Even though life will have challenges... let us not lose heart.

Life with God is not freedom from adversity or 


misfortune. We get our fair share of warnings, 


but we don't get an exemption from trials and 


tribulations.

Through our many ups and downs... one viable option that has proven 


to be therapeutic for many, time and time again, is writing.

Writing can help us to steer clear of worldly chaos


and create more positivity.


The mind, according to some experts, is for processing... 


not for storage. Writing helps us clear the clutter from the mind 


so that we are able to see all sides of our circumstances... objectively.


Though sometimes painful... writing is the process of discovering 


and developing our thoughts, and understanding. 

Writing engages us to act in synthesis with our ideas, research, 


and experiences. 


Writing allows us to take many elements and creatively form a whole.


The process can sometimes force us to ask good questions, 


find the right sources to answer those questions, and discover new ways of 


thinking about a given subject.

 


Writing allows us to explore our thoughts and feelings 


about the events in our lives, become more resilient, and give language 


to those dramatic experiences that may have deeply wounded us.


We can use writing to describe, reveal... in words, our feelings, 


our experiences, and it gives vent to despair, pain, and/or injustice.

Taking those swirling thoughts and writing them out helps to 


clarify our thoughts and feelings... and helps us put things into perspective. 


Writing helps us to overcome issues of conflict that could, conceivably, 


if verbally addressed, lead to arguments, hurt feelings, resentments, 


damaged relationships, aggression, and/or violence.



Writing seems to offer a great degree of relief 


and can, possibly, lead us to peaceful resolutions.


Writing can serve as an emotional release which helps to un-clutter the mind,


outline our innermost thoughts and feelings... while allowing us to use it as a


vehicle of emotional exploration and healing.

Writing helps us to better see, process, find our voice, 


focus on solutions, and understand certain experiences. 


Writing helps us to steer clear of Satan and his vicious forces 


and press past our difficulties. Writing is like a regulator for our emotions. 


Rather than allowing others to destroy our inner peace... 


we can unplug, quiet and center ourselves, reset, and journal. 


In many instances, journaling can be quite effective in better equipping us 


to rebound and find positive meaning from our stressful encounters. 


Writing allows brainstorming, logic, and other forms 


of complex thought to, in many cases, open our eyes so that we might see 


that there may be a bigger picture to consider... 


than our momentary discomfort. 


Writing is a powerful life tool that gives us 


an outlet of expression and it helps to keep us grounded.

Many times we are able to channel difficult feelings 


into healthy and creative outcomes.


Through my personal knowledge, observation, and experience... 


I have come to realize how writing and not participating in an exchange 


of sharp and piercing words, diverging or opposite views, and/or heated 


disputes can help us steer clear of painful encounters and maintain our sanity. 



As we write and research we become more empowered. Writing can prevent or 


reduce the potential for heightened anger and pain. It can prevent destructive or 


damaging conflicts, and reduce stress levels. It gives us an opportunity to reflect 


on what's truly happening around us and go into quiet and 


productive introspection. 



Putting our feelings into words can actually help us 


work through our pain and help us feel better.  

Writing can keep us so engaged... we have no time to 


get involved in unpleasant and/or negative discourse.



Writing helps us release the emotions involved, de-stress, 


and focus more on God... and how, even in the worst case scenario, 


we are better able to see how God is working all things together for the good. 



Writing can be empowering. It can actually awaken the joy and bliss 


of our life experiences and flush out toxic energy.

It has been demonstrated, across a variety of investigations, 


that writing is a powerful, useful, and beneficial tool for thinking, 


and keeping our emotions from being hijacked. 



Writing helps us to translate our thoughts and feelings into written words and 


expressions. Writing can comfort others and ourselves. Processing and writing 


about the wholesome times and the difficult parts of our lives can stimulate 


our creativity. 



According to many experts, writing yields a number of intellectual, 


emotional, and therapeutic benefits. Writing has been associated with 


improving moods, improving our health and well-being, 


and, in many cases, it has reduced stress levels.


In writing about people who have hurt us, by the grace of God,


it is possible for us to vicariously see the world through their eyes 


so we can better understand how another feels and why they may do 


the things they do. It can also help us to search our hearts for anything 


that may displease God... our righteous Judge.



Writing helps us to exhale, better cope, patiently endure, be better understood, 


filter out the malignant and pathological power of negativity, and keep the faith.


Writing also has a way of showing us how 


all things are working together for our good.



We may begin to understand that the person who hurt us could have 


emotional scars, they may be self-love deficient, 


they could be experiencing a world of inner struggles they have not 


dealt with or been able to articulate. 


They may have cried out for help and were never heard. 


Sometimes people will attack others when they recognize their shortcomings.


They may be hurting, and when they feel threatened... 


they are quick to lash out at the messages and philosophy 


behind another's message rather than turning within and objectively 


addressing themselves. Sometimes people will transfer their pain to family 


and/or others. Very few are willing to look internally and honestly face


 their shortcomings. 


Hurting and then hurting others may be a vicious cycle 


they may be caught up in... and are not even aware of. 


Something to consider, 


and another reason why we may need to let the dust settle.



It would behoove us to remind ourselves of what Jesus 


told His twelve disciples in Matthew 10:16, 


"Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." 



Let us remain alert and aware of our external environment 


and not allow negativity to consume us. Sometimes, we have to 


know when to say when... and when to break away.


As we write, a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, 


feelings, environments, and experiences... we are better able


to regroup, recoup, and cultivate solutions to those forces 


that would be against our good. Many times we are able to channel 


difficult feelings into healthy and creative outcomes.



It's incredible to think how swarming dramatic times 


can be the impetus for a real creative story that many may be able to 


relate to and hopefully be blessed by.



Praying and journaling allows us to shift our experiences. 

Instead of affirming the experiences of struggle, 


deep pain, weariness, confusion, distraction, and strife...


we can remove tension from those seasons of severe testing... by journaling.



Praying, reading, brainstorming, researching, and writing


helps to extend the light within us. The positive effects from the light within, 


can echo and extend far beyond the moment...


and that is a very good thing.