Emily Ronay Johnston, an assistant teaching professor of Global Arts, Media, and Writing Studies at the University of California, Merced, discusses the benefits of writing in a recent article for The Conversation, highlighting how writing can build resilience by changing the brain.
Ms. Johnston notes that writing is a universal act that can reshape the brain and foster resilience by shifting mental states from overwhelm to clarity. She writes:
Resilience is an individual quality that people can strengthen with effort. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as an ongoing process of personal growth through life’s challenges. News headlines routinely praise individuals who refuse to give up or find silver linings in times of hardship. The wellness industry promotes relentless self-improvement as the path to resilience.
In the article, Johnston shares her experience as a writing professor, noting that her research shows writing helps people navigate trauma and build resilience. She highlights how her students use writing to process emotions and foster a sense of belonging. Below is a concise summary of the key points from her article:
- Writing rewires the brain: Johnston explains that expressive writing, developed by psychologist James Pennebaker, helps people process trauma by externalizing emotional distress through journaling. This practice creates mental distance from painful experiences, aiding memory consolidation and emotional regulation.
- Taking action through writing: Johnston notes that writing promotes a state of presence that engages the nervous system in complex ways. It helps regulate emotions by calming the amygdala and activating the prefrontal cortex, allowing individuals to shift from reactive responses to intentional actions.
- Making meaning through writing: Johnson emphasizes that writing is a cognitive activity that helps people understand the human experience and create identity. It also regulates psychological states and signifies resilience through everyday coping strategies.
- Building resilience through writing: Johnston highlights research-backed strategies for cultivating a resilient writing practice:
- Write by hand whenever possible: Handwriting requires greater cognitive coordination than typing, supporting deeper information processing and meaning-making.
- Write daily: Even brief daily notes about experiences, feelings, or plans can help ease rumination and establish a regular reflective habit.
- Write before reacting: Putting strong emotions into words before speaking encourages reflection and thoughtful action.
- Write a letter you never send: Address feelings to a person or situation, or write to yourself, to release and process emotions safely.
- Treat writing a process: Drafting, seeking feedback, and revising not only strengthens self-awareness but also builds confidence over time.
Johnston adds that resilience can be found in everyday writing, whether in journal entries, emails, task lists, or even the essays students write for their professors.
Acknowledgement: This summary was generated using AI writing tools as part of my experimental learning process. For more detail, check out the original article in The Conversation Magazine.