Putting your thoughts and feelings into words

[PokerEnthusiast]

Today I was reading a few blog entries that my friend posted about his current life situation. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer and doctors say he has 6 months to live.

Anyways, I was really inspired by the way he writes. The way he describes his feelings is almost like poetry. His words were so captivating and "from the heart". This motivated me to want to start a daily or weekly journal of my own. Not something to be posted online for others to read, but just something for myself.

I have never kept a journal before. The problem is that I find it very hard to put my feelings into words. I have always been this way. Ever since I can remember I have always been really reserved when it comes to disclosing my feelings. I have constantly kept most of my deepest thoughts and feelings bottled up inside of me. It is as if I have trained myself to do this so much, that now I don't even know how to use words to reveal these innermost thoughts and feelings. What can I do to overcome this barrier?

[Bud921]

Although I am sorry about the diagnosis of your friend, I am happy he is able to voice soul so elegantly.

This post kind of reminds of the last lecture, ( if you have not seen it I highly reccmend you doing a search.)

I also would perhaps in encourgae you to encourage your friend to seek out some, more hololistic apporachs to perhaps help fight his cancer. Nonetheless your friend will be in my thoughts.

In regards, to being able to put your feelings in words. It's rather simple ,QUIT THINKING. What I mean by that is just, write. Open up a word document, or take out a piece of paper if your more traditonal, and just begin to write your thoughts. Like Steve has mentioed many times, once you begin it will begin to flow more and more, I recall several times when I don't even like I have control of my hands, words just flow.

There is no "right" way to express your feelings, so I think it is wise to quit looking for one. Many people bottle their feelings up, so you are not alone in that regard. I think it is admirable you are looking for a way to express yourself better .

Overcoming your barrier will be difficult at first, but it will become easier, if you put a conciouss effort into the task. I advise you to perhaps begin journaling. Try writing for 30 mintues a night, not worrying about what your write, but just writing. Do this for a month or so and see where this takes you.


I wish you the best of luck,


-Bud

[Matt Willard]

This is especially important for aspiring fiction writers. A skill you need to learn is how to put stream of conciousness down on paper. Basically, writing the first thing and phrasing that comes to mind when drafting or freewriting. You can fix it all later in the editing stage-the point of the draft is to get it all down first. I'm still working on this skill, but I'm getting better at it, so it's not hard to get used to.

[PokerEnthusiast]

Thanks for your advice guys. I'm going to try and start one soon.

[AviMar]

I had beliefs severely hampering my writing, but once I dropped those I realized that I just couldn't get out my thoughts.
What helped what exactly that - just write. If you can't think of the right word, just write something and keep moving. If it doesn't sound right, don't delete it - just keep writing.

Even for rewriting, in one of the immediate drafts, where I often rewrite a lot I just write the correction, even if it doesn't sound perfect.

Don't let yourself get caught up - just write whatever comes to mind, and keep moving.

Enjoy!