Do you want to gain more insight into your life?

Are you looking for guidance? Do you have pent-up emotions? Are you waiting for a breakthrough?

Writing can be the key to unlocking all of this.

Writing can be an incredible tool for catharsis, which is the process of releasing or transmuting strong or repressed emotions. All you need is a pen, paper and the courage to be honest with yourself.

There are few tools that are as powerful and accessible as writing. I’ve personally had enormous breakthroughs, profound insights and mindblowing epiphanies while writing. Through writing, I’ve also been able to work through difficult emotions and find clarity in various aspects of life.

This kind of writing is an awe-inspiring combination of self-expression, therapy, creativity, meditation and spiritual connection.

It’s nothing complicated or time consuming either. All you need to do is follow these simple steps…

5 Simple Steps for Cathartic Writing

1. Relax

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths. Let the tension evaporate out of your body and mind.

Become pure awareness.

If you have difficulty relaxing or stilling your mind, I highly recommend engaging in a regular meditation practice.

2. Tune In

After relaxing for a few seconds, you will notice things start to come back. These might be thought patterns, emotions or physical tension.

Be aware of these.

Notice your thoughts. What thoughts are circling in your mind?

Notice your emotions. What emotions are you experiencing?

Notice your body. Where are you carrying tension?

Awareness of these will act as cues for your subconscious mind to work through and transmute the disharmony associated with those thoughts, emotions and physical tension.

3. Initiate

Start writing by invoking your Higher Self.

Note: According to whatever your beliefs are, you can invoke whatever wisdom feels best for you; Source, God, the Universe, your Higher Self, your subconscious mind, Infinite Intelligence, etc.

Here’s an example of how I initiate a cathartic writing session: “Through this pen my Higher Self flows.” I just write that sentence first and then let the rest of the writing flow.

If you want to strengthen this connection, I get into these kinds of topics a lot in my intuitive email transmissions.

4. Flow

Just write. Let it flow without resistance.

Don’t filter yourself. Let it come through however it may, without judgment. Let the words flow through you.

Keep writing for as long as you want. I usually stop after I get some sort of insight. After this, the flow tends to stop.

Feel it out for yourself. And don’t have expectations. You might not have a life changing a-ha moment every time you do this. Some of the wisdom that comes through is far more subtle.

5. The Takeaway

Write down a takeaway from what you’ve written.

This can be an affirmation or mantra to start using. It can also be something to do or an action to take.

Sometimes, in the process of writing, a clear takeaway will come though. Other times you may need to come up with a takeaway after, based on what you wrote or insights you had.

The takeaway is crucial. Because all of the insights in the world don’t mean anything if you don’t integrate and apply them.

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This is a powerful process. I recommend everyone try this, even if you view yourself as someone who can’t write well

Try it out and experience the power of catharsis.

Happy writing.

~ Stephen Parato