Note 342 – Can writing promote everyday happiness?

Writing (Photo credit: jjpacres - Flickr)

When you have something on your mind, you can do a number of things – the main ones being:

1. Keep it to yourself
2. Talk to others
3. Write it down

But, which is the best way, or is it different for each person?  Which method encourages more feelings of happiness? 

I’ve just started reading :59 seconds by Professor Richard Wiseman which is a self-help guide based on lots of research.  In his book, he describes ‘quick and quirky’ techniques (i.e. ones that take less than 60 seconds) which can help people to achieve what they need to achieve, quicker than other methods.  On the topic of negative thinking (in the happiness chapter), he talks about ‘expressive writing’ and the line I like the best in the book so far is when he explains how talking and writing are very different (from a psychological perspective).  He writes:

“Talking can often be somewhat unstructured, disorganised, even chaotic. In contrast, writing encourages the creation of a story line and structure that helps people make sense of what has happened and work towards a solution.” (Professor Richard Wiseman  :59 seconds)

Research detailed in the book suggests that the act of writing down thoughts can be used to promote everyday happiness.

My thoughts: As I am a writer and also someone who has kept diaries/journals (i.e. written down my thoughts) for most of my life, I can relate to this concept and most certainly do think that it can promote everyday happiness; however, a non-writer might not feel the same.

Do you think that writing can promote everyday happiness?

Until tomorrow…

Sandra
www.sandramadeira.com

Related articles

• 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman (raydvd.org)
• Why Happiness? (vilinasvetoslavova.wordpress.com)