At present, we face uncertainties of what tomorrow will hold as this pandemic is affecting the whole world. When people face uncertainties, it is normal for them to have fear, have worries, or suffer stress as they perceive vulnerabilities. Therefore, it is normal and expected for people to experience these at the moment. With the new normal we are facing, people started to value their physical and mental health.
Valuing mental health should not mean costs; you can take care of and respect yourself by doing simple things, such as writing. Promoting happiness and creativity within oneself can be achieved through this activity as it has a significant psychological benefit to an individual. You don’t have to be J.K. Rowling, Dan Brown, or Jenny Han to consider yourself a writer. Writing is not just exclusive for writers. It is for everyone! As simple as writing down your ideas, thoughts, and even a concept can boost your mood. How flourishing, right?
Do you want to know why?
It is because writing can be considered as an outlet to express one’s fear and worries. One can use it to de-stress from everything that is happening around. Through writing, you can confess all the thoughts running on your mind without any judgments – it is just you and your paper and pen or your computer. Writing provides therapeutic benefits as it increases one’s happiness and reduces stress.
Oh! Did you know that creative writing has been therapeutic to J.K. Rowling? She learned the power of writing to overcome depression. Not just writing a little bit, but establishing it as a day-to-day practice and seeing it through. Who would have thought she struggled with some personal issues when writing the first book in the Harry Potter series? So writing and seeing her vision becoming a reality was a defining moment in her depression.
In psychology, what J.K. Rowling did can be best explained by sublimation. This concept is considered the mature type of defense mechanism where individuals deal with the cynical struggles and turn them into a more acceptable behavior by doing constructive activities.
In San Francisco, Elizabeth Sullivan, a licensed marriage and family therapist, stated that “Writing is a small movement, but it is incredibly powerful when you are writing down what is in your mind.” Writing is beneficial because it is therapeutic as it enables an individual to acknowledge one’s thoughts and feelings.
Scientific proof explains the relation between creative activities and happiness. In New Zealand, a recent study by the University of Otago suggests that creative writing daily contributes to long-term happiness. According to the study, engaging in creative behavior leads to an increase in well-being on the next day.
Writing each day is better than writing a couple of times a week. It is not a requirement for you to write a lot! All you have to do is hold that pen, open your notebook, open your computers or laptops, and write down all your thoughts at least once a day. Let your creative juices flow! Free your mind from everything that is bothering you. In this way, you can develop a skill as you take care of your mental health. Start living your flourishing life!
References
Dienstman, A. M. (2018, July 4). 5 Reasons Writing Can Be Huge Boost for Happiness. Goodnet. https://www.goodnet.org/articles/5-reasons-writing-be-huge-boost-for-happiness
Psychological Benefits of Creative Writing. (2018, July 08). Blog Cecile’s Writers. https://cecileswriters.wordpress.com/2018/06/13/psychological-benefits-of-creative-writing/
Rebele, R. (2020, November 27). Write Something Every Day. Positive Psychology News. https://positivepsychologynews.com/news/robert-rebele/2011110919781
Tartakovsky, M. (2015, January 19). The Power of Writing: 3 Types of Therapeutic Writing. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-power-of-writing-3-types-of-therapeutic-writing#1
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health & COVID-19. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/covid-19
