Screams Safely Onto the Page

"Vulnerability in writing is 

the enemy of grandiosity."

Julia Cameron

Maybe fifteen students were gathered for a meditation.  When completed, the leader asked for each person to write down a reflection from the experience.  Going around the circle, each vulnerable person shared.  Some had lists, while others had lengthy paragraphs.  One embarrassed person claimed she couldn't write at all, except, she had completed a two page pencil sketch!  It was lovely.

Not every person has the desire to become an author or poet, but everyone has the ability to compose  whether through words or sketches.  Stringing letters of the alphabet together whether in order or not is learning how to write.  Learning the position of nouns, verbs, or adverbs teaches us sentence structure.  These are elements of our education, but writing for personal pleasure has no boundaries or limitations.  Words, phrases, patterns or tears can be caught by the eager page that has no sense of editing.

Maintaining a personal journal is therapeutic.  The writer can just release whatever is being felt onto the page and leave it there.  The person can capture the words of his or her inner screams safely onto the page rather than into a person's face.  As the person browses back through earlier entries, he or she realizes how many times they have changed perspectives or survived troublesome situations.  It is a private testimony to help guide healing to the heart and clarity of thoughts.