not making this person apologize.
3. This person may apologize and stop committing this emotional abuse.
In all case scenarios, I am the winner.
