HEALTH
book , I spent the past year rewriting the entire manuscript . The first step was to remove the characters and situations that I believed were the perpetrators of my misery . But a good story needs conflict , so I had to take a good hard look at the only thing that was consistent throughout – me . I had to dig deep , be vulnerable , and expose my own failings .
Though not easy , that change in perspective was the best thing that could have happened , for the book and my life . My writing became more expressive , the emotions more raw , the transformation more profound . Beyond the improvements in my writing , those same shifts began to appear in my life . By changing my perspective and acknowledging my inner turmoil , I had to change , not only the story I had been telling , but the new story I was creating each day .
The irony is that in twenty years of coaching other writers , I was finally reaping the benefits that I had seen in their process : by rewriting my story , I discovered the gifts in my experience . I began a process of examining and changing those negative , long-held , and erroneous beliefs . By embracing
Though not easy , that change in perspective was the best thing that could have happened , for the book and my life . My writing became more expressive , the emotions more raw , the transformation more profound . Beyond the improvements in my writing , those same shifts began to appear in my life .
and accepting my life ’ s choices , I began to see the gift in each experience . And the biggest gift of all was feeling a deep sense of healing that moved beyond the emotional to a sense of mental and spiritual peace as well .
In her book , The Story You Need to Tell : Writing to Heal from Trauma , Illness , or Loss , Sandra Marinella writes : “ As we link our narratives , we are changing ourselves . [ Christina ] Baldwin [ in Storycatcher ] explains , ‘ The self-story requires editing . Editing is a constant process of updating who we think we are and how we spoke about our histories and ourselves .’ And herein we find another piece of our human brain magic . Our brains allow us not only to create our personal story of self but to edit , interpret , and find meaning in what we are creating .”
Writing heals and transforms . From cancer to sexual orientation , my clients have shifted their perspectives , found the gift in their struggles , and transformed their lives by writing their story .
If you would like to find meaning in your stories , to change your perspective and heal , I invite you to write . Start with journal writing and start with no limits . No one will see your writing unless you
13 | HAPI Guide