Why You Should Write More

In today’s fast paced culture and quick texts, sometimes the art of writing out well thought out musings or typing them onto a computer screen, get lost. Too many are overwhelmed with writing or feel they don’t have time to write. Yet I have found that making time to write on a regular basis can be extremely valuable to my life.

I have been a student of finding tools and habits that are helpful to my personal and spiritual growth. Nothing has been more helpful to me than the regular practice of writing. It might be journaling, taking notes on something I am reading or jotting down some ideas for future projects. Whatever mode I use, I find writing to be a great way to focus my heart and give me a routine to propel my personal growth.

I want to encourage you to develop a writing habit. Whether you buy a hand written notebook or you prefer typing your thoughts into a computer (which I do), the end format is not the issue.

You may need to write that book, which will one day become a publication. Or you just may need to develop a journaling habit. Sometimes writing out prayers can be powerful. Writing a record of experiences that you have had can be so valuable.

I spend time writing down things that happen to my children. I write down everything that God helps me to learn and understand. I have an endless list of uses that writing has in my life. I don’t just write books and blog entries. I use writing for so many areas in my life!

Here are some great reasons I believe you should develop the habit of writing.

1. It’s a great way to jump start my heart.

This one is the most important to me. Many people complain about struggling to get their heart going to connect. Whether its connecting to God better or having a more charged heart for life, journaling can be a great way to jump start. I even have some pre-designed questions I used to get the conversation going in writing. Sometimes I write my thoughts to God, other times I am simply writing to express what is within so I can look at things more objectively.

2. I get things out of my mind and heart and onto paper.

Journaling is a way to get your thoughts down on paper. I like that I can get them out of my head and onto paper. Because my mind is always thinking about new things, opportunities and creative ideas, I treasure being able to get things onto paper so I dont stress in trying to remember them.

I also find it so helpful to put what I am going through on paper. I dont write a novel and I don’t write long entries. A lot of times they are just bullet point thoughts. When I look at my problems written on paper, I can get a better perspective. If we are just in our head about so many issues, we can more easily get overwhelmed. Putting the issues on paper can help us step back and put everything into perspective.

I have often found that writing helps me to establish what I believe and the vision I am headed to. When it comes to writing down ideas or processing what God is doing in my heart, I often write these by hand. There is something very special when I hand write thoughts. My brain connects to them better and I even remember them more clearly.

3. I have a record of what God is doing.

It is so important that you record what God is doing in your life.

Why? Because we so easily forget.

God can perform a massive miracle one day and you can end up forgetting it all the next. We our built with a need to be reminded.

In the Old Testament, God commanded Israel to write down and to place monuments as a record what He did in their life, so they would always remember His ways. Today, keeping a regular journal can be a great way to document the work of God in your life. You can look back at all the miracles He has done to propel you into greater things in the future.

4. I can watch patterns in my life.

Last year, I looked over my personal writing and journal entries and noticed a disturbing trend. I saw a thread of negativity and an undercurrent of hopelessness that were making my prayers toxic. I would not have seen these patterns if I did not have a journal. Sometimes we need opportunities to step outside of ourselves and get a picture of what is going on in our lives, so we can make neccesary changes.

With journaling, it causes me to pause and think about where I am and where I am going. Writing these things down helps me to more quickly deal with the limitations of my life and move forward in greater effectiveness.

Question: Do you write on a regular basis? What purpose do you use writing for? What would help you to get going on your writing?

Join Me at the New England Writer’s Conference!

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