Talking vs Writing

There are times when even the most emotionally open person will want to write about their feelings. For example, when a person is confused about what he would like to do. Writing helps to achieve clarity without the influence of other people. Consider the advantages of talking and writing, and use both to improve the quality of your life.

Talking	Writing
Talk is learned earlier in life. It is automatic.	Writing must be taught.
It takes less effort to speak than write, but either way of increasing understanding and insight reduces stress and enhances a healthy lifestyle.	Writing takes some thought. Increasing understanding and insight reduces stress and enhances a healthy lifestyle.
Talk is spontaneous.	Writing is deliberate. Rewriting to create a coherent story produces benefits.
Talk depends on the social context. (Acceptance from listeners is crucial to talk becoming therapeutic.)	Writing is independent. It is therapeutic if it allows you to experience your emotions.
Unless it is tape recorded, talking doesn’t leave a record.	Writing can be as permanent as desired. When people in studies expanded their stories to include positive emotion words, it predicted better health in the upcoming months.
Speech has simpler syntax and grammar.	Because it is more complex, there is more retention in reading and writing.
Talking is influenced by the personal presence of others. This can be either good or bad.	Writing promotes self-awareness, free from outside influences. It allows you to reconcile events in ways you can be comfortable with.

Journaling Allows You to Create a Private Space

Each of us has a different idea of happiness. Each of us has certain items that speak to us as a token of fulfillment. We strive so hard to overcome life’s problems we don’t take the time to treat ourselves with kindness. Journaling means giving ourselves permission to go inside. Writing helps us define what comforts and inspires us.

Try this: Number a page from 1 to 25. List twenty-five things that represent contentment. Don’t take the time to rank them in any order of importance; just capture the first 25 things that come to mind. For example:

1. Green tea
2. Extra pillows on the bed
3. Toys for the children who visit
4. Family photos
5. An herb garden that attracts butterflies, and so on.

When finished, scan your list and select a symbol that you can use to celebrate contentment. Pick something meaningful to you, an item that conjures up one of the best times you’ve ever had. Then when you sit down to write, think of the journal as this symbol. Use it to bring back the feeling of contentment and make it part of your current experience. If you reinforce this symbol of contentment, you will be able to recall and use it when you need to relax.