Want to Process Your Baggage and Rediscover Yourself? Then Just Write

At least, that's how I'm doing it, too.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. I am not affiliated with Apple or Freewrite in any capacity, and all opinions are my own.

If you’re paying attention, that was a direct reference to the subheading of my first post. Okay, now that you are, let’s dig in. In my last post, I discussed how I finally found another piece of the puzzle of my life’s purpose after I launched my newsletter here on Substack, but now, I want to talk about why I write. Specifically, I want to talk about why writing has not only saved me time and time again, but continues to help me grow and heal.

In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with information, opinions, expectations, and standards, it probably couldn’t be easier for most of us to lose touch with our inner selves, but also adopt a negative self-image that isn’t even real. Adolescence is challenging for everyone, but it’s okay because now, I’m better and can talk to you. That aside, I feel like I know better than most just how much our invisible burdens, whatever they may be, that weigh us down. Unfortunately, we can't change the past, but we can control how we react to and process the difficulties we inevitably face, and that’s where writing comes in. Regardless of whether you choose a keyboard or a pen and a sheet of paper, the world becomes your oyster once you find the bravery to release the first word, and when it’s just you and yourself, there’re no rules, no expectations, no pretentions. You can just be you, and there’s nothing better than that, isn’t there? If it makes you feel better and/or more secure, you don’t even have to share your work with anyone. (I mean, hey, I’m publishing under a pseudonym because I want to grow my public profile without compromising my identity, so I totally understand.)

When I first started writing about my feelings in February 2020, I was sure my emotions would overwhelm me, and they did at first, but something compelled me to just keep going, going, going until I had fifteen pages on Word. Strangely, I didn’t feel any inclination to drown in my emotions when I finished, but what I did know was that I couldn't believe how good it felt that I’d spent a full day, maybe a day and a half, expunging everything I’d kept locked away inside until then, and I could hardly wait to do it again as soon as possible. Back then, I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so good, and I was determined to keep it up, if only because it gave me something to think about other than the fact that my life wasn’t exactly going how I imagined.

My point is, there’s a reason why writing has existed for thousands of years beyond the basic utilitarian function of maintaining historical records. When we think about it, many of the consequential ancient civilizations – Egypt, Greece, Phoenicia, Rome – are still renowned for their writing systems. Egyptologists still study the hieroglyphs, and while Phoenicia isn’t as prominent as Greece or Rome, its consonantal script laid the basis for most modern alphabets, including Greek and Latin, which in turn influenced the European alphabets. Above all, writing connects us to ourselves because once we learn it, it’s the strongest way we express ourselves other than speaking. In societies where free speech can get you killed, those who are brave enough will risk everything to be published either abroad or in an underground press at home. Hopefully, none of us will ever experience that, but the point stands, and now that I’m an adult, I can finally appreciate what a wonderful sanctuary writing has been for me.

Really, even if you aren’t a writer, or even creatively inclined, I can’t say enough good things about it, and don’t just take my word for it. Scientific research supports the notion that expressive writing can significantly improve mental health. Studies have shown that writing about traumatic experiences can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. According to the urban legends, Hemingway once said “There’s nothing to writing. All you have to do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Yeah, I know clichés are cheesy, but at the end of the day, it really is that simple. No, it’s not always easy, but then again, nothing worth having is ever easy.

Conversely, I know that as much as many people read about the benefits of writing, they might be too intimidated to start because they either don’t know what to write about or they don’t think they’re not good enough. Unfortunately, both scenarios are significant obstacles, and as someone who’s been there practically every time I start a new project, all I can say is that no matter how much you might want to use Jedi mind tricks, your piece is never going to write itself; you’ll never go anywhere if you don’t start.

Now that I’m on the subject, I’ve realized that writing is an excellent parallel for our humanity. No matter how much and how well we plan, we’ll always be very raw and messy in the moment we start, but as we work on ourselves along the way, we keep developing, and everyone’s journey is different; such diversity is even reflected in how we work. For example, my peers couldn’t be happier with their iMac, I’ve been my portable digital Freewrite typewriter ever since it came in the mail in August 2023. It was the perfect way to end a fun and memorable summer, and whether I’m doing something for my M.A. or a personal project, it’s always a total pleasure to type the first draft on the device and then transfer it to my email, where I’ll continue working on Google Docs.

Ultimately, though, all you need is the willingness to explore your thoughts and feelings, and I promise you that if you start today, you’ll feel better tomorrow, so let the rest of your life start today. As Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and writing is your chance to pave a beautiful path. Oftentimes, the journey to discover ourselves is the hardest and most painful, but it’s also the most rewarding, and can lead you to places you never thought you’d reach.

Thank you again for reading my work! If you’re so inclined, please consider buying me a $5 coffee on my Ko-fi page.