A ritual is a way of doing something on a regular basis. We each have our own set of rituals, whether it’s waking up in the morning and brushing your teeth, washing your face, or walking the dog. It can also be maintaining a spiritual practice, a meditation practice or exercise routine. As a writer, I’m a big advocate of rituals because they put us in a certain mindset. In terms of rituals before writing, we each have different needs and what works for us, whether it’s taking a walk, having a cup of tea or coffee, burning a candle, or a meditation practice.
Prompt: Write about some of your rituals, those you love and those which you’d like to revise in 2024.
Starting the New Year
The new year is a good time to begin a writing. As a writing and journaling advocate, I believe that the writing ritual has many healing and therapeutic properties. It heals because it serves as an outlet where we can express ourselves and our emotions. Writing gives us a way to make sense of and clarify our feelings about certain experiences, especially during life challenges. It helps us communicate our thoughts to ourselves and to those around us. Also, studies have shown that when writing in the first person, our body, mind, and spirit tend to become stronger and more balanced.
Writing can be therapeutic because it helps us develop self-awareness, creativity, a sense of gratitude, self-confidence, and mindfulness; inspires us to manifest our intentions and tap into our authentic selves; is empowering and energizing; and helps us identify life patterns.
Writing time is also alone time, which some of us we welcome after the busy holiday season. Being alone with our thoughts is healing because it allows us to tap into a creative outlet for learning about ourselves. Writing can help us identify priorities, answer life’s essential questions, and determine our reasons for being. All in all, it offers the magic of self-discovery as a path to psychological and spiritual well-being.
Prompt: What gives your life a sense of significance?
TYPES OF WRITING
The type of writing ritual you choose will depend on what type of writing resonates with you. Some different forms of writing for therapy include journaling, letter writing, poetry, essay writing, memoir writing, and fiction.
Journal writing. This is often the way people begin to write. You can use writing prompts, like those I shared in my book, Writing for Bliss; or you can engage in automatic or stream-of-consciousness writing, which means that you write for 15 to 20 minutes without stopping. This is one way to tap into the messages of both your heart and your subconscious mind. It’s also a way to release the stress associated with your life experiences.
Letter writing. This is another excellent way to tap into your innermost feelings and can also help you connect with those far away, which is particularly useful during a pandemic. Sometimes when we direct our sentiments to one person, we’re more inclined to tap into the voice of the heart. Also, sometimes it’s easier to say what we need to in a letter than it would be to speak with someone in person.
Prompt: Write a letter to someone who has strongly influenced you.
Poetry. This is the voice of the soul expressed in a succinct way. It’s a form that encourages you to slow down and tap into specific feelings. A poem is a collection of fragments with a theme. People often turn to poetry when in the midst of strong emotions. If you’re drawn to this creative outlet, it’s wise to read a lot of other people’s poetry to get a sense of the various styles, which range from a definite rhyming pattern to more free verse.
Prompt: Write a ‘how to’ poem or a poem that describes how to do something.
Fiction. Some people prefer fiction. Maybe this is the year to begin writing a short story or a novel. If you read and enjoy a lot of fiction, this might be the perfect genre for you.
Prompt: Write a short summary of a novel you always wanted to write.
Memoir or essays
Those who prefer this form might find this the year to begin writing a memoir. If you read a lot of nonfiction or memoir, then this is probably the genre for you.
Prompt: Write about a transformative event.
More writing prompts for 2024:
1. Write a letter to yourself reflecting on how 2023 was for you. Discuss your challenges, hurdles, accomplishments, and concerns.
2. Be mindful of your inspirations. Write about situations or individuals that inspired you and made you feel good over the past year.
3. Write about what brought you solace and joy in 2023 and if you’ll continue this practice in 2024. If not, what new activities do you hope to engage in?
4. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. A journal is the perfect place to express your appreciation for all the good things in your life, as focusing on the light helps foster health and well-being.
5. Nurture your intuition. It has been said that intuitive people listen to the voices of their souls and follow their instincts. For some people this is a developed skill, but for others it comes more naturally. Write down some questions or concerns you have about 2024. Stop for a moment and look to your inner soul or higher self and write down the answers you receive.
Developing a ritualistic writing practice can be particularly helpful when you’re at a crossroads or going through challenging times. Writing can remind us of our joyous times and show us how we can call them up when we’re facing adversities. Finding bliss through writing is about paying attention and being mindful of all the things, situations, and people that bring us joy, as well as anything else that helps us gets us in touch with our inner child — which can be therapeutic no matter what else is going on in the world!
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Previously Published on Medium
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