1. It clears your mind
2. It improves your understanding
3. It helps you get to know yourself
4. Use it to share your perspective
5. Organize / Document Your Life
6. It’s fun

I’ve always loved to write, so I never really needed a reason. I love notebooks and pens and have always had them laying around. Typing is easier and faster, so that may work better for some people. My handwriting is terrible because I’m impatient and it is so slow to hand write. If you have beautiful handwriting (as I wish I did) that’s a side benefit.

But why? Why spend time writing, in any form?

The main reason, for me, is that it clears the mind. I always feel good after writing. My mind feels empty and refreshed. Write what’s in your mind, just as it is. It can be shocking to see what’s there once you stop the mind and write it down. This is called stream of consciousness writing aka the brain dump.  No one has to see it, you can burn it if you want.  It’s so satisfying and gets all the blockages out of your mind. The mind is like a machine that runs certain patterns of thinking that were injected into it in the past based on a person’s life and surroundings. Most of it is unconscious, but it doesn’t have to be. Analyzing it through writing is a way of discovering your own unconscious patterns that run your life.

Alternatively, you can choose any topic you’re interested in. Choose a theory you have, or a belief or something that bothers you from the past or present. Or you can write about a particular subject you’re interested in and your experiences with it. For example, art, music, and personal development are things I’m interested in. This is enjoyable, but also improves your own understanding of your chosen topic and broadens your perspective.

Writing is how I get to know my current self. Or even correct the ways I’ve been wrong. Often I see things from different perspectives when I write. It opens up my mind, and when the mind is open you never know what will appear. You can also choose from thousands of prompts and write about it. I love this, because there are so many things that we don’t contemplate and just ignore. It really can’t hurt to get to know yourself better. Well, actually it can be painful when you grow in awareness, but it’s a good kind of pain and it can only improve your life. It’s not pleasant to see the ways you’ve been wrong. Sometimes I look back at myself and feel like I was a complete idiot. But it’s worth it, because without these realizations, you will remain ever the same and won’t grow in any meaningful way, like child in an adult body. The ego never wants to admit it’s wrong, which of course is its greatest obstacle and why growth is so painful. The better you know yourself, the more likely it is you will make appropriate decisions for yourself and the better your life will be. Writing is a great tool for this.

Years ago, I had a great manager at a previous job. Everyone liked him. One day I asked him what his favorite hobby was. He said it was writing, but he didn’t write anymore and it had been a long time since he had. That was really sad to me, because I would have loved to read his writing and see his perspective. We all have a unique perspective, might as well share it! So much of what we consume is someone else’s perspecive, it can be easy to become complacent and not take the time to think things through, to take the easy way out. Why not offer your perspective? It’s just as valid as anyone else’s. Things are shoved in our faces day in and day out, often without our consent. No one has to read what you write, but it might help or inspire someone if they happen to come across it.

I always have a planner for monthly and daily things I want / have to do. It keeps my mind clear and lowers stress levels because I’m on top of everything that needs to be done. Also, I use it to write down creative ideas I have through out the day. But it’s also nice to document your life and write down whatever you want to remember about your days in the future. The older I get, the faster time seems to pass. It just melts away and I’m left wondering how the past 4 years have flown by so fast! This current year is already more than half over and I can’t believe it.

Writing is fun. It’s creative and a way to express yourself. Journal, write poetry or songs or stories. Write articles to inform or persuade. I’ve found it to be a satisfying thing to do and maybe you will too.