The Writing Party

By: Anna Hallett and Mary Discenza, The Writing Party (Spirituality and Writing: Connecting Within and Without)

What is Spirituality?

As a concept, spirituality has come in and out of vogue throughout time like waves on the sand. To some, it connotes religion, with all the ritualistic accoutrements which accompany worship of a Higher Power. To others, spirituality is a trendy new-age buzzword, calling to mind the metaphysical abstracts of human existence.

In fact, spirituality can encompass our philosophical understanding of our place in the universe, our religious insights, our relationship with humankind, and/or our self-awareness.

Tapping into our own unique spirituality offers infinite opportunities to communicate through writing in ways which can enrich both the writer and the reader (if you are willing to share). Exploring the possibilities and writing down your reflections on spirituality can channel relaxation and inner peace.

Benefits of Spiritual Writing

Writing is an effective way to focus your spirituality and your mindfulness. It is well-established that the act of writing can help push away distractions and keep your attention on the present. Spiritual writing allows you to practice reflection, pause, release, and healing. It can help you to find forgiveness, comfort, gratitude, awe, inner peace, and acceptance. It is a path to emotional wellbeing.

For more information on the therapeutic benefits of writing, read “The ‘Write’ to Heal” by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Julie Ayn Discenza.

Preparing Yourself for Spiritual Writing

• Find a place to write where you feel comfortable. We don’t all find inspiration in the same place. For some, it might be a comfy couch, a desk, the dining room table, or the Adirondack chair on the back porch. For others, it might be the local coffee shop or on the subway ride to and from the office. Go where you feel drawn and most inspired.
• Take a moment to open yourself to the universe. Before you write, begin with meditation, yoga, walking, praying, reading poetry, listening to music, or breathing exercises.
• Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or penmanship. Just write.
• Write for personal discovery.

Connecting Within

Spiritual writing can help you find meaning in your life. Acknowledge your own self-worth. Congratulate yourself for the good you bring to the world. Set goals for positive thinking and actions.

Throughout the day and throughout our lives we must maintain tight control on our emotions, actions, and reactions in order to peacefully interact and fit in with the world at large. Writing is a safe space to let out what lies deep in our consciousness and hopefully move beyond the cycle of painful emotions and negative thinking.

Writing Exercises for the Connection Within

• Write about your goals for today, this month, this year, your life.
• Write about how you bring comfort to someone in your life. Write about how someone brings you comfort.
• Describe how you could live more peacefully.
• Write a description of yourself as though you were someone else meeting you for the first time.
• Make a list of the values that are most important to you and then explain why they are important.
• Write about how you are feeling emotionally.

For tips on journaling, read “Journaling: Why You Need to Journal”

Connecting Without

Spiritual writing can help you connect with humanity and the mystical. It lets you explore your connection to something larger than yourself and leads you to a connection with and through nature, art, the moment, and others. It can help you find harmony with the universe.

Writing Exercises for the Connection Without

• Let the universe speak through you and write down what you hear.
• Write to humanity. Write to your best friend. Write (lovingly) to your enemy. Write to yourself. Write to the divine.
• Make a list of people and things for which you are grateful.
• Write about the positive, supportive people in your life.
• List your strengths and skills and explain how you use them to make the world around you better.
• Write about your connection to nature.

Writing to Achieve Mindfulness

Mindfulness is paying attention to now; it is a state of self-awareness. Recording and writing the input of all of your senses keeps you rooted in the present and helps you to get a tangible perspective on your inner thoughts and feelings. Because the act of writing is slower than thinking, it is a purposeful act that pulls your attention to the moment.

Writing Exercises for Mindfulness

• Write about the sensory inputs you are feeling right now: sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste.
• Write about yourself writing – describe how you look, feel (touch and emotion), and sound.
• Write a stream of consciousness with no pauses to correct or judge.
• Write about a peaceful and relaxing place.
• Write about your body: describe your body; how you are feeling; what position you are in; what you like best about your body; what you appreciate about your body.

Write Now

Write about right now. Writing about your experiences moment-to-moment can enable singular self-awareness and remarkable clarity. Embrace the relevance and, through your writing, you may discover a less reactive existence for yourself while you create a narrative of quiet contemplation for connecting your own “within” and “without.”

For more writing inspiration, check out our Yoga for the Mind articles: Yoga for the Mind Part 1: Exercising Your Creativity.

Yoga for the Mind Part 2: Building Characters.

Yoga for the Mind Part 3: Setting.

For more writing ideas, order The Writing Party Inspirations or Contact Us to schedule a Writing Party event in your area, for your private group, or as a corporate team building event.

To see other writing inspiration ideas like “Spirituality and Writing: Connecting Within and Without,” check out The Writing Party Articles Page.