Call me old fashioned, but I think there are some things best done with pen and paper. Don’t get me wrong, I have hundreds of documents in my computer, but I’ve seen real magic happen through the act of writing the way it’s been done for years.
Take journaling for example. New, sometimes surprising levels of awareness can come forward through this process of taking pen to paper. Some even say the act of writing will help you tap into your subconscious, bypassing your mental blocks and connecting more deeply with the wisdom of your highest self.
The process of writing can be healing as well. When working with clients who have been through a painful experience I often recommend free form writing as a way to release their emotions and heal. The process is simple. You write what you are feeling and vent it all out on paper without holding back. You get to use all the four letter words you want. Just keep writing until it feels complete. And then, you take that paper and destroy it. You can even make a ceremony out of it. I’ve noticed fire seems to be the method of choice for my clients. As you destroy the paper with your words of pain and anger, feel yourself releasing the hold that they have had on your heart. This is how the magic of pen and paper can set you free.
I also love these implements of writing for brainstorming and creating. I usually have a notepad around for writing ideas that come to me through out the day. Sometimes, I have one for each project I am working on. Did I mention I like using pen and paper?
Mind dumps are a great way to clear space in your mind and they flow much more freely when you write them out. Once you have everything on paper, you can organize it more easily and your brain will appreciate not having to keep track of it all.
When you combine the act of writing with being in nature, the experience can be even more powerful. Journaling, mind dumps, brainstorming, and free form writing all feel much richer when practiced under a blue sky. And yes, I have been known to tell my clients to take pen and paper and go sit under a tree.
Pens and paper may feel like old-fashioned tools if you just consider them instruments of writing, but they are so much more than that. When used well, they can create beauty, vision, ideas, and even freedom. They can heal and expand your life.
Hi Linda,
You’re not old-fashioned, you’re wise. I’m sure there’s scientific evidence somewhere to show there’s a special connection between our hearts, minds and hands. There’s a reason that paper and pen are still around in spite of all the technology. They transform us in ways no computer keys ever will.
Like you, I enjoy making notes and writing ideas in notebooks. And don’t even get me started on my love of pens! I always look forward to the back-to-school sales so I can stock up on spiral notebooks and composition books. I just did that last week.
You are right Flora. There is a lot of scientific evidence that supports the benefits of putting pen to paper. I stocked up on notebooks last week at a back-to-school as well. Now, we get to fill their pages with lots of good stuff.