(Originally published at Degrees of Maternity on January 17, 2023.)

My goal to incentivize you to write has taken on a brand-new but exciting undertone. A different direction – I know – but trek along with me, because we’re going to go all out with using written communication to improve our relationship with self and others.

It’s a needful time to do so, too.

And I’m not just pulling this thought out of thin air and yanking your chain with it. I promise. I mean . . . the notion that relationship self-care is in high demand is more evident than ever before (in my personal observation from me, myself, and I to the precious souls in my circle of influence).

So, I can’t think of a better time to focus on healing our relationships with the help of writing.

Now, you’re probably wondering how I plan on bringing out the therapeutic properties of writing in YOUR life from the act of publishing one blog post after another on THIS site.

Well, I can emphatically say that I don’t plan on bringing out the therapeutic properties of writing all by myself. That’s for sure.

It’s just not possible to do on my end — alone. I need your active participation in the process.

As a matter of fact, this writing journey we’re about to embark upon is going to involve some two-way communication between you and me, and it’s going to involve some work on your part as well as work on my part.

Sure sounds like the stuff that relationships are made of? Doesn’t it?

But, I want to assure you that it’s not dreadful work. In fact, I think you’ll actually enjoy the activities I have in store for us. You’ll even get to determine what we do as we get into the weeds of our writing therapy.

And please don’t let the word “therapy” scare you. There’s nothing clinical about what we’ll be doing. It’s just going to be us regular people using a natural method of written communication to bring out the best in how we interact with ourselves and the people that impact our lives.

No, biggie.

So, I want you to get comfortable about writing. Not writing to be seen, per se. But I want you get comfortable about your writing and its opportunity to get heard. Like REALLY HEARD by its intended audience!

And “HEARD” equates to listened to and understood. (And if some action is needed behind what’s been listened to and understood, then that too.)

Remember: I’m on a personal mission with what I’m discussing here. So, the therapeutic writing that’s highlighted in today’s discourse is oh-so on a human relations level. Yes folks, I was a human being waaaayyy before I ever became a human resources professional. So, we’ve got to take care of the personal side of life in order to be successful on the professional side.

Furthermore, I’m a firm believer that writing is a communication enhancer. And when thoughts, feelings, and emotions are hard to verbalize, or don’t come out right when verbalized, or can’t be verbalized, they can still be communicated through the written word.

Writing can allow the human spirit to be communicative even when verbalization seems to be hampered, blocked or delayed.

Yes, writing can do all that and then some.

It’s not a magic cure-all for everything problematic with your relationships, though. But it can serve as a very complimentary (or supplemental) support mechanism to implement when the verbal communication just isn’t getting it done in and of itself.

And, let me just set the record absolutely straight before going any further.

When verbal communication is accessible in your relationship, there is NO SUBSTITUTION for it. You need to be using it as much as you can. Simply stated, you have to get comfortable in discussing your thoughts, feelings, and emotions with those you’re in a relationship with. It’s just a fundamental necessity for all healthy relationships.

So, written communication isn’t meant to take over for verbal communication and completely wipe it out of the equation. No, it’s simply meant to enhance the verbal communication so the equation can be solved.

Now, when it comes to your relationship with yourself, I’m not necessarily advocating for verbalizing things to yourself. (In other words, talking out loud to yourself isn’t really the personalized communication I’m promoting here.)

Although, I’ve been known to pep talk myself a time or two in order to get amped up to do something where a little inspiration was needed. And I say, when necessity calls for a little encouragement (when it’s not coming from an outside source), talking yourself through a situation can, oftentimes, save the day.

But as a general rule of thumb, we’ll look to the written word as the primary method for therapeutically communicating to ourselves.

My whole point in what I’ve been alluding to in this post is that writing is a way to enhance your communication when the verbal communication needs some help.

And the eventual outcome with a regular application of writing therapy is that the verbal communication (where needed) will improve and relationship healing and building can take place.

Up Next Time ⇒ Write to Communicate to Yourself