My Secret to Managing Impulsive Emotions
Writing gives you the power to reclaim your voice and assert your desires and aspirations
I have been writing online for almost two years. Writing has been a remarkable practice that offers me a pathway to explore my inner self and embark on a personal development journey. I started writing when I was at the lowest low in my life. It was at a time when I felt lost and dejected. Writing was like a beacon of light, illuminating the otherwise dark roads ahead and leading me toward a path of recovery and growth.
Many things may have changed since then, my motivation to write and my writing style have changed and certainly, my plans for the future too have changed. But one thing about writing remains constant—the transformative power of writing as a process of healing and personal reflection.
When we feel pain and loss, our thoughts and emotions often swirl in a chaotic whirlwind, making finding a sense of direction difficult. Writing can serve as a therapeutic tool to organize the chaos within us. Through journaling, we can capture our thoughts, experiences, and emotions with words and clarity.
Often, the key to our troubles is the wisdom of how we should perceive and respond to them. As we write, we engage in a cognitive process that helps organize our thoughts and filter off our impulsive emotions. This process fosters critical thinking and provides the structures to examine our troubles through a sensemaking and logical process, helping us derive the most rational response that our raw emotions may otherwise cloud.
Impulsive language and irrational responses usually write themselves off after a few iterations. By doing regular introspection, we may stumble upon profound insights, revelations, and aha moments that lead to transformative shifts in our perspective and understanding. These newfound insights can guide us towards making informed choices and taking actions aligned with our true values.
Writing is also a vehicle for developing a growth mindset. By periodically examining our experiences and emotions, we gain a broader perspective on our strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This heightened awareness enables us to develop strategies for growth and cultivate new habits and mindsets. Writing acts as a constant companion on our journey in life, documenting our progress and offering a tangible reminder of how far we have come.
I always turn to writing when I need the time and space to think. Through writing, I have intercepted many impulsive thoughts to clarify their intention and potential consequence, helping me avoid committing stupid acts with unintended consequences.
For those of you who are on the verge of quitting your job or on the verge of making a life-changing decision, my advice to you is to write about it. Give yourself some time for iterations. You will discover that writing gives you the power to reclaim your voice and assert your desires and aspirations. Through the process, you can debunk irrational impulses, release emotional baggage, and break free from the pride that is preventing you from making the right decision.
Translating our thoughts into words is a powerful tool for regulating emotions and promoting thoughtful decision-making. Embracing the practice of writing as a means of introspection and reflection enables us to overcome impulsivity and empowers us to navigate life's challenges with greater mindfulness and intentionality.
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Writing is such a therapeutic experience. Whenever I’m stressed about something I just write down everything I’m thinking and it feels like a relief. I’ve been journaling for a while and now write poetry on substack. When something is weighing my mind I write a poem about it and try to capture the feeling the best I can through words