Everyone has a story to tell. Stories make up the memories of our lives. Some are enjoyable, some are heartbreaking. Notice I didn’t say “good” or “bad.” There are no bad stories, only good ones. And all good stories have conflict. You wouldn't watch a movie in which everything was going smoothly, would you? That would be boring. Our stories require twists and turns and obstacles so our main character can learn and grow and evolve. That’s you!
What have you learned so far on your journey in this life? Maybe it’s time to write it down. You don’t have to publish it. You don’t even have to share it. You just have to get it outside of your self so you can release it and then examine it to see if any light has found its way into the dark corners of your being.
Writing our memories is good for our mental health. Why? Because if the memories are enjoyable, then it’s a great way to reflect on the abundance of our adventures. And if the memories are painful, it’s an even better way to release the negative energy that no longer serves our purpose and progression. Sometimes we hold on to that pain in our bodies, and those negative memories are like dark shadows hiding behind each organ. When exposed to the light, on the page, they can no longer harm your heart, or your liver, or your lungs. On the bright examining table, you can ask questions such as, what did I learn from that experience, or, how can I transform that pain into love?
Sometimes we get stuck in the past and the cycle of pain keeps recurring. There is a lesson that hasn’t been learned. There is meaning that hasn’t been investigated. You’ve heard the expression, the pen is mightier than the sword. Writing is powerful. We have the power to change our story. We have the power to improve our mental health.
Buy a cheap notebook, or pull out your laptop, and just start unloading the stories of your life. If it’s on your mind, then get it on the page. You will feel lighter because the memory has seen the light of day. It has been removed from your physical body and spread out as a character written in a symbolic form in ink and as letters of the alphabet. So the memory itself has transformed into something else, something tangible. When we see what was once hidden, our fear of the unknown dissipates. Removing the memories from your mind makes room for other things to fill in those now vacant spaces, like anticipation, and lightness of being, and dare I say it, joy.