Somewhere in my attic I still have my daily journals that I wrote back when I was 16-years old. The angst, fear and worries that I struggled with are captured on dot matrix printed paper from when I used to own a Commodore 64 computer.

I would sit at the computer late at night, put my fingers to the keyboard and just write. I think I have more than 500 pages of those early journals still.

What I learned during my teen years was this simple fact:

Writing helped me.

If I could think thoughts and put those thoughts down on paper, then I had a way of reconciling my feelings with how I acted and behaved. I could use journal writing as a means to exorcise my inner demons.

I wrote about my family, my first girlfriend and how lost and alone I felt in the world.

The power that I gained through writing gave me hope.

By writing, I could put down my thoughts about anything. There was no topic that was out-of-bounds. Better yet, I could write anything I wanted and feel physically better after my writing session.

And when I needed that extra bit of help, I had two special tricks up my sleeve:

• Write with my fingers on the keys but with my eyes closed.

• Allow myself the freedom to write whatever I wanted, but I didn’t save the journal entry.

Both means of journal writing boosted my self-confidence, strengthened my self-esteem, and helped me heal from my problems.

I could write out possible solutions, try out ideas, have conversations with people—I had the freedom to write whatever I wanted, and that built out trust within me.

I quickly realized that I could overcome my problems by writing about them, coming up with solutions, and coming to terms with my feelings.

Back in the ‘80s, there wasn’t a way for a teen to go to counseling. Sure, it happened, but in my family, asking for something like that would not have been possible. I didn’t get to therapy until I had my own health insurance.

As a teen, writing in my journal gave me the help I needed to ground me.

Let Your Fingers Go

If you’ve never tried journal writing, start small. First, decide on whether you want a physical journal to write in or a digital one (Google doc, Word file, Evernote, etc.).

Then simply make time to do the writing. Start slow and easy.

1. Pick a time of day that you want to write and stick with it (Before work or before bed might be best as those times become part of your routine.)

2. In the beginning, set the length of time that you want to write. Maybe 5-10 minutes might work best in the beginning. I like to write, so I can go on for a bit as I like getting into a flow state.

3. When writers’ block comes, keep writing. Even if you need to talk about the weather or repeat a sentence over and over again, keep at it. Some questions to help:

   1. How do you feel as you’re writing?

   2. What happened to you that day?

   3. What are you doing tomorrow?

4. Give yourself the freedom to write. This is the tricky part. In the beginning, you might fear that someone will find your journal. Depending on whether you have a physical journal or a digital one, make time to protect it. The journal is for you. Not your spouse or really anyone else.

5. Let go and just be when you write.

When you do start writing, over time, it’ll become easier as you become used to the practice. I’d recommend sticking with it for two weeks. If you like it after that, keep writing. If not, move on and try something else.

For me, writing and creativity have helped save me. I don’t know who I would be today without them!

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.