Expressive Writing for Healing: Journal Your Way from Grief to Hope

by Mary Potter Kenyon

"We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand." --C. Day-Lewis

Writing is one of the oldest and most effective means of self-exploration, self-expression, and self-discovery. In this new guided journal, Mary Potter Kenyon offers readers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and significance of loss and allows the griever to sort through all the conflicting emotions that arise after a death. By interweaving her own experiences of loss, the proven research behind writing as a method for healing, and blank pages with carefully chosen quotes, Kenyon gives readers space to express the feelings that are sometimes too painful to speak aloud.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2018

About the author

Mary graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Psychology and is certified as a grief counselor, trained under world renown grief expert David Kessler. She is an author, widely published in magazines, newspapers and anthologies. She teaches writing workshops for area community colleges, libraries and writer's conferences and does presentations and workshops on utilizing creativity in your everyday life, jumpstarting your natural creativity and facing grief with grace. She is the author of several books, including the award-winning "Refined By Fire: A Journey of Grief and Grace," with a foreword written by New York Times bestselling author, Cecil Murphey and "Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity," Mary and her husband Nick Portzen speak on the power of prayer in marriage and are currently working on a book on the same topic.

Reviews

[Jenny]

I dont know what I was expecting reading this, I feel like it was more about me and not the content. I guess I wanted to find out she felt exactly like I felt going through grief but obviously it was not the case. The main reason is that grief is very different for everyone and it was not the same situation either. Nevertheless the author tells you exactly about the purpose of the journal and how it can help you during the difficult time of grief.

3.5 ⭐️

[Jocelyn Green]

An inspired and amazing resource. In a culture which seeks to avoid pain, Mary Kenyon doesn't show you the way around your heartache, but takes your hand and gently guides you through it. Expressive Writing for Healing is the most powerfully framed journal I've ever read. Having lost her mother, husband, and grandson within 17 months of each other, Mary has stitched her soul onto these pages, and then invites you to do the same. This helpful tool is sure to be a welcome companion to the bereaved.

[W. Whalin]

Get Detailed Guidance from Someone Who Has Walked Your Path

When I’m reaching for a resource, I want to know the writer has journeyed the path from Grief to Hope (the subtitle of this book). Mary Potter Kenyon knows what she writes about because she has experienced it firsthand through the sudden death of her husband, David, which she tells in the introduction.

As Kenyon writes in the opening chapter, “The first “rule” for this journal is there are no rules. This book is designed with empty pages to be utilized however you want. It’s meant to be a safe place for expressing your thoughts, emotions, desires, and dreams and if it means filling some of the empty space with doodles or drawings, composing poetry, using scrapbook materials for personalization, or the standard of freewriting one usually associates with a journal, feel free to engage in whatever method of self-expression comes naturally.” (Page 3)

I love the pointed quotations scattered into the blank pages in this book. For example, “Ignore the need to be “strong.” Tears are a gift, and they often demonstrate how precious our loved one was to us.” – Shelly Beach (Page 71)

The final pages of the book include three pages of optional writing prompts. This book is packed with insights and help for every reader. I highly recommend it.

[Amber]

This simple little book was a friend to me through my loss.

[Lisa Lewis]

Grieving is personal and unique for each individual. Many people don't know how to process emotions during a difficult loss. With tenderness and care, Mary Potter Kenyon demonstrates her creative skills to help the reader create a journal for healing. Kenyon uses her own loss and experience to help guide the difficult, yet necessary, process of grieving.

[Annemarie Guertin]

Mary Kenyon’s book helped me through a very difficult time in my life. I found her personal experiences with grief and healing relatable. The added space to journal sets this book apart from other books on the subject matter. This book has brought me much comfort and I have recommended it to many others going through difficult times in their lives. This book is a must have!

[Claire]

I'm not much of a journal writer, on occasion I decide to give it a go, but it rarely lasts more than a few days, maybe a week. I've long been aware of the positive impact of journal writing so I decided to see if this book would help me to start a new practice.

While to book is aimed at people who are grieving it's advice could be equally useful for someone dealing with other strong emotions like anger or depression.

The book is beautifully written and the examples from Mary's experiences makes it relate-able and gives a personal feeling to it. The writing prompts were especially useful, it can be hard to get started and these have really helped.

I'm really glad I found this book, although, perhaps it found me.

The narration somehow manages to be positive, calm and inspiring at the same time, it's perfect for the book.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

[Patricia Morris]

When I began crying and couldn’t see the pages, I chose a trial of Amazon Audible so I could finish this book. The wealth and depth of this author’s experiences, tragic sometimes, hopeful always, rise to the level of healing by listening to her advice and seeing how God remains the source of our hope despite enormous grief. If you’ve ever gone through an unimaginable loss, this book supplies gentle writing prompts to help you wade through the messy heartbreak and approach gratitude with grace—gratitude that brings healing in spite of our wounding, trauma-laced experiences. You won’t regret this approach to healing from the hurts of your past. You may want to purchase an extra journal to write down what the Lord says to help you move toward gratitude and healing. I was given this book as a gift this February and once I started, I finished in 2 days.

[Michelle Rayburn]

This book allows the reader to read the author's story of her journey through grief while also finding themselves in their own journey. The author is real and raw about her own experience, and gives the reader the sense of walking alongside like a friend. The book has plenty of blank pages for writing, and also includes some writing prompts if you don't know where to begin. Writing can be so therapeutic. The author explains how she filled notebooks after losing her husband, and she found the process significant to her healing.

For the person who isn't ready yet to write, I encourage them to read Mary's story in the pages, and then go back and read it again as you begin to write in the journaling pages.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the author. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and my opinions are objective.

[Mary Jedlicka Humston]

I have been journaling for almost 45 years, so I know the value of being able to voice your thoughts into words on a blank page. Author Mary Potter Kenyon advocates for this, too, in her book on the importance of journaling while grieving. The blank journal pages are interspersed with helpful chapters such as "Broken or Broken Open" and "Holidays and Other Hurdles." I also found the quotes to be poignant and pertinent. This is an excellent book to help those dealing with grief.

[Elizabeth]

Expressive Writing for Healing by Mary Potter Kenyon – This is on kindle unlimited. Mrs. Kenyon’s personal testimony and her experiences offer a safe space to start the process of writing about your own dark journeys! I think this would be a great gift for someone walking through the valley of the shadow. Happy Reading!

[Bailey Young]

Expressive Writing For Healing: Journal You Way From Grief To Hope is a thought-provoking, faith-based, and healing book! I love that this journal combines written reflection, quotes, and journal prompts. It is a moving to dive so deep into grief and the hope focus helps transform lingering sadness.

[Shari Brase-Smith]

Superbly Written!

While it’s not easy to walk with anyone through grief, the author not only takes you into her pain and her experiences but also into her journey towards healing. What helped her are the things that help many others who are grieving!

[Lisa Lewis]

Writing is one of the best forms of communication. Mary Potter Kenyon's book helps the reader create reflection and healing in the midst of devastating loss. Drawing on her own experience and training, the author is able to bring compassion and love into the sad journey of grief.