One way you can begin to dig deeper into your psyche and pull out strengths is by using expressive writing. There are many different forms and choosing one that best suits you is key. You may opt to take on a sentence starter exercise, a form of creative expression which will allow you to take a deeper peek inside. Here are some prompts to get you started:
I think everything would be better if…
Some things I like are…
The things I don’t like are…
What I need to say is…
I worry about…
I feel alone when…
People think I am…
People tell me I should…
In formulating your responses to just this short set of questions, you will find you are able to speak your truth, and in doing so, reveal your values and belief system, past traumas, and fears, strengths and weaknesses, as well as where you feel your life is headed. This is a ton of useful information packed into one simple exercise.
Sentence-starters and other expressive writing exercises can effectively manage depression, post-traumatic stress, and anger issues, and help with feelings of grief and loss. This particular form of expression is especially useful as part of a strengths-based approach to healing. It can be used early on in your journey to help you illuminate inner feelings when other means of doing so still seem too daunting.
Take a moment to respond to each of the above questions and the next few minutes after that to review each response thoroughly and thoughtfully. How do your responses help you gain insight into who you are at this point in your life? How do they allow you to remember how far you’ve come? How can you use your responses to identify your own personal strengths and allow these to keep you motivated to continue moving forward?
You can periodically review the list of questions and answers and modify your responses as you see fit. You are constantly evolving and becoming stronger in the post-trauma state. As you more further and further away from the toxicity of the past, you can alter your answers to reflect the progress that has been made. And, in turn, this will help solidify confidence and realize sustainable healing.