A simple, yet amazing tool to bring peace and calm and happiness and confidence is by writing. Research has shown that writing accesses our left brain which is analytical and rational. While our left brain is occupied in the act of writing, our right brain is free to feel, to create, to discern, and to understand. Writing removes mental blocks and allows you to better understand yourself, others, and the world around you.

Writing helps us achieve balance mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in the following examples:

  • Keeping a journal. We are encouraged like Nephi to “write the things of my soul…” (2 Nephi 4:15). President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency keeps a daily journal which includes recognizing the hand of the Lord in his life each day.
  • General Conference. We can write notes about the topic of those talks and we can record spiritual impressions and promptings we receive during each talk.
  • Come, Follow Me encourages writing spiritual impressions while studying the scriptures and increases understanding and inspiration.
  • Preach My Gospel teaches us to keep a study journal including questions, words of latter-day prophets, scriptures, and other resources and to record impressions and ideas.
  • Writing letters. Some people write letters to express anger, sadness, hurt, and other emotions. The letter is not mailed. But the act of writing releases any negative feelings from the mind and the body and lets them flow onto the paper and brings comfort and peace.
  • Experiencing grief. When we have lost a loved one, we can write good memories, or write what we would say at their funeral to celebrate their life, or we could write a goodbye letter of things we would like to have said one more time. We can write last words of advice they would give to us.
  • Solving problems. Most often people solve problems using the left brain and work on solutions analytically. Using the right brain allows an added flow of creativity and can present additional solutions.

Adjusting to Missionary Life includes many suggestions and tools where writing is encouraged including;

  • Notice the Spirit’s influence in your life and write about it.
  • Serve from your strengths. Write down a list of your strengths, talents, and spiritual gifts. Plan ways to use your gifts to serve others.
  • Talk back to negative thinking. Rewrite them to be more hopeful, truthful, and encouraging.
  • Keep a log. Write it down. This helps identify physical symptoms that might be related to worries or stress or negative thinking.
  • Write a list of what is keeping you awake. Then set it aside, putting your mind at rest that you won’t forget something important.

May the Lord bless us to use writing as a tool to find peace, gratitude, and joy in all that we do.