Today I am sharing a guest post from Melanie Bowen who is a contributor to the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog. She is an awareness advocate for individuals who are suffering from chronic and serious illnesses. When we think about health, we frequently focus on diet and exercise, but I think Melanie has some good insights with the activities mentioned below since they can improve one's wellness. I believe these tips can benefit everyone, not just those dealing with serious health issues.
Writing: A Tool for Healing and Inspiration
Research suggests that we’re hardwired to understand the world through story and how we live by the stories we create for ourselves. For those coping with illness, writing in all its forms such as journaling, blogging, writing personal essays or memoirs and creative work such as poems and stories can help capture thoughts on paper; making them concrete and real. Writing plays an essential role in goal setting, dealing with illness, and finding ways to heal:The value of creative work, especially forms of writing, for therapeutic and healing purposes has been well-documented. Whenever illness strikes, particularly severe and life-threatening conditions such as cancer, writing can serve as an inspiration, a way to clarify and accomplish goals, find empowerment and visualize life as more than your personal battle against cancer.
Research suggests that we’re hardwired to understand the world through story and how we live by the stories we create for ourselves. For those coping with illness, writing in all its forms such as journaling, blogging, writing personal essays or memoirs and creative work such as poems and stories can help capture thoughts on paper; making them concrete and real. Writing plays an essential role in goal setting, dealing with illness, and finding ways to heal:The value of creative work, especially forms of writing, for therapeutic and healing purposes has been well-documented. Whenever illness strikes, particularly severe and life-threatening conditions such as cancer, writing can serve as an inspiration, a way to clarify and accomplish goals, find empowerment and visualize life as more than your personal battle against cancer.
1. Goal Setting: When you’re ill, writing down goals, affirmations and plans can provide an anchor to the future, help focus on healing, and engage the mind outside of the illness. Keeping a journal of daily goals, or writing a daily affirmation for healing, helps people feel empowered and in charge of their lives. Checking off goals and creating new ones gives focus and pulls attention away from illness and into other areas of life
2. Visualization: Writing or drawing about goals for the future can help them to become real. Keeping a journal or a blog can feed the mind with plans beyond illness and focus on the “bigger picture” of a life in which illness is one part. Whatever the prognosis, individuals with conditions ranging from autoimmune disorders to rare cancers such as mesothelioma can benefit from visualizing things to do and ways to live in the world. Visualizing a healthy self or a plan for tomorrow creates a bridge to that future time.
3. Inspiration: Writing can open doors to exploring beliefs, dreams and ways of seeing the world, and help find ways to cope with the ups and downs of illness. By writing down life stories, memories and experiences, it’s possible to discover new sources of strength and new stories to tell, offering ways to heal and cope, even in the face of serious crises.
Writing opens windows to unknown parts of the self, revealing new ways of seeing and new reserves of strength and inspiration. Whether for goal setting, visualizing or exploring the inner self, writing can be an essential tool for coping with illness.
Writing opens windows to unknown parts of the self, revealing new ways of seeing and new reserves of strength and inspiration. Whether for goal setting, visualizing or exploring the inner self, writing can be an essential tool for coping with illness.
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