Want to know Warren Buffet's mantra for mega bucks? “Write down five things you admire in people. Practise those qualities. Write down five things you dislike in people. See that you don't have them.” Therefore, the first step to filling your cashbox is filling a page with that thought. Writing helps.
“Jot down your pre-exam anxieties,” say researchers at the University of Chicago. That “simple act before a stressful situation” appears to offload worries, release mental resources to focus on the job at hand, and boost performance, their study found out. “Students taking exams showed a 20 per cent improvement in their marks by putting down points just before sitting down to write,” they claim, repeating a technique all teachers recommend. According to The Telegraph , Prof Sian Beilock, who led the study said, “This type of writing will help people perform to their best in a variety of pressure-filled situations — a presentation to a client, a speech to an audience or even a job interview.”
Finding solutions
Putting your troubles down on paper somehow downsizes their ability to threaten you, trimming them from monstrous to manageable. If I can write them down so clearly, I can think of ways to solve them, isn't it? “When I'm bothered by something I can't figure out, I write down this question, ‘What am I feeling right now?'” says Suzanne Beecher, who runs an online book club. “Answering it gives me a place to start when I feel emotionally stuck.” When confused and anxious, we make things more complicated than they really are by obsessing with them. Says Suzanne, “I am haunted by feelings I can't verbalise. I work at them, and eventually I do write my way out of the pain.” That kind of writing doesn't come easy. “But once done, it's self-therapy,” she says.
That's why scores of people keep a journal. Homemaker Mita Pal remembers her doctor father writing down his day's doings just before going to bed. “While you and I write about feelings, Papa wrote about his accomplishments,” says Mita. “In his spidery hand, he would list under “What I did today”, achievements big and small — from folding clothes, building matchbox houses, to doing major surgery. I guess it helped him get a satisfied night of sleep.”
It is a well-established fact that autistic children benefit hugely when taught to write. To kids who find face-to-face communication intimidating, writing or keyboarding thoughts opens a window to interact with the world. To control Ronek's violent behaviour, counsellors asked him to fill columns labelled “violent fun” and “fun fun”. Writing allows them to express themselves in an impersonal way, something they are comfortable with. It also helps them develop hand-eye coordination and grace in movement.
“Putting your problems down on paper allows ventilation and catharsis,” says family and student counsellor Arundathi Swamy, adding that the “momentary intervention” brings emotional relief, however temporary. “The symbolic act helps you bring closure, feel ‘I'm done with it'.” But be sure to throw the paper away, she says. “Re-reading will only re-create what you thought was over.” She, however, notes that this isn't a cure to deep-rooted problems.
Stress-buster
Journal writers believe daily writing helps cope with stress, anger and depression. Remember Anne Frank? Writing can be part of one's stress-reduction strategy. When you sit down in a quiet place to collect your thoughts, you keep out stress triggers. Your mood flips sunny side up. Writing gives problems a different perspective — not difficult to attack. It's comforting to have a patient listener, but when you can't find them, writing becomes your only trusted companion. It's the ultimate neutral party, doesn't judge you or your rant. You write the way you feel — angry, sad — away from prying eyes — an emotional catalogue of your day.
“‘Voicing' my struggles on paper has been a real tonic in my life,” says 30-year-old techie Kavya, who has been maintaining a journal since she turned 13. Says Mithun, a teen, “I punch-write even if I'm just confused, don't know what my problem is! Usually, after 20 minutes of writing, I get to the problem and have some ideas how to resolve it.” So go ahead, write away your stress.
