How has my day been so far? What has been coming up for me? Has there been anything stressful?[2] X Expert Source Nicole Moshfegh, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 5 August 2021. Has there been anything that’s been on my mind? Is there then anything that I might need to work out or problem solve?[3] X Expert Source Nicole Moshfegh, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 5 August 2021. Don’t worry about errors. Turn off the spell check feature if it’s distracting you.
Or, try writing about a current problem: What are the steps I need to take in order to address this issue? What are some different ideas I can come up with to help me tackle whatever it is that’s going on?[5] X Expert Source Nicole Moshfegh, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 5 August 2021. For example, maybe you want to write about a fight you just had with your best friend. You can note what you talked about and then explain that the fight left you feeling like you weren’t being valued. Both of you walked away without resolution. In your new version, write what you wish you had said differently. Maybe you could write that you convinced your friend to listen to you and you came to an understanding.
You could select a quote such as this one from Dr. Joyce Brothers: “A strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success. “[6] X Research source You could then write about how you’ve been feeling less confident lately and how that’s been impacting your performance at work. After processing these feelings, you could use that as a springboard to write about ways that you can improve your self-image.
What are some of the reasons I love Riley so much? Why do presentations make me nervous? How come I feel so much better after yoga?
You could write, “Helen felt really frustrated today at work. She felt like it wasn’t fair when her boss ignored her contributions at the meeting. ”
You don’t have to devote large amounts of time to writing. Even 5 minutes a day help! Don’t force yourself to write. If you really aren’t feeling up to it, don’t write that day. No one’s judging you.
Keeping an electronic journal is also a great choice. Try using a program such as Google docs that will save your work automatically. You can also access it from any device.
Don’t feel like you have to share your writing with anyone. It’s totally fine to keep it private.
A comfy chair in a corner of your home might feel right to you. You could also head to a nearby park for some fresh air while you write. Pick a time of day where you have 15-20 minutes to sit down and write. [13] X Expert Source Nicole Moshfegh, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 5 August 2021.
Maybe you’re going through a tough breakup. Write a story about someone else who is dealing with that.
For example, maybe you’ve had an argument with an old friend. Come up with a character that is going through the same thing. You could create a dialogue of your character talking to their “fictional” friend. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with this! Maybe you’ve always wanted to travel the world. Let your character do that while experiencing “their” emotions.
For example, your character could say something like, “Hey, it really bothers me when you’re always late. It makes me feel like you don’t value me. What gives?”
Choose 1 emotion to focus on and shape your poem around that. For example, you could create a poem about feeling lonely. You can create multiple poems as you work through your feelings.
Maybe you are newly in love. You can write verses about your first date, that fluttery feeling in your stomach, and feeling excited. Your chorus could be about not being able to wait to see that special someone again.
Maybe you want to let your partner know that you would like to spend more time together. You might write down things like, “date-nights, no cell phones after 9 p. m. , nightly dinner. ” You might want to explain to your boss why you feel you deserve a raise. Your notes might include, “needing a new challenge, want to feel valued. ”
Instead of writing, “I must inform you that your recent behavior is causing me undue stress,” just say, “I’ve been feeling really upset about our last conversation. ”
For example, you could write to your partner, “I feel like you interrupt me whenever I try to talk to you about our relationship. ” If you’re writing to your boss, you could say, “I feel like I deserve the opportunity to take on more responsibility. ” The body of the letter can be as long or as short as you like. Even a paragraph or 2 can help you get your point across.
For example, write, “I feel like I have earned a raise. ” “I feel like I have earned a raise!” might seem aggressive. Also try to avoid using a lot of bold font or italics. These can also make your reader feel defensive.
If this is a very personal letter, try putting it away for a day. You can come back to it the next day and look at it with fresh eyes. You might feel better after writing and decide you don’t need to send the letter. In that case, don’t worry about editing!
If this is a very personal letter, try putting it away for a day. You can come back to it the next day and look at it with fresh eyes. You might feel better after writing and decide you don’t need to send the letter. In that case, don’t worry about editing!