Express Yourself!
A notebook and pen are always available. You can write anything you want to write. You can express your true concerns of hope and fear of what you’re going through and of the future. Writing it all out, helps get it all out, the good and the bad. Writing in a journal about what you’ve learned and how your life has changed, and about the people who have helped and encouraged you, chronicles your journey. The best reason to keep a journal through cancer is so you won’t forget the details of the experience. Having a personal written record to refer to is priceless. After all, doctors keep medical records, so shouldn’t we keep our own record of one of the most important medical events in our lives? What is there to say about cancer that hasn't been said before? Cynics answer, “Nothing.” However, that’s not true. There is a lot to say in new and fresh ways and a lot to say again because it bears repeating. Each story is unique and we need to express it for our own benefit. Journaling gives us an increased sense of self-awareness. We gain greater insight into and understanding of the events in our lives. Journaling is empowering, after writing it, we’re better able to communicate and advocate for ourselves. Journaling expresses our unique perspective. If writing through cancer is for our own purposes then who cares if what we write isn’t published or if no one hears it beyond the group’s participants?
| Why attend the writing group?
Attending the writing group is an active experience. Participants read, write, and listen during each meeting, which is therapeutic for healing, maintaining a positive outlook, and moving forward. Writing prompts spark creativity and engage the subconscious in the writing. These writing exercises give fresh perspectives and expression of thoughts and ideas. Most of the time, journal keepers don’t get to hear what they write, so reading in a writing group lets us hear our own voices. Some people want to journal but don’t know how or where to begin and attending a writing group gets them going. Other people start journaling and the group keeps them writing. Then there are people who need the safety and security of a group to engage in journaling through difficult times. Lastly, there is the person who may not need any support from others but what they read from their experience is exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Benefits of Journal Writing Writing about important and challenging events helps to process experiences. Writing is stress reducing. Writing groups provide an important network of support and encouragement. Relating personal experiences with other survivors is beneficial to healing. Writing helps to process emotions, to externalize experience, to make sense of what is happening, to pinpoint fears resulting in self-discovery and reflection and helps survivors to learn from their experience. Writing allows expression of negative emotions and thoughts as well as positive which is vital in the healing process.
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